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Category Archives: The West
A Reason for Holiday Glee: Coen Brothers' "True Grit" to Open December 22nd
So the filmmakers who are putting pretty much everyone else to shame have a Christmas present (and they’re Jewish, to boot) for the world, their adaptation of True Grit, starring Jeff Bridges stepping into John Wayne’s boots. Here’s the official … Continue reading
Posted in Film, The West
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"127 Hours" in Theaters Now, But Not Everyone in Utah Loves Aron Ralston
Last summer I stayed a few days in Green River, Utah, at the River Terrace Inn, a cool hotel right on the river, with a pool and hut tub, plus great birding: Scott’s Orioles, Western Tanagers, and Bullock’s Orioles, all … Continue reading
Posted in books/film, The West
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A Smidgen of Hope in the West, and Another Good Defense of Obama
If you’re like me, last night’s election seemed a triumph for the latest version of the Know Nothing Party, and in honor of the writer who mentioned that historical reference most eloquently, I should note that Tim Egan sums up … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, The West
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Stephen Graham Jones's "It Came From Del Rio"—Is that Jack Nicholson or a Chupacabra?
So Stephen Graham Jones is at it again, offering us a new, seriously weird novel with the kickass title of It Came From Del Rio. I just started it and don’t want to give too much away, but it’s not … Continue reading
Posted in books, The West
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Kent Haruf in the House and Thomas McGuane in the News
For the last two days I’ve had the good fortune of a visit from novelist Kent Haruf, who gave a reading on our campus last night. Kent’s a natural raconteur (I’ve been waiting years to use that word) and told … Continue reading
Posted in books, The West
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Review of Bruce Machart's "The Wake of Forgiveness"
Here’s my review of Bruce Machart’s debut novel, The Wake of Forgiveness, which appears today in the Dallas Morning News: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/books/stories/DN-bk_wake_1017gd.ART.State.Edition1.333f06a.html It’s a good novel, and I could have written much more about it, but there’s a short word count … Continue reading
Posted in books, The West
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Timothy Egan in the NY Times on Legalizing Marijuana, or "California Dreamin'"
After my post yesterday of the CNN editorial about the failed War on Drugs, I have to call out Timothy Egan’s excellent op-ed in this morning’s NY Times, under the witty headline “Reefer Gladness.” He even knows the person who’s … Continue reading
Posted in books, Politics, The West
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"Woman Fends Off Attacking Bear With Zucchini"
I love bear stories. Especially the kind where a plucky gal manages to fend one off with a large garden vegetable. Thanks to Natalie for sharing this one: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_aaae89f6-c741-11df-9ea6-001cc4c002e0.html We have frequent bear encounters at our Colorado home, and I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in The West
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On Timothy Egan's "The Big Burn," the Boulder Fires, & the Fires to Come
“It felt as if the town was under artillery fire, the mile-high walls of the Bitterroots shooting flaming branches onto the squat of houses in the narrow valley below. Between flareups and blowups, the hot wind delivered a continuous stream of sparks and detritus. . . . Earlier in the day, ashes had fallen like soft snow through the haze. At the edge of town, where visibility was better, people looked up and saw thunderheads of smoke, flat-bottomed and ragged-topped, reaching far into the sky” (3). Continue reading
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Culture Wars in the Heartland: Guntoters Against Socialism, Or George Saunders Was Right
Live from St. Louis, Missouri: So I’m travelling across Kansas (after a night in Hays, Kansas, at the Candlewood Suites, which should be renamed the Candlewood Sucks) and pass a billboard proclaiming, “Obama Is a Fraud: Demand Resignation Now!” The … Continue reading
Posted in The West
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