August at Bookworks Features Birding in New Mexico, Art of Forgiving and More!

August's events at Bookworks are below. For more information, visit bkwrks.com/event.

Saturday, Aug 1
3pm • Baldwin Burr • Socorro
The town of Socorro got its name from the "succor" travelers found at the northern end of a 90-mile-long desert trail known as the Jornada del Muerto, the "Journey of the Dead Man," in central New Mexico. The village of Socorro, located at the site of the ancient 1600s Piro Pueblo, was first settled sometime around 1816 as an agricultural community.

Sunday, Aug 2
3pm • Marilyn O'Leary • No One to Wake
In No One To Wake, Marilyn C. O'Leary shares "a bouquet of mourning" the death of her husband of fifty years. This book of poetry is beyond beautiful. And one needn't have been married for fifty years, or married at all, to feel softly wrapped in the understanding of how it feels to lose someone you love deeply.

Tuesday, Aug 4
7pm • Judy Liddell & Barbara Hussey • Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico & Northern New Mexico
From pine forest to desert scrub, from alpine meadow to riparian wetland, Albuquerque and its surrounding area in New Mexico offer an appealing variety of wildlife habitat.

Wednesday, Aug 5
7pm • BéBé La La with Alicia Ultan & Maryse Lapierre •
Bébé La La features singer-songwriter, guitarist, and violist Alicia Ultan (formerly of the award-winning "twisted folk" duo Charmed, and currently also with the Jaded Heart Band) and vocalist-accordionist Maryse Lapierre, who is originally from Quebec, Canada.

Thursday, Aug 6
7pm • Jim Howell • Countdown to Atomgeddon
The Second World War was reaching a deciding point in late 1944 when the United States formed teams of scientists and specialized military units in the hope of stopping Germany from developing a "super weapon." These teams were responsible for capturing supplies of uranium and thorium raw materials and laboratory equipment used to produce the "super bomb."

Saturday, Aug 8
3pm • Bill Galbreth • Mark of the Mob
After nearly forty years of silence, Dr. Bill Galbreth, finally tells his personal story of his coincidental repeated involvement with the Boston mafia and the torture they inflicted upon him in the mid-1970's. Dr. Galbreth lays out, in striking clarity, the underbelly and human nature of the American mob.

Sunday, Aug 9
3pm • Mark Nelson • The Wastewater Gardener: Preserving the Planet One Flush at a Time
Mark Nelson, PhD, takes us on a global expedition to learn how we are wasting the world's dwindling supplies of fresh water by flushing away a very valuable resource, our own human wastes!

Tuesday, Aug 11
7pm • Greg Comer • Winner Takes None
Can a 14-year-old orphan out-con a heartless bunch of rustlers, hustlers