Author John Washakie visits alma mater

CLICK TO ENLARGE *image used with permission from the Wind River News

October events

Oct. 7 3:30 pm MH133
Book discussion about The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.

Oct. 15 2:30 pm Arts Center Gallery
Author Tea with John Washakie

The event begins with a ceremony by the United Tribes Club to honor Washakie in the gallery of the Robert A. Peck Arts Center. This will precede his main presentation, which is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. in a nearby classroom.

Washakie, a CWC alumnus and great grandson of Chief Washakie, is the author of two children’s books: Yuse: The Bully and the Bear and Yuse and the Spirit, which are both are traditional Shoshone tales told to him by his grandmother and other family members. He decided to write the books to preserve the stories for future generations. Washakie is also the author of a collection of detective stories about a private investigator named James Sweating Horse.

Before he started writing, Washakie spent 18 years on the Eastern Shoshone Business Council. While on the Council, he made numerous presentations to the U. S. House of Representatives and Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs. He was appointed by three U. S. Department of Interior Secretaries to serve on several national committees to address issues from Reorganization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to energy policy. He earned a B.A. in History from the University of Wyoming and is a veteran of the Vietnam War.

The CWC Library Author Series was established in 2006 to inspire creativity and honor authors. Author series participants thus far have been: Karol Griffin Young (2006), Theodore Judson (2007), Kari Grady Grossman (2007), Kent Stockton (2007) and Teresa Jordan (2008).

Salman Rushdie signs our copy of The Enchantress of Florence

Sir Salman Rushdie, winner of the Booker Prize and survivor of a fatwa, spoke in Laramie Thursday and Coralina Daly and Carlie Herrick traveled down for the occasion.

July staff picks

Carol's pick:

The Poisonwood Bible

by Barbara Kingsolver

PS 3561 .I496 P65 2005

"Listen, little beast. Judge me as you will, but first listen. I am your mother. What happened to us could have happened anywhere, to any mother. I'm not the first woman on earth to have seen her daughters possessed." The Belgian Congo, 1959 (excerpt)

Cory's pick:

On Writing

by Stephen King

PS 3561 I483 Z475 2000

There may not be the kind of violence in this book for which King is known, but he pulls no punches in describing life as a writer. On Writing includes his own story, advice and a section about his brush with death in 1999. It is honest, funny and crisp. Highly recommended.

Kristy's pick:

Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

PZ 4 K4453 F1

This novel is told as a series of "Progress Reports" written by a thirty-two year-old man whose IQ is tripled by an experimental surgical procedure. The book touches upon many different ethical and moral themes such as the treatment of the mentally disabled. The story of Charlie Gordon is a memorable portrait of alienation, of an individual who is at odds with his society and who struggles to have satisfactory relationships with others. Enjoy!

Carlie's pick:

Beloved

by Toni Morrison

PS 3563 .O8749 .B4 1987B

"It was not a story to pass on." (p. 275)

Whether you decide to pass it on or pass on it is your choice. I have decided to pass it on. Enjoy!

Nicole's pick:

The architecture and design of man and woman : the marvel of the human body, revealed

by Alexander Tsiaras; Barry Werth

QM 25 .T48 2004

A fascinating look inside the human body. The detailed images are so realistic it is amazing!

Darby's pick:

Into the Wild

by Jon Krakauer

CT 9971 M38 K73 1997

Looking for that book to really boggle your mind? Check out Jon Krakauer's national bestseller Into the Wild, the story of a man who leaves behind all that he knows to find enlightenment in nature's purest form.

Candy's pick:

OceanSpace

by Allen Steele

PS 3569 .T338425 O24 2000

"You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water."

- Rabindranath Tagore

This book will take you to places not ordinary to anyone. The ocean is one of the last frontiers and this book tells a tale of people who dare to dive in .... who knows, maybe Nessie has a cousin...

Sterling's pick:

Madeline's Rescue

by Ludwig Bemelmans

OVERSIZE PZ 7 B423 MAF

Who wouldn't want to read about the adventures of a little red-headed French girl? This great children's bool tells the story of a how Madeline finds her dog, Miss. Genesieve. All throughout the story you read how Madeline is saved by Miss G and then later tries to find her in the streeets of Paris. This story also has a surpurse ending that will have you asking for more!

