Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. So we asked them, and all Denver Post readers, to share their mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email bellis@denverpost.com.
“How to Be Both,” by Ali Smith (Penguin, 2014)
If you enjoy being mentally challenged by a stellar writer, consider reading Ali Smith. Smart, inventive, not restrained by conventional approaches to chronology or structure, Smith writes books that are not like anything else. “How to be Both” is two fused stories — one narrated by an obscure 15th-century Italian painter enamored of color (“Eye”), and the other about a teenager in 2013 who is lost in loss and enamored of words (“Camera”). The version of this genre-bender, gender-blender you pick up could present the stories in either order, and your perceptions will differ, but the conjoin is there. Is it confusing? Yes, but so worth it. There are many “boths” to encounter. I smiled often as I read this, and there are numerous poignant moments. The artist’s narration is freewheeling at first, then gradually more settled. The teenager is more staid, but her section has moments of glee that lighten her grief. (Shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize.) — 3 stars (out of 4); Neva Gronert, Parker
“A Day in September: The Battlefield of Antietam and the World It Left Behind,” by Stephen Budiansky (W.W. Norton & Company, 2024)
The author points to Antietam, the bloodiest battle in the U.S. Civil War, as a turning point for 19th-century warfare, shifting the notion of war from an art to a science and transforming the officer corps from hobbyists to professionals. Each chapter uses the experience or influence of a single historic figure as a springboard into a deeper exploration of the mistakes and miscalculations made in the lead-up to and during the Battle of Antietam. Budiansky also explores lessons from that horrendous day in American history that led to many shifts in antebellum thinking, not only in military affairs, but also in medicine, volunteerism, education and the place of women in society, to name but a few. — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver
“A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon,” by Kevin Fedarko (Scribner, 2024)
The subtitle says it all. The author and his photographer partner decided to “walk” the length of the Grand Canyon National Park and document their experiences to commemorate and publicize the park’s 100th anniversary. But they have no experience in long-distance hiking, nor in desert survival. It’ll be “a walk in the park,” right? Fedarko is brutally honest about their lack of preparation. He lovingly recounts, with both awe and surprise, how they were adopted and supported by the long-distance hiking community in achieving their goal. He also vividly portrays the flora, fauna, geography and wild weather encountered along the way. — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver
“Table for Two,” by Amor Towles (Viking, 2024)
A collection of short stories is not usually my preferred fiction. This collection, however, has forever changed my mind. Each of the seven tales is in-depth and transportive. They all carry tidings of unique cautionary tales without being predictable or preachy. The reader can fully visualize the stylish settings, the disparate locations and the highly colorful characters. — 4 stars (out of 4); Joanna Johnson, Denver
