We heart Jonathan Evison

Tomorrow night at 7:30pm, Jonathan Evison will be speaking about his book, West of Here, at our store. Booksellers have been raving for months about Jonathan's book, West of Here. It's a bold book that draws on the American experience. Set in the fictional town of Port Bonita, Washington, half of the narrative focuses on the town’s founders circa 1890 while the other half shows their descendents in 2006. The novel becomes a kind of conversation between two epochs, one rushing blindly toward the future and the other struggling to undo the damage of the past.

Here's one of our fav quotes from New West reviewer Jenny Shank,

"Without ever getting preachy about it, in West of Here, Jonathan Evison has wrestled many of the West’s most pressing contemporary issues—such as environmental degradation, the challenges facing Native Americans, and loss of distinctive local businesses in small towns—into one humdinger of a story."

Several booksellers from our store got to meet Jonathan last fall at the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Association Trade Show. While there, Jonathan read this awesome and totally heartwarming poem to us. After reading the poem, you'll be able to see why he's one of our favorite authors and we hope he'll become one of yours, too.

A Bookseller’s Love Story by Jonathan Evison
For thirteen years I've been stocking the shelves at The Book Cathedral,
and it is my love story.
You will probably not remember me by my name,
but call me Ishmael.
Or Tom Jones, or Tom Sawyer, or Elmer Gantry, or McTeague,
or The Idiot, if you like.
You may not remember me for my wispy hair, or brick-shaped loafers,
nor for the wealth of cat hair clinging to the seat of my faded dockers.
I distinguish myself by my love of books,
and by never using the search function--I've no need of it.

Ask me who's between Allende and Sherwood Anderson,
and I shall tell you without pause, Martin Amis,
between Sartre and Schulberg, Saunders,
and at the end of the line, you'll find Zusak,
unless of course we're out, in which case you'll find Zafon.
Blindfold me and spin me around in circles,
then set me straight and run my fingers down the spines,
and I'll tell you when we get to Proust, or the shorter novels of Melville.
Ask me where to find Silas Wegg and I shall point you to Dickens.
Ask me where is Oskar and I'll tell you
he's banging his tin drum between Golding and Graves.
And if it's Sancho Panza you're after, you'll find him chasing windmills
with Quixote just to the left of Chaucer.

Ask me All About Lulu.
Ask me For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Ask me where A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, or What Makes Sammy Run,
and I shall tell you without hesitation, that the answer to the universe
is 42. Or that it's never too late to have a happy childhood.
Or that A Good Man is Hard to Find.
Or that The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
Or that You Can't Go Home Again.
I will show you the beating heart of Ragtime,
drag you kicking through Hard Times, In Our Time, to Places I've Done Time.
Through The Age of Innocence, The Age of Reason,
to The Winter of Our Discontent.
You'll meet The Sleeping Father, The Time Traveler's Wife,
The Bigamist's Daughter, and Wittgenstein's Mistress.
I'll lead you to the Shining City,
beneath The Sheltering Sky, past Lions and Shadows,
to The Dark Side of Guy de Maupassant-and if it pleases you,
to the very Heart of Darkness, itself.
I will tell you The History of Love,
The Brief History of the Dead.

I will tell you The Secret Life of Bees. I'll tell you A Tale of Two Cities
that will make All the Pretty Horses whinny and All the King's Men weep.
I will explain The Mysteries of Pittsburgh,
How the Dead Dream, and The Way of the Pilgrim.
I will talk Of Mice and Men, Of Time and the River, of Leaves of Grass,
until finally, at the end of night, when The Moon is Down,
the sun will also rise, and everything will be illuminated.

Now, ask yourself: where else are you gonna' get this kind of service
but an indie bookstore?

Upcoming Event: Dimity McDowell

Mothers are known for juggling. They are also known for never having enough time for themselves. Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea, want to change this reputation. In their new book Run Like a Mother, they write about strengthening a woman's inner athlete while managing a life beyond running. Both mothers and working women, these ladies understand the obstacles that may hinder moms from lacing up their shoes and going for a run. They offer both inspirational advice and practical strategies to help multitasking women make running part of their busy lives.

