Poor Richard’s Books suggests titles on family, the West and birds

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 a tale of family dynamics, a closer look at Western history and a book that’s strictly for the birds.

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From the publisher: It’s the night before a much-needed vacation, and Jack — a former playwright mourning his failed career — catches his husband, Randy, packing his mother’s urn. They had agreed: no mother on this trip. Parents, living or otherwise, aren’t the ideal guests for romantic getaways. But Randy has been carrying his mother’s remains everywhere since her death, and he isn’t ready to let go now.

Despite its natural beauty and kitschy charm, the Oregon coast does not provide the respite the couple seeks. Instead, their surroundings and encounters with locals grow increasingly surreal as the days pass. An overly dedicated Method actor, tantra-obsessed neighbors, and a child environmentalist who may be able to communicate with the dead are but a few of the characters whose presence exposes long-simmering tensions that threaten to undo Jack and Randy’s marriage — to say nothing of their hold on reality.

From Jeffery Payne, assistant retail manager: Working in a bookstore is an incredible gift, and honestly, an honor. There are of course multitudes of books, but the best part is getting to know regular customers. Many years ago, one such customer was Scott Broker. Whenever he visited family in Colorado Springs, he would drop by the small neighborhood bookstore where I worked. A nice, gracious young man, great smiling eyes and liked to read the “good stuff.” 

A few months ago, I received a package at the bookstore where I currently work. When I opened it, I instantly began to tear up a bit. Inside was an advanced reader’s copy of Scott’s debut novel, “The Disappointment,” with an incredibly nice, personal note. I can barely express how thrilled I am for this author. While many people talk about writing a novel, Scott accomplished it.

“The Disappointment” by Scott Broker won’t disappoint. 

The language is remarkably well-crafted, with genuine emotional intensity and vivid insights into the human mind. The characters portrayed are authentic and real; their quirks make it impossible to believe they were simply made up. The alluring conversations between his characters will make you squirm a bit, and silently chuckle. 

This debut novel is wise, haunting, and tinged with melancholy, leaving a lasting impression that lingers in your mind long after you turn the final page.

Well done, young Mr. Broker, well done.

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From the publisher: “The Westerners” tells two richly detailed and interwoven stories. The first reveals the captivating lives of women and men moving through the American West — Indigenous peoples, Black Americans, Mexican Americans, and Canadian and Asian immigrants — in the 19th century. The second tracks the attempts of many Americans to erase these westerners from history, through a frontier myth that lionized individualism and conquest and celebrated white settlers traveling west in search of prosperity.

Nelson roots this bold new history of the American West in the deep research and gripping storytelling that have garnered her critical acclaim. Highlighting the perseverance and ingenuity of the communities that have otherwise been forgotten or erased from history, ”The Westerners” challenges us to reimagine who we are and where we came from.

From Jeffery Payne, assistant retail manager: Underserved underrepresented — just some of the words that immediately leapt into my mind when reading Megan Kate Nelson’s latest dive into the Southwest and Western frontier history of the 19^th-century United States. Through her work, she highlights seven individuals who are now receiving long overdue recognition for their contributions to that history. “Westerners: Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier” offers the reader a history with a different perspective of western lore.

We get to know a handful of people who explored, flourished and succeeded in those wild times. Despite the vastness of the hinterlands, it truly is a small world when their paths crossed. This book also addresses the subjects of slavery and the ongoing struggles faced by women in seeking visibility and acknowledgment. Nelson’s deft hand at writing draws the reader in with heartfelt and engaging storytelling.

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From the publisher: Evolutionary biologist Joan Strassmann examines what it means for birds of a feather to flock together. Some birds sleep together. Some join the foraging groups of other species. Some are only social during breeding season, forming nesting colonies in trees, cliffs, and sandbanks. Some are altruistic, helping to rear young that are not their own. Some males perform mating dances together.

With stories of birds from around the world—from broad-winged hawks that migrate south together in the fall, tree swallows that roost together in the thousands, and guira cuckoos that nest in communes — “The Social Lives of Birds” explores the different kinds of bird groups and what to look for when watching them. Above all, it reveals this fact: solitary life, it seems, is not for the birds.

From Jeffery Payne, assistant retail manager: After a couple of years of tending and continually planting my backyard garden, plants took root and grew incredibly well. I noticed the birds were visiting the budding landscape. And then, after I planted some mature trees, the birds began to stick around. I added feeders a little later and was amazed as a new world opened to me. So began my ‘bird nerd’-ness. 

“The Social Lives of Birds” is a beautiful book. The heft of the volume, the feel of the pages themselves and the wonderful illustrations just make it something the reader relishes holding. Strassmann illuminates the shared community of our avian friends, and it is totally fascinating. We learn how and why some species group together (flock) for safety and sustenance — and why that isn’t necessarily a good thing at times. We are schooled on why some colonies thrive, and some just survive. Loaded with scientific references and research, we gladly fall into the world of feathers and beaks with Strassmann’s enlightening words and perspectives. 

Type of Story: Review

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