In our day-to-day lives, it can be easy to feel disconnected from the natural world. When surrounded by synthetic objects and materials, plastics and packaging, and processed foods and products, little thought is regularly given to exactly what something is made of or where it came from. Edward D. Melillo’s new book, “The Butterfly Effect: Insects and the Making of the Modern … [Read more...] about Checking Out: The Butterfly Effect: Insects and the Making of the Modern World
Checking Out – The Boy in the Field
Walking home from school one autumn day in their idyllic British town, siblings Matthew, Zoe, and Duncan encounter a scene that fundamentally changes each of them in differing ways. As the trio passes a field, Zoe spots something out of the ordinary; “she had a gift for finding things: birds’ nests, their mother’s calculator, a missing book, a secret.” Lying in the grass is a … [Read more...] about Checking Out – The Boy in the Field
Checking Out: Conjure Women
The cooler weather and changing season brings with it the desire to settle into an engrossing read, and this month’s pick is a historical fiction tale that serves mystery and a hint of magic. Afia Atakora’s debut novel, “Conjure Women” (2020, Random House) spans generations and explores larger themes of faith, secrets, and loyalty on an almost allegorical level, while … [Read more...] about Checking Out: Conjure Women
Checking Out: A History Lover’s Guide to Denver
With so much new development and construction going on throughout the Denver area, it can sometimes feel like every building more than a few years old has been torn down or drastically changed. Mark A Barnhouse’s new book, A History Lover’s Guide to Denver (2020, Arcadia), shows that despite the fast growth and countless updates happening in each and every corner of town, much … [Read more...] about Checking Out: A History Lover’s Guide to Denver
Checking Out: Recollections of My Nonexistence: A Memoir
In any given description of a place, there contains both the locale’s history, appearance, and context, as well as the author’s own memories, feelings, and experiences. Every description falls somewhere along the spectrum of these two intersecting – it may lean heavily on seemingly non-biased detail, or it may be charged with emotion in order to evoke a particular feeling, but … [Read more...] about Checking Out: Recollections of My Nonexistence: A Memoir