June staff picks

Carol's pick:
The Life of Pi

by Yann Martel

PR 9199.3 .M3855 L54 2001

"I slept in fits that night. Shortly before sunrise I gave up trying to fall asleep again and lifted myself on an elbow. I spied with my little eye a tiger. Richard Parker was restless. He was moaning and growling and pacing about the lifeboat..."




Cory's pick:
Little Things in a Big Country

by Hannah Hinchman

F 739 .A94 H565 2004

"Little Things in a Big Country is charming! Hannah Hinchman shows the magic of nature with detailed watercolors and her sometimes sweet, sometimes plucky journal entries. A treat!"


Kristy's pick:
The Past from Above

by Georg Gerster

CC 76.4 .G4713 2003

"Georg Gerster is "one of the world's finest and best-known aerial photographers." His motto is: 'distance creates an overview of the subject and an overview creates a greater understanding.' This is a fascinating look at archaeological sites as seen from the air. Enjoy!!"




Carlie's pick:
Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

by Louise Erdrich

AMIND PS 3555 .R42 L37 2001

"Louise Erdrich's storytelling is at its finest in The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse. Crossing borders of gender and spirituality cause the protagonist, Father Damien, to experience a higher calling in the Church and in the Ojibwe tribe. For Father Damien many mysteries, both internally and externally, are pieced together as he finds his place within the tribe and within the Church. Much like the Chopin Nocturnes that Father Damien loves to play, Erdrich's story draws the reader into a rich display of minor and major keys."



Nicole's pick:
Silence and Solitude

by Tom Murphy

OVERSIZE F 722 .M87 2002

"This book will capture your attention from beginning to end! It appeals to both nature-lovers and city slickers!"




Darby's pick:
Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

PR 4034 .P947 2007

"Jane Austen's timeless romantic classic that will have you begging for more. Go ahead and buy that pint of ice cream and curl up on your couch 'cause you're not gonna want to put this one down. A book every hopeless romantic can enjoy. No sneak peeks in this review, go ahead and read the book to find out for yourself! Enjoy!"




Sterling's pick:
The Annotated Hobbit

by J. R. R. Tolkien

PR 6039 O32 H6 1988

"The Hobbit is J.R.R Tolkien's amazing prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The story of Bilbo Baggins' journey to the Lonely Mountain will keep you reading on and on. In this book you find out how Bilbo comes across one small trinket that sets up the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy. I enjoy this book everytime I read it and I hope you do, too."

Candy's pick:
Atlas of Bird Migration

by Jonathan Elphick, Ed.

OVERSIZE QL 698.9 .A89 2007

"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn."-- Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

"The Atlas of Bird Migration traces the migration of birds in North America, and the season weather patterns, and the environmental factors. It has big, colorful pictures, traces the migratory patterns of potentially large flocks of birds. Go ahead, start this new hobby, you won't be disappointed!"

Edible Books bring smiles

The Library hosted its first Edible Book event March 3.

Winning entries were:

Best in Show: Workforce and Community Education Assistant Judy Hubbard's interpretation of The Rainbow Fish

Wittiest Entry: Jack Schmidt's interpretation of O'Pioneers

People's Choice: Facilities Coordinator Linda Becker's interpretation of Frankenstein

To see photos of the winners and other entries, visit
http://www.cwc.edu/About-CWC/Photo-Galleries.htm?album_id=10

Teresa Jordan wows audience

Lois Herbst of Shoshoni speaks with Teresa Jordan during the reception.

Lois Herbst of Shoshoni, Dianne Tippets of Riverton, Martha Hellyer of Lander, and Barbara Gose of Riverton gather around Teresa Jordan's books signing table during the reception.

Chair of the CWC Library Friends Barbara Gose of Riverton speaks with Teresa Jordan.

Over 60 people came to hear Teresa Jordan speak in CWC's Little Theater on April 10, 2008. Many also attended the subsequent pie reception and book signing sponsored by the Friends of the CWC Library.

