Book Reviews in the Durango Herald:
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‘The Diné Reader’ an unforgettable experience
By Leslie Doran Special to the Herald
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 5:59 PM
“The Diné Reader” is obviously a labor of love with the gestation period taking over a decade of devoted research and collaboration. The four editors have wide backgrounds... READ MORE:
Review: Author Pam Houston finds ‘hope in the high country’
By Leslie Doran Special to the Herald
Pam Houston’s newest book, “Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country,” is a magical blend of essays that are somehow both memoir and autobiography. She manages to beautifully marry her life with the story of the land, her home.
Houston’s most well known books include ...MORE
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
A new picture book, “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story,” written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, is a delightful book with beautiful paintings. This book tells the story of how the indigenous people of our country created something wonderful to eat after the Europeans came to their lands. More...
Another wonderful picture book is “Nobody Hugs a Cactus” by Carter Goodrich, an illustrator. Goodrich has created characters for films such as “Despicable Me,” “Finding Nemo” and “Open Season.” This story centers on Hank, a cactus who lives in a pot in the desert. Hank is a prickly one who just wants to be left alone, but creatures keep interrupting his peace and quiet...MORE
“Saving Winslow,” a novel by Sharon Creech, is perfect for readers in and around fourth grade. This is a heartwarming tale about 10-year-old Louie, who is missing his older brother Gus, who is off in the Army. One day, Louie’s father brings home a weak, newborn miniature donkey Uncle Pete has sent home. This small bag of bones is not expected to make it through the night....MORE
Pages & Co.: The Bookwanderers
For those children ages 8 to 12, “Pages & CO: The Bookwanderers,” a debut novel by Anna James, is a treasure. Matilda Pages, known as Tilly, is an 11-year-old who lives with her grandparents in London. The grandparents own a beloved bookstore where they live upstairs. Tilly has many favorite books, but “The Little Princess,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Anne of Green Gables” are the most special to her.
Tilly’s father died before she was born and her mother mysteriously disappeared when she was only a baby. So Tilly’s only family is very small. Tilly has a friend, Oskar, whose mom owns a shop across the street. It is a school holiday when Tilly’s life begins to change...MORE.
"I Can Make this Promise,” another debut story for grades 3 to 7, is by Native American author Christine Day. As the book opens, Edie and her parents are at a Fourth of July festival on a reservation near Seattle. Edie’s mom is Native American but her dad is white. Edie doesn’t know much about her Native American roots because her mother was adopted by a white couple as a baby. This is the summer before Edie, a talented artist, will be in seventh grade...MORE
For the mature teen, “Frankly in Love” by David Yoon is an amazing debut novel. Frank Li is a first-generation Korean American who lives in Playa Mesa, California.
As his story opens, he is starting his senior year. Yoon writes Frank’s story in first person, and the reader gets to be inside his head with all his confusing and messy thoughts and emotions...MORE.
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Best-selling children’s author Jan Brett has new tale to tell
Best-selling American children’s author and illustrator Jan Brett may not know it, but she helped put my kids to sleep about a million times when they were younger. Her 1992 book, “Trouble with Trolls,” was a mainstay bedtime story in the Cahill house. So when an email came announcing Brett’s tour for her latest book, “The Tale of the Tiger Slippers,” would have a stop at Farmington Public Library – and would offer books sold at Maria’s Bookshop – it seemed like the perfect time to get her on the phone.
“The Tale of the Tiger Slippers” is the story of a tiger cub who is a hard worker. His mother stitches him a pair of slippers when she notices the pain in his feet caused by sharp thorns and stones. As the cub grows into an adult, his hard work makes him successful. Despite his wealth, he still wears the slippers his mother made him; although by now they are worn and shabby and are constantly made fun of by other animals. The tiger tries to get rid of the slippers by many methods – chucking them in a river, tossing them over a wall, etc.
But the slippers always find their way back....MORE
This newest adventure of Walt Longmire, “Depth of Winter” by Craig Johnson, is a huge departure from his previous books. This 14th book in the Longmire series is primarily set in Mexico, and it is... MORE...
Cortez author Chuck Greaves, aka C. Joseph Greaves, has written yet another notable work with the release of “Church of the Graveyard Saints.” This far-reaching novel covers a wide range of issues that are close to home in Durango and much of the Southwest.
Addie Decker, a young woman who was born and raised in McElmo Canyon near Cortez, is returning home to help bury her beloved grandmother, Vivian. Her family has owned the Triple R Ranch (Red Rock Ranch) for generations. Addie’s ancestors were Mormons, who set out for Utah but moved east to Colorado. Her grandmother will be laid to rest alongside their ancestors. MORE...
Durango author Blake Crouch will launch his newest novel, “Recursion,” at El Moro next week. With “Recursion,” Crouch is continuing his literary journey by blending mystery, thriller and science fiction to pique readers’ interest and then blow their minds – in a fascinatingly good way. MORE...
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“Wolf Pack” by C. J. Box is the 19th novel featuring intrepid Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett. One of the best things about a Pickett adventure is that there will always be a mix of domestic drama intertwined with the current criminal intrigue. MORE...
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Local author Mandy Mikulencak’s new novel, “Forgiveness Road,” starts off with a bang. Literally. The year is 1976, and the place is Mississippi. It is a sultry summer morning when 16-year-old Cissy Pickering calmly goes and gets her father’s gun from his bureau and shoots him dead as he is leaving for work. MORE...
Our recent snow is a reminder that Santa will be coming soon. Books can be just the right gift because they educate and entertain children over and over again.
Here are some suggestions that will make any lucky child happy: MORE...
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Rebecca Clarren has just published her first novel “Kickdown.” She has a strong connection to Durango and will be at Maria’s Bookshop on Thursday. How long ago and for how long did you live in... MORE...
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Johnson’s ‘Land of Wolves’ an engrossing read
By Leslie Doran Special to the Herald
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 11:40 AM
Land of Wolves by Craig Johnson is the 15th book in his popular series featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire. Walt’s department is in Absaroka County in the wilds of rural Wyoming. His staff is a colorful and eclectic crew, reflecting Johnson’s expertise in creating memorable characters.
As this tale opens in late April, Walt and his potty-mouthed deputy, Victoria Moretti, are in the Bighorn mountains where snow is still covering the ground. They are watching two local representatives from the National Forest Service and the Wyoming Brand Inspectors examining a dead sheep. Dead domestic animals are a big deal to area ranchers. There are not supposed to be any wolves left in the area, but some ranchers are concerned that wolves are killing off their stock...MORE
This well-researched book, “Food Sovereignty the Navajo Way: Cooking with Tall Woman,” published this year by University of New Mexico Press spans 55 years of work by Charlotte J. Frisbie.
Frisbie, author of two previous books, is a professor emerita of anthropology from Illinois. She did her graduate work at UNM, and during her time in New Mexico had the opportunity to live with Tall Woman, known as Rose Mitchell, in the Navajo community of Chinle, Arizona. MORE...
Local author releases first children’s book
By Leslie Doran Special to the Herald
Saturday, July 7, 2018 5:03 AM
Durango author Kate Siber has recently published her first children’s book, National Parks of the U.S.A. This book is beautifully executed with wonderful illustrations by Los Angeles artist Chris Turhnam.
Siber is a correspondent for Outside magazine and a freelance journalist and has traveled extensively, including to 30 of our 59 national parks.MORE...