R.H.'s Reviews

This is a beautiful story of a woman trying to find her own with powerful prose and captivating descriptions of nature. Auvienen’s metaphorical writing is surprisingly accessible while painting a vivid picture of her process of self-discovery through a Thoreau-esque four years in the woods with just her dog. As a dog mom, I relate to their heartfelt relationship. - R.H.

In Down from the Mountain, Bryce Andrews takes us on an emotional rollercoaster ride through his first-hand account of his time bear country. We learn about Millie, a grizzly mother of two who is effectively forced out of her natural habitat in the mountains by wide-scale global change caused by humans. This tragic personal account of humanity’s impact on the creatures we share a world with is a must-read for conservationists. - R.H.

This is a beautiful story of a woman trying to find her own, with powerful prose and captivating descriptions of nature. Karen Auvinen’s metaphorical writing is surprisingly accessible and paints a vivid picture of her process of self-discovery through a Thoreau-esque 4 years in the woods with just her dog. As an artist, I particularly enjoyed the collection of watercolor pieces contributed by Auvinen’s partner. - R.H.

From meteorology to mystery and mythology, this book has it all. Although the title alludes to the history of a set of islands covering a small fraction of our planet’s surface, Christina Thompson sails the globe in this thrilling exploration of the driven humans who chanced upon the pacific islands. Perhaps one of the most touching points is Thompson’s personal connection to Polynesian society in her Maori husband. - R.H.

Easy, cheap, and always delicious. Isa is a food genius. I find myself daydreaming about her recipe for Seitan and Wild Mushroom stew more often than I’d like to admit. I’ve loved everything I’ve made in this book so far. Whether you’re a vegan or not this book hits all the marks - accessible, delectable, alluring photography, and witty. - R.H.

A combination of art, fashion, history, and chemistry. Kassia St. Clair offers a unique exploration on art and history through color. The discovery and proliferation of 75 different colors are examined through trivia tidbits and historical anecdotes, making Secret Lives of Color a fascinating read. Formatted and designed beautifully, this book is great for any color or history lover. - R.H.

Like so many, I made the move toward low-water gardening out of a feeling of responsibility, but what I didn’t expect was how much I would love the drought-tolerant plants and landscaping elements that came with it. Dry Gardens celebrates those elements, showcasing the hardscaping—paths, stonework, architectural elements—as well as plants (including sage, succulents, and cacti) in 25 public and private gardens. This is a gorgeous look at gardens that are perfect for our current and future water resources. - S.B.

Flower Color Guide is a wonderful reference book. Organized by color and emphasizing seasonality, this book has gorgeous studio photos of 400 flowers and includes tips on flower care, vessel preparation, and color schemes. A great book for anyone looking for tips on arranging flowers or in search of a reference for painting. - Rechelle

Burton-Hill selects one piece each day for a year in this introduction to classical music. Spanning multiple genres, time periods, and regions, with 336 works and 240 composers, Year of Wonder is a beautifully curated playlist aimed at classical music aficionados as well as those who have wanted to enjoy classical music but haven’t known where to begin. Each song is paired with a story about the composer and the composition. - Rechelle

Randal Ford’s Animal Kingdom is a collection of 150 animal portraits 2 years in the making. Ford’s use of lighting and composition helps capture the uniqueness of each animal that he photographs. The use of a studio removes any distraction in the background, resulting in a showcase of the personality of his subjects. A great book for any animal or bird lover. - Rechelle