Checking Out Book Reviews

We  are living in continuously interesting times. Martin Shaw’s book, “Smoke Hole: Looking to the Wild in the Time of the Spyglass” (Chelsea Green, 2021), summarizes it well: “it’s a time of great paradox: we […]

Books make wonderful gifts when chosen wisely – they give a little glimpse into what the giver found worth sharing, as well as what they think (or hope) will catch the eye of the receiver. […]

In the small German village of Westerwald, ten-year-old Luisa’s father frequently tells his family that they must “let more of the world in.” When Luisa’s grandmother, Selma, dreams of an okapi, a rarely seen African […]

In Colorado writer Claire Boyles’ debut collection of short stories, “Site Fidelity” (2021, W. W. Norton), many of the hard environmental truths of the West come alive in their most personal ways – water rights, […]

Writing accurately about the internet feels like an impossible task – the endless stream of information that is increasingly hard to decipher or curate; the extreme vulnerability alongside a lack of authentic connection; the unexplainable […]

We commonly think of the study of science and that of sociology or humanities as very different – we look at science as neutral and data-driven, while non-STEM fields are frequently seen as reflective and […]

Featuring strong visual interest and captivating storytelling, graphic novels are a somewhat newer format to gain wide distribution and popularity.  Amazing new titles are being released all the time, so this month I wanted to […]

The ever-changing nature of Denver is a well-worn topic of conversation – anyone who has spent any time in this storied city has more than likely picked up some observations regarding Old Denver and New […]

In the early hours of New Year’s Day 1837, Pete Beatty’s “Cuyahoga” (Scribner, 2020) introduces Big Son, a pioneering American spirit among the likes of Johnny Appleseed and Daniel Boone. Big Son, his “shoulders wide […]