Out West Books suggests a mix of adventure, romance and fantasy
The staff from Out West Books in Grand Junction recommends tales of a historic explorer, a bookish romcom and a literary fantasy.
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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 tales of a historic explorer, a bookish romcom and a literary fantasy.
The Wide Wide Sea
By Hampton Sides
Publisher
$35
April 2024
Purchase
From the publisher: On July 12th, 1776, Captain James Cook, already lionized as the greatest explorer in British history, set off on his third voyage in his ship the HMS Resolution. Two-and-a-half years later, on a beach on the island of Hawaii, Cook was killed in a conflict with native Hawaiians. How did Cook, who was unique among captains for his respect for Indigenous peoples and cultures, come to that fatal moment?
From Marya Johnston, owner: I guess I grew up too far from the ocean, because I have a penchant for seafaring and shipwreck books. This book does not disappoint! Also, it’s by Hampton Sides, author of “Ghost Soldiers” and “Blood and Thunder,” so what’s not to love?
I knew a little something about the voyages of Captain James Cook, an exceptional but flawed man, before reading this well researched and extremely well written account. It really filled in my knowledge gaps. In this story of Cook’s final voyage, Hampton Sides deftly compares his merits and shortcomings, and is quick to point out that Cook didn’t “discover” so many of the places named by or after him, but uses Indigenous perspectives and voices in tandem with Cook’s narrative whenever possible to describe first contact.
The cast of intriguing characters on this voyage add another level of interest, like Joseph Banks the naturalist who accompanied Cook on earlier voyages and who established the Kew Gardens on return; the Earl of Sandwich, for whom Cook named the Sandwich Islands and who of course, invented the sandwich; and Lt. William Bligh, who later went back to the South Pacific with his own command, the ship Bounty. I was absolutely engrossed by this adventure. Sometimes history can read better than fiction and this book is an example. It’s a keeper!
Finding Mr. Write
By Kelley Armstrong
Forever (Hachette)
$17.99
June 2024
Purchase
From the publisher: Daphne McFadden already knows that as a female author, the cards are stacked against her. Now she knows just how much. Because her sudden whim to pose as an “outdoorsy hunk of masculinity” male author for her new book just resulted in the unthinkable: a bidding war, a huge book deal, and the kind of fame every author dreams of. Now she’s in big trouble. Because she needs to convince the world that Zane Remington actually exists . . . but how? By hiring an actor, of course.
From Didi Herald, bookseller: Having read more than 200 books in 2024, narrowing my favorites down to two that I haven’t already written up for The Colorado Sun is tough. “Finding Mr. Write” gave me great joy. It has all the things that I love in a romcom; smart resourceful characters, problems that could actually happen, a believable journey to knowing each other, and credible obstacles.
Daphne knows how to live off grid, has written a good book, knows what she wants, and when she gets it with accompanying problems, pivots to cleverly make it all work…eventually. Chris, playing the role of Zane Remington, is a great male lead, not only gorgeous, accomplished and smart, but kind and appreciative of Daphne’s knowledge and skills. The literary conference they attend made for a delightful game of guess-the-real-life-author. A romcom that makes me actually laugh out loud is to be cherished and I always appreciate a book with a good dog showing up.
The Spellshop
By Sarah Beth Durst
Bramble (Macmillan)
$29.99
July 2024
Purchase
From the publisher: Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz — a magically sentient spider plant — have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.
When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home.
From Didi Herald, bookseller: “The Spellshop” has become my favorite cozy fantasy. It has everything one wants in a comfort book; an introverted librarian heroine, a faithful spider plant companion, books, lots of books, tea with jam, flying cats and a kind hero who takes care of merhorses. Kiela’s family had left the island when she was a child so when she returns with Caz and the books they rescued, it seems like a new place. She knows rescuing the books she saved from the burning library could result in a death sentence but, as a librarian, she had to save them.
When she discovers the destruction and hardships the lack of magic has wrought on the island, she, with the help of new friends, tries to figure out ways to bring about positive change. As the situation becomes more perilous and the revolution threatens her new home, people pull together to help others and attempt to make the situation better. Stories of people pulling together, of saving each other and their community, seem to make scary times in real life a little less scary.
As part of The Colorado Sun’s literature section — SunLit — we’re featuring staff picks from book stores across the state. Read more.
