Posted by Jason on Thursday, Sep 27, 2012
West High School's book club "A Novel Idea" meets today after school at 2:30 in the West High Library. They've been reading the wildly popular dystopian Fantasy novel "Divergent" by Veronica Roth. It won the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards "Favorite Book of 2011," I have to say I was not a member of the "favorite" faction.
West High Librarians Beth and Jill have again allowed me to join you all to hash this one out. Hope to see you there!
Cary J. Griffith’s account of the 2007 Ham Lake fire that, over two weeks, burned 75,000 acres of woodlands in northern Minnesota and into Canada. Griffith opens with the fire raging towards an inhabited area of northwood cabins, a local Deputy tries to persuade a resourceful 76-year-old area resident to follow the mandatory evacuation. The story is told chronologically and from many points of view, Griffith introduces us to a variety of people involved in the fire and it’s plain to see that he was thorough in his search for first hand accounts. Over the following chapters Griffith introduces us to the camper whose fire started the blaze, resort and homeowners in the area, police and fire personnel, as well as scientists that detail the natural and climatic conditions that led to it burning so widely. His descriptions of the area’s natural history help to explain how this fire got out of hand so quickly. Those with a strong connection to the area that “Gunflint Burning” covers and can attest that Griffith was able to capture the sights and sounds that make canoe trips in the Boundary Waters so special. -Jason