Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from book stores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Out West Books in Grand Junction recommends three books all connected to the amazing characteristics of…crows.
Crow Talk
By Eileen Garvin
Dutton
$28
April 2024
Purchase
From the publisher: Frankie O’Neill and Anne Ryan would seem to have nothing in common. Frankie is a lonely ornithologist struggling to salvage her dissertation on the spotted owl following a rift with her advisor. Anne is an Irish musician far from home and family, raising her 5-year-old son, Aiden, who refuses to speak. When Frankie finds an injured baby crow in the forest, little does she realize that the charming bird will bring all three lost souls – Frankie, Anne, and Aiden – together on a journey toward hope, healing, and rediscovering joy.
From Marya Johnston, owner: My mom used to tell a story about how her cowboy cousins raised a crow and taught it to talk. It would tell them when visitors were coming or when it was time to bring in the laundry. As it turns out, this family lore could be true! Not only that, but crows mourn their dead, and can remember the face of a human that has treated them badly and will pass that information down through generations. Though “Crow Talk” is full of such intriguing facts and lore, this heartwarming story of nature’s power to heal wounded hearts and bring the most disparate personalities together made it a winner for me. It is a wonderfully poignant book about friendship, love and life affirmation. As an added bonus, it’s made me pay a lot more attention to crows!
Comfort of Crows
By Margaret Renkl
Spiegel & Grau
$32
October 2023
Purchase
From the publisher: In “The Comfort of Crows” Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: 52 chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons – from a crow spied on New Year’s Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring – what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer. With 52 original color artworks by the author’s brother, Billy Renkl, this book is a lovely and deeply moving book from a cherished observer of the natural world.
From Marya Johnston:
Oh, my! “The Comfort of Crows” is a delight, a joy. I’m not one for making notations in books, but from the first page I read lines that moved me enough to sticky note the hell out of this thing. Margaret Renkl writes with such honesty, reverence, and warmth about her life, the life in her backyard, and the beauty and reality of life all around us. This is a book that reaches right into my heart about how important it is to slow down and truly see the natural world. Many passages brought tears to my eyes. She’s right up there with Annie Dillard or Gene Stratton-Porter in my book. Since each short chapter is a week in the year of her garden or life, or both, a person could read this book a chapter a day each week…and then spend the rest of the week contemplating, or noticing, or just taking delight in their environs. The beautiful illustrations and collages by Margaret’s brother Billy compliment her writing beautifully and will be published alongside samples of Margaret’s wisdom as a journal titled, “Leaf, Cloud, Crow,” in October. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Then, buy it as a gift for everyone you know. My only complaint? This book should come with ribbon markers to limit the use of sticky notes.
A favorite passage: “I can scroll and worry indoors, or I can step outside and remember how it feels to be part of something larger, something timeless, a world that reaches beyond me and includes me, too.”
Science Comics: Crows: Genius Birds
By Kyla Vanderklugt
FirstSecond
$13.99
March 2020
Purchase
From the publisher: In “Science Comics: Crows” you’ll learn all about the avian Einsteins that are as smart as some primates and can perform some of the same cognitive feats as human children! Did you know that crows make their own tools, lead complex social lives, and never forget a human face? That’s something to crow about!
From Didi Herald, bookseller: Despite not being a big fan of nonfiction or graphic novels, “Crows: Genius Birds” has become a favorite. I knew crows were smart and tricky and love the way Vanderklugt incorporates so many facts into this delightful caper featuring a helpful, but perhaps not the brightest, dog who is cajoled into escaping from his yard to help his new crow friend break into a trash can full of treasure. Meanwhile, the dog’s kibble bowl is being robbed by the rest of the murder of crows. The combination of thrilling story, bright illustrations, and credible science information is great fun to read and even includes a three-page glossary.
As part of The Colorado Sun’s literature section — SunLit — we’re featuring staff picks from book stores across the state. Read more.