Run Like a Mother, sprinkled with insights from other running mothers, engenders an attitude of possibility for the reader, whether she be a seasoned or an aspiring runner. Both authors will be touring separately, speaking and hosting 5Ks in cities across the country. Join Dimity McDowell as she speaks about her experiences, and her new book, on April 17, 2010. She will be signing books and speaking at Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO, 80302 at 7:30pm. The following morning she will host a 5K, in and around Boulder.

Upcoming Event: John Thorndike

How would you respond to a parent's dwindling memory and ability to take care of themselves? Alzheimer's disease is a tragic reality of what can happen in our elder years and it affects over five million Americans. Author John Thorndike writes about his father's struggle with the disease, and his experiences of looking after him in his new book, The Last of His Mind.

When John's father becomes diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, his only wish is to continue to reside in his Cape Cod home. Thorndike leaves his life in Ohio to return to his childhood home and take care of his father. At the end, when his father's heart stops beating, John's hand is on his chest, and a story of painful decline has become a portrait of deep family ties, care giving, and love. This memoir of dementia that strips his father of language, memory and self-awareness, is a bittersweet account of a son's final year with his father, and a candid portrait of an implacable disease.

Join John Thorndike as he recalls his experience, and signs copies of The Last of His Mind (Swallow Press, $24.95) on Monday, March 29, 2010, at 7:30pm at Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO, 80302.

Upcoming Event: Mark Spragg & Laura Bell

Travel west, to feel the adventure, and experience the drama. Authors Mark Spragg and Laura Bell, natives of Wyoming, are familiar with the subject and tell dramatic stories in their new books Bone Fire and Claiming Ground. These acclaimed authors' newest books will both be released March 9, and are sure to give insight to the lives and times of Wyoming and the modern west.

Bone Fire, will capture your attention with its characters and their struggles in the seemingly idyllic town of Ishawooa, Wyoming. Follow the characters through their stories of harsh truths and difficult consolation combined with moments of hilarity, surprise, and beauty. This will be Spragg's highly anticipated fourth novel, written at the height of his career. Bone Fire builds upon his bestselling novel An Unfinished Life.

Follow Laura Bell as she travels west. Claiming Ground takes you on the journey of a young girl, looking for adventure, and starting her life after college. Bell writes about her career path of cattle rancher, turned forest ranger, outfitter, masseuse, wife and mother. Her story is a heart-wrenching ode to the rough beauty of the western landscape, pleasure of hard labor, and a life formed by nature. Claiming Ground will lead you through lessons of love, life, and happiness while capturing the adventure and excitement of Wyoming.

Join us on Tuesday, March 16, at 7:30pm, in our historic ballroom as we welcome these authors to tell their stories and sign copies of their newest books (Bone Fire, $25.95 and Claiming Ground, $24.95). Boulder Book Store is located at 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO, 80302.

Merlin's Dragon: Doomraga's Revenge by T.A. Barron

Since the end of Merlin's Dragon, Basil and Merlin have become close friends, able to communicate telepathically with each other. They have teamed up to address the growing unrest in their beloved home of Avalon. Since Avalon was created in order that creatures could live together in peace, the mounting tensions are troubling both Merlin and Basil greatly. The fire dragons and dwarves have had several arguments, most of them resulting in violence and death, trolls have come out of their dormancy to terrorize villages, and even peaceful animals like the birds of Airroot have erupted in fighting with each other. Merlin and Basil finally decide that these incidents are not merely coincidental, but are somehow related.

Unbeknownst to them, an agent of Rhita Gawr is growing in power far away in the Haunted Marsh in Woodroot. He has now given himself a name: Doomraga, which means "darker than dark." Having been thwarted once by Basil, he is waiting and growing in the marsh until the day when he grows strong enough to seek his revenge on Basil and Dagda.

Meanwhile, Merlin and Basil continue to settle the problems that arise among their fellow inhabitants of Avalon. Merlin is facing more and more problems everyday, not only in the larger world, but also within his family. Merlin's troubles are further aggravated when his sister informs him of a terrible blight plaguing the realm of Woodroot, destroying all forms of life. He and Basil must bring an end to this blight of the forest realm and prevent Doomraga from succeeding in his evil quest.