Jordan, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, spoke about learning to speak Spanish and what the processs taught her. She spoke about the language barrier for immigrants and soldiers and how a person's personality changes when he or she is uncomfortable with the language. Jordan also took questions and solicited stories of audience members' experience with language.

Among the comments listed on audience surveys were "TERRIFIC PROGRAM!!" and "EXCELLENT AND ENTERTAINING AS WELL AS THOUGHT PROVOKING."

The program was made possible through a grant from the Wyoming Humanities Council. In addition to speaking at CWC, Jordan spoke at Western Wyoming Community College and both the Powell and Cody branches of the Park County Public Library System.

Photos courtesy of Carolyn Aanestad

Teresa Jordan presents "Learning the Language: Close Encounters of the Spoken Kind"

6:30 pm
April 10, 2008
CWC Little Theater
Reception/book signing to follow


Through the great generosity of the Wyoming Humanities Council, the CWC Library presents Teresa Jordan, author of the classic memoir Riding the White Horse Home, among many others.



Riverton is the second stop on a four-city tour for Jordan. She speaks at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs on April 9, and in Cody and Powell on April 12.

Jordan's latest work is about immersing herself in Argentinian culture and her attempts to master the Spanish language.

The April 10 presentation will be followed by a pie reception and book signing in the Fremont Room. Teresa Jordan's art and books will be for sale.

Call 855-2141 for more information.

Edible Book Extravaganza!

The CWC Library is hosting our first-ever edible book contest on Monday, March 3.

Anyone is welcome to enter and participate. The idea is simple:
Play with your food!

You just come up with an edible interpretation of a book title (or scene, etc.).
For example, "The Tale of Pita Rabbit," pictured above fom the University of Texas' 2007 event. One entry here will be "The Rise and Fall of the Ramen Empire." For more ideas, see more great submissions from the University of Texas here, or watch this youtube video from the public library in Portland, Maine.

If you can't participate, stop in and vote and sample the entries. We will be in the CWC Fremont Room from 11:30 am - 1 pm on Monday March 3. Call 855-2332 for more information.

Diversity Month book discussion: The Kite Runner

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Join with us Feb. 27 from 1:30 to 2:20 in MH 137. We have several copies of the book for you to check out, but you needn't have read it to participate.

What do you think about what is happening in Afghanistan?

Many of us can't even spell Afghanistan, let alone understand what is going on and why.

Part of the library's focus on Diversity this month is a chance to talk about these issues during a discussion about Khaled Hosseini's tremendous first novel, "The Kite Runner" (a movie version was released last fall).

One synopsis calls "The Kite Runner":
"An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the atrocities of the present.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption, and it is also about the power of fathers over sons-their love, their sacrifices, their lies."

What we're reading: Carlie Herrick

Sherman Alexie’s Flight takes readers on a postmodern picaresque time journey. The main character Zits, a fifteen year old, anger walking machine, decides to gun down innocent bystanders at a Seattle bank lobby. During his shooting rampage, Zits is shot in the head and, thus, begins his pícaro time journey. Instead of visiting traditional Purgatoire, Zits’s spirit embodies historical figures, such as a young Native American boy at Little Big Horn; a racist, white male FBI agent at Red River; and an Indian Scout at Sand Creek Massacre. Through his time travels, Zits begins to ask questions about resolution, violence, judgment, and grace. Further, he begins to understand that his identity doesn’t have to be tied to zits, anger, and abuse. Alexie’s style of humor and poignancy are at its best.

Books as art

The Lander Art Center's new exhibit "Altered Books" opens today, Jan. 9. The public is invited to a reception will be held from 6-8 pm, Friday, January 11.

"Altered Books" is a body of work based on a collaboration of 24 artists using the idea of “book” as a starting point and arepresented in a variety of structures in mixed media. The resulting works explore a range of ideas from mapping and place, to secrets,celebrating the ordinary in daily life, to passage, alchemy and perception, trees as metaphor, list making, home and the cycles oflife to name a few. It's a must see! If you can't make the reception, "Altered Books" will be on display until February 1, 2008.

The Lander Art Center is located at 224 Main Street in Lander (former location of Hello the House). Call 332-5772 for more information.