“Horse Country,” By Kathryn O’Shea-Evans (Gibbs-Smith)
“I can make a general in five minutes, but a good horse is hard to replace,” Abraham Lincoln supposedly said. Horse-lovers would agree. Among them is author Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, who writes, “Humanity has relied on (horses) for 5,000 years.”
Coloradan O’Shea-Evans writes the text of “Horse Country, a lush picture book that shows why even folks who’ve never put foot in stirrup are so taken with the four-legged animals. There is something about a picture of a horse dancing in the rain or galloping across a mountain meadow that stirs the blood. “Do you think the Trojans…would have opened their city gates for a wooden statue of a donkey?” O’Shea-Evans asks.
A coffee-table size book, “Horse Country” includes a minimum of text. Instead, the author depends on nearly 200 full-color photographs to show why horses are such majestic animals. There are also photographs of a neon horse, riders in fancy garb and stables. George Washington, O’Shea-Evans relates, built such a remarkable stable during the Revolutionary War that it still stands.
Horses are a $170 billion industry in the U.S., representing 2.2 million jobs. But itap not the economy that most of us envision when we think of horses. The animals represent beauty, freedom and even courage. “Courage,” John Wayne said, “is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
“Great Sand Dunes Massacre,” By Scott Graham (Torrey House)
Chuck Bender’s stepdaughter Rosie is among a group of lucky high school students selected for a week-long camp under the charge of a famous Hollywood director. Rosie hopes to win first prize with her film with her story about Luke, a San Luis Valley man killed in a bizarre accident at the Great Sand Dunes. Chuck, working on a special project at the Dunes, witnessed the accident, and he’s making sure Rosie’s safe in “Great Sand Dunes Massacre,” Durango author Scott Graham’s latest National Park mystery.
As Rosie works on her film, Chuck turns up weird objects recently buried in the dunes— a slice of wood, a doll, and a human ear. Meanwhile, the director’s wife is busy with her improvement project for off-the-grid residents of the valley. Locals resent her do-gooder attitude, and Chuck wonders if they’re responsible for the death and the strange burials.
Author Graham gets better with each book. His portrayal of the off-gridders who live in the valley and of the disdain outsiders show for them is understanding and sympathetic.
“The Route 66 Cookbook,” By Linda Ly (Harvard Common Press)
We all know cookbooks aren’t just for cooks. “The Route 66 Cookbook” is a good example. This beautifully illustrated tome is a culinary trip along the route of one of America’s storied highways.
Both restaurants and recipes are contemporary. No greasy spoon entrées from the days of John Steinbeck. The restaurants from Chicago to L.A. start with Grilled Thick French Toast and end with Spicy Seafood Soup. Along the way you can dine of Green Chili Grit Cakes, Morel Mushroom Pie, Bang Bang Burgers, Blackberry Wine Cake and Strawberry Whipped Cheesecake. For those with a hankering for Depression fare, there’s Poor Man’s Pecan Pie (aka Oatmeal Pie) and Heavenly Hash.
Along with the recipes, author Linda Ly describes various restaurants and even offers a tip on high-altitude cooking.
The Joad family never had it so good.
Sandra Dallas is a Denver author and book reviewer.