This installation of the Merlin's Dragon series offers adventure, thrills, incredible tension, new friends and old friends, and an overarching battle of good versus evil. Basil's incredible transformation from a small, lizard-like creature to the most powerful dragon in Avalon has not affected his enormous heart or his humility. He faces both the challenge of keeping the peace of his beloved world and the challenge of helping his friend Merlin to cure the blight of Woodroot. Can Basil live up to his size in bravery? Can he save his home realm of Woodroot? Can he prevent Avalon from slipping into chaos and evil?

Join us TONIGHT, Tuesday, November 10th at 6:30pm at the Boulder Book Store where T.A. Barron will be speaking about and signing Doomraga's Revenge.

Reviewed by: Jackie Ariniello

After The Long Emergency

The same legion of readers who greedily consumed The Long Emergency (Grove, $14.00) by bestselling author JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER, will delight at his follow-up, World Made by Hand. His new book is a speculative fiction, which makes an imaginative leap a few decades into the future, and shows us what life may be like following the long emergency brought on by the converging catastrophes of the 21st century. The book centers on the lives of the townspeople of Union Grove, NY. After the end of oil, climate change, global pandemics and resource wars, they are doing whatever they can to get by. Could Kunstler's book be a grim glimpse into our future? For fans of his first book and lovers of well-written fiction, World Made By Hand is sure to please.

James Howard Kunstler will speak and sign World Made By Hand (Atlantic, $22.00) on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 7:30pm at Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO.

This event is co-sponsored by Boulder County Going Local.

Ethiopia: The Land of Climbing Opportunity

"We have come to Ethiopia to rock climb."

Climbers are a dedicated crew. We’ll brave freezing cold weather, scorching sun, and dangerous heights in the quest for the perfect climb. I count myself as a climber, but I’ll be honest: I’m not actually a fearless one. I prefer single-pitch routes, am not too fond of leading, and am often made fun of because I won’t boulder higher than 4 feet off the ground. In fact, I’m the antithesis of fearless.

Majka (pronounced MI-kah) Burhardt, meanwhile, truly appears to be a fearless climber. I was lucky enough to meet her today when she dropped off copies of her new book, Vertical Ethiopia. She looks like a climber: compact, tan, and full of energy. I’d been waiting to get my hands on a copy of her book since she first told me about it, and it was well worth the wait. Its tall, glossy pages showcase photography by Gabe Rogel and vignettes by Majka about life and climbing in Ethiopia.

The book covers the 2007 quest made by Majka and three other women to find out if Ethiopia just might be the next climbing mecca.

"My childhood image of Ethiopia was shaped by photographs of dry and desolate landscapes, fragile, bony arms and legs, and distended stomachs. Later, when I was older, I thought of Ethiopia as synonymous with terror and communism, a country of constant war and oppression. I never occurred to me when I first begin climbing, in 1992, that I would one day find beauty, challenge, and adventure in Ethiopia."

Majka was lucky enough to have photographer Gabe Rogel tag along for her trip. I say lucky because when you read Majka’s words and then look at Gabe’s photos, you know that a great partnership has been formed. Half of the pictures in the book are of Majka and her friends, in various stages of climbing. The other half are pictures of Ethiopia--glimpses into the places and lives of its people. One of my favorite photos in the book is similar to the picture at left. The hands belong to a priest’s wife who was in the process of dyeing straw for baskets.

Whether you’re a climber, a traveler, or just a booklover, I guarantee that you’ll find something to enjoy in Majka’s book. And if you’re in the Boulder area on Monday night (February 25th, 7:30pm), stop by Boulder Book Store to hear Majka talk about her journey and to celebrate the release of Vertical Ethiopia. I’ll be taking my copy home to read over the weekend. And maybe I’ll even get in a few climbs if the weather stays nice…

"There is rock everywhere. It catches the morning sun and vibrates orange, red, and yellow. It cleaves the sky in towers and ridges; it fills the entire western view. There are cracks, buttresses, corners, and escarpments. An entire mountain waits to be climbed."

Text in green excerpted from Vertical Ethiopia by Majka Burhardt. Photography by Gabe Rogel.
Post by Mandy King, Events Coordinator at Boulder Book Store.

Mount Everest Overcome With Thieves, Prostitutes, and Con Men

The growing popularity of eco-vacationing and adventure sports brings with it a commercializing of what used to be a niche industry relegated to professionals and die-hard fanatics. Now nearly anyone can try their hand at summiting the tallest peak in the world, as long as they have the cash.

This is a lesson award-winning journalist Michael Kodas learned first hand in 2004 when he joined local mountain climbers from home on an expedition to Mount Everest. He anticipated an exhilarating and arduous adventure among a group of like-minded idealists. But on the Himalayan mountain, he discovered thieves, prostitutes, con men, and blackmailers.

In his shocking expose, High Crimes: the Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed, Kodas reveals the mountain's dark underside: unscrupulous con men who sell faulty oxygen tanks, drugs and prostitution in Base Camp, and people all but murdered in the cutthroat race to get to the top.

Michael Kodas will speak and sign High Crimes (HarperCollins, $24.95) on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30pm at Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO.

Hear Michael Kodas speak of his encounters with Mt. Everest's dark underside, then join us at Unity of Boulder Church on May 29th at 7:30pm to hear Lincoln Hall's first hand account of how he was left for dead on the slopes of Everest in 2006. (Ticket information coming soon.)

Natalie Goldberg: A Revolution in Writing

Twenty years ago NATALIE GOLDBERG's classic, Writing Down the Bones (Random House, $12.95), broke new ground in its approach to writing as a practice. Now, Old Friend from Far Away (Sounds True, $24.95), her latest book to focus solely on writing, reaffirms Goldberg's status as a foremost teacher of writing, and completely transforms the practice of writing memoir.

At once a beautifully written celebration of the memoir form, an innovative course full of practical teachings, and a deeply affecting meditation on consciousness, love, life, and death, Old Friend From Far Away welcomes aspiring writers of all levels and encourages them to find their own unique voice. Natalie Goldberg recreates her trademark workshop style with its terse, demanding writing "sprints" that train the hand and mind to quicken their pace and give up conscious control.

Natalie Goldberg will speak and sign for Old Friend From Far Away on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 7:30pm at Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO.

Renaissance Woman Takes on the Horn of Africa

MAJKA BURHARDT is a writer, climber, guide, and "nouveau renaissance woman" living in Boulder. Her experience as a guide and writer has enabled her to take on assignments not only in North America, but throughout the world. Her first book, Vertical Ethiopia (Shama Publishing, $37.99), documents a climbing expedition to unexplored sandstone spires in northern Ethiopia. Told through a series of vignettes that reveal what it means to climb, to travel, and to explore, Vertical Ethiopia reveals a country at the turning point in its embrace of its natural heritage. Using climbing as a magnifying glass, Majka Burhardt comes to understand a land brimming with striking geological and cultural beauty.

Majka Burhardt will speak and sign for Vertical Ethiopia: Climbing Toward Possibility in the Horn of Africa on Monday, February 25, 2008 at 7:30pm at Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO.

Award-Winning Environmental Journalist Takes on the Plight of a Dying Species

As a contributing editor at Outside magazine and an award-winning environmental writer BRUCE BARCOTT has profiled Himalayan climbers and Iditarod champions as well as grave robbers, bear poachers, and Appalachian fugitives. He's currently writing and studying as a Ted Scripps Fellow in environmental journalism at CU, Boulder. His new book, The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw (Random House, $26.00), was recently honored as a runner-up by the J. Anthony Lukas Work-In-Progress Award, which is given annually to a significant work of America nonfiction.

The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw tells the true story of one woman's quest to stop a multinational corporation from exterminating the last scarlet macaws in the Central American nation of Belize. This unforgettable narrative is suspenseful right up to the last moment, relating the dramatic saga of an eccentric American who was undaunted by the combined forces of a determined Canadian power company and the corrupt government officials of Belize.

Bruce Barcott will speak and sign for The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 7:30pm at Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO.