Poor Richard’s Books suggests titles on cults, critters and climate

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 Poor Richard’s Books in Colorado Springs recommends NAMES OF BOOKS HERE.

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From the publisher: When Blair McGowan, the mail person with the longest postal route in the country of over three hundred miles a day, goes missing, the question becomes: Where do you look for her? The Postal Inspector for the State of Wyoming elicits Sheriff Longmire to mount an investigation into her disappearance and Walt does anything but mail it in. Posing as a letter-carrier himself, the good sheriff follows her trail and finds himself enveloped in the intrigue of an otherworldly cult.

From Jeffery Payne, assistant retail manager: I finally — finally! — had the opportunity to escape into this book this past three-day weekend, though it didn’t take that long to cruise through this engaging and heart-thumping read. 

As regular readers of this little space may recall, I am a huge fan of Mr. Johnson. His storytelling gifts continue to surprise and captivate all of us. This gritty story grips us from the first chapter and doesn’t let loose until the very last. Johnson’s sense of very, very dry humor is equally balanced with a compelling and intricate tale of misguided and lost morals. A narrative of someone in power who refuses to accept defeat or reason because of the eternal drive to rule over others and be in control. The blend of mysticism and pragmatic, abrasive reality jolts the reader back and forth, keeping us on edge. “Return to Sender” is a great escape, much welcomed for this time.

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From the publisher: Charlie Mackesy’s four unlikely friends are wandering through the wilds again. They’re not sure what they are looking for. They do know that life can be difficult, but that they love each other, and cake is often the answer. 

When the dark clouds come, can the boy remember what he needs to get through the storm?

From Jeffery Payne, assistant retail manager: “You are kind”, said the mole, “which is everything.” We all look for (need?) hope or a reason not to be afraid in our everyday life and wanderings. We yearn for kindness, stillness and quiet. “Always Remember” brings that to the reader. How is it that a simple plain story, simply penned and illustrated, can be so endearing and inspiring at the same time? The author tenderly, quietly shepherds us on a journey that asks complicated uncomplicated questions. We find answers and insight with each page turn. 

“Breathe”, said the horse. “That can be your next step.” The perfect book for someone who is on a journey where there is no definite destination, whether it be physical or ethereal. 

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From the publisher: Forty years ago, the park ranger Jon Waterman took his first journey into the Alaskan Arctic, to the Noatak headwaters. He was astonished by the abundant wildlife, the strange landscape, and its otherworldly light—how the “frequent rain showers glow like lemonade poured out of the sky.” Taken with a new sense of wonder, he began to explore the North on several trips in the 1980s.

After a 30-year absence from the Noatak, he returned with his son in 2021. Amid a now-flooded river missing the once-plentiful caribou, he was shocked and heartbroken by the changes. The following year, in 2022, he took one final journey “into the thaw” to document—for this lushly illustrated and scholarly book—the environmental and cultural changes wrought by the climate crisis.

From Jeffery Payne, assistant retail manager: Jon Waterman, a Carbondale writer and photographer, takes us on a beautiful and captivating excavation through the very complicated and layered challenges of the Arctic climate crisis in his book. Waterman, an insightful nature writer, seasoned outdoorsman, and former park service ranger, lets us tag along as he revisits memories and places along the Noatak River in Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska, the second largest national park in the U.S., encompassing over 8.4 million acres. His sharp eye and persuasive expression help us experience first-hand how climate change is shifting the Arctic environment and its people.

“Into the Thaw” is a summons to us to consider our part in the climate crisis and how we might be able to protect our fragile environment. It is also inspiring. Despite the overwhelming odds of righting the global warming ship, Waterman brings us hope and encouragement not to give up. The book is filled with striking photographs mixed with bits of memoir and eloquent nature writing. A must read for any nature lover.

Type of Story: Review

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