November 2021
Several weeks ago, in exasperation I blurted "It don't make no sense that common sense don't make no sense no more" and Marcee, upon hearing that said, "Wow, that's profound--did you just make that up?" And I had to confess that the line came from John Prine, whom I miss every day (he passed away from complications of Covid) but we keep his memory alive with his music often playing in the store. But really...does anything make sense any more? Among the many things which keep me up at night, the bookstore is now having some difficulties getting books in a timely fashion, just as the giving season approaches. Those who know me understand my reluctance to promote 'giving for the sake of giving', but I also want to not disappoint you, our customers. Please consider shopping a little earlier this year, exercise patience, smile often and consider random acts of kindness. If Back of Beyond Books can play a role, great!
And play music--often and loudly!
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Back of Beyond Books is pleased to invite you to a conversation between Amy Irvine and Nadia Owusu on Zoom (link below), November 5th at 6:30pm. Amy and Nadia will be speaking broadly as social and eco justice activists, memoirists with a deep attachment to place and about their deep friendship forged through what they write about, the act of writing and through teaching nonfiction together in the Mountainview MFA Low-Residency Creative Writing Program at Southern New Hampshire University.
Both Amy and Nadia have written memoirs, Trespass from Amy and Aftershocks from Nadia. We will be celebrating both memoirs as part of this conversation.
They will also be discussing the urgent issue of women’s bodies in relationship to indigenous and public lands, through the lenses of the Gabby Petitio story and the murders of Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner; and the the crisis of missing and murdered Native American women and girls, including Faith Lindsey, Olivia Lone Bear, Ella Mae Begay and too many others.
NADIA OWUSU is a Ghanaian and Armenian-American writer and urbanist. Her first book, Aftershocks, topped many most-anticipated and best book of the year lists, including The New York Times, TIME, Vulture, and the BBC. It was a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice.
Nadia is the recipient of a 2019 Whiting Award. Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in The New York Times, The Paris Review Daily, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Slate, Bon Appétit, and others.
By day, Nadia is Director of Storytelling at Frontline Solutions, a consulting firm working in partnership with philanthropic and nonprofit organizations on issues from poverty and inequality to education and climate justice. She teaches creative writing at the Mountainview MFA program and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Amy Irvine is the author of numerous essays and four nonfiction books addressing environmental, Indigenous and feminist concerns. She is a contributing editor for Orion Magazine, her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Outside, Orion, Pacific Standard, Best American Science & Nature Writing, and Best American Food Writing. Her first memoir, Trespass, received the Orion Book Award, and the Ellen Meloy Desert Writers Award. Her second memoir, Almost Animal, is forthcoming by Spiegel & Grau in Spring 2023. Irvine, a Mountainview MFA alumnus, lives, writes, and teaches off-grid on a remote mesa in southwest Colorado.
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Back of Beyond Books is excited to provide the launch party of Brooke Williams' new book, Mary Jane Wild: Two Walks and a Rant. He will be in conversation with owner of Back of Beyond Books, Andy Nettell on November 3, 2021 at 6:30 pm via Zoom (link below).
Brooke Williams walked twice into Southern Utah’s Mary Jane Wilderness: at the beginning of the Trump presidency, which will be seen as among most tumultuous and destructive in American History, and four-years later at its end. In Mary Jane Wild Brooke documents his experience in this magical place, his sense of what happened during the Trump dynasty, why, and its possible long-term effects. It is also his story of how walking in the wilderness heals, helps him identify, then adapt to changing modern conditions, and understand the role wildness continues to play in the evolution of life. Brooke Williams lives and walks in Castle Valley, Utah.
"During the pandemic, Brooke and I began meeting weekly in conversation--no agendas, no plans--just a couple guys needing the outlet of friendship and social interaction. Our weekly chats ranged widely in theme and were free-wheeling fun explorations of life, similar, I suspect, to our meeting on Wednesday. In a small sense, Brooke was testing material on me which ended up in Mary Jane Wild. Little did I know. Brooke and I invite you to lurk via the Zoom platform--it'll be fun!" ---Andy Nettell
Throughout the pandemic I’ve been fascinated with the creative output from artists. For many, working creatively is a solitary process and Covid has allowed for amazing output. Because audiences are vital to most musicians, their output has changed dramatically.
One small case case study are Brooke and Terry. Brooke’s covid project was decidedly solo while Terry collaborated with photographer Fazel Sheikh. Neither project was designed to be published as much as an avenue to speak their thoughts—especially in the era of Trump and Covid.
Terry Tempest Williams’ new book, from the German publisher Steidl is a call and response between photographer and writer and, perhaps because it was not intended for publication is deeply personal. “The Moon is Behind Us” is now available at Back of Beyond Books.
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Brooke Williams Interview on Hardback Radio
Join Andy and Shari from Back of Beyond Books and Jessie of the Grand County Public Library Monday November 1st at 5pm for the Radio Book Club. These three are voracious readers and will provide many great reading choices and new book reviews. We are pleased to have Brooke Williams join us to discuss his new book Mary Jane Wild: Two Walks and a Rant. Brooke will also be interviewed via Zoom on November 3rd, see above. Tune in locally at 90.1 or 106.7 or world-wide at KZMU.org
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Andy's Pick
We just had a nice signed copy of Edward Abbey's Journey Home walk through the front door and have priced it reasonably.
Journey Home: Some Words in Defense of the American West
Signed by the author on first free end paper. Red boards quarter bound in black cloth with metallic red lettering on spine. Slight rubbing and a few small dents to edges of boards; spine is cocked. Illustrated dust jacket with white lettering on cover and blue and brown lettering on spine. Jacket is not price clipped and wrapped in Mylar. Slight creasing and chipping to edges of jacket; mild soiling. Binding is tight. Interior has mild foxing to endpapers. Previous owner's name in pen on front pastedown and in marker on top edge of text block. Black and white illustrations by Jim Stiles throughout. This collection of essays by famed environmentalist and author Edward Abbey explores the connections between wilderness, civilization, and human freedom in the American West. ; B&W Illustrations; 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall; 242 pp. Seller Inventory # 023221 $250.00
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The Perfect Way to Support Back of Beyond Books! |
Click on the gift card to purchase. We will mail your card or have for pick-up in store. |
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Seven Ways to buy books locally and to support your community!!
For the hundredth time this week I heard, "I listened to that on Audible" I plead with you to see point # 7 below. Over 90% of all audio books are purchased through Audible (owned and operated by Amazon). This is a monopoly! Only Libro.fm is fighting the good fight. Give them a chance--they are very good people and are working very hard to provide choices.
1) Shop on Back of Beyond Books Bookshop.org website. There is no need to shop Amazon anymore with Bookshop.org doing their fine work. Back of Beyond Books is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and receive 30% from every purchase you make on the link above.
2) Come to the store. 83 N. Main St. The store is open 9 am to 6 pm daily.
3) Call us. 1-800-700-2859 or 435-259-5154. We have our database handy and are happy to hand deliver in the Moab Valley or drop-ship to your home. Special order titles are usually 20% off.
4) E-mail us at orders@backofbeyondbooks.com
Our website offers about 300 of our best selling regional titles.
6) Buy gift cards--it's like money in your book bank.
7) Purchase your audio books via https://libro.fm/ As long as you identify Back of Beyond Books as your bookseller, we will receive a % of the sale.
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Back of Beyond Books is For Sale. Your chance to own one of the iconic western bookstores. Contact Steve Hitchcock for further information:
Andy Nettell
83 North Main Street
Moab, UT 84532
(435) 259 5154
1-800-700-2859
Instagram: @backofbeyondbooks
Facebook: facebook.com/moabbooks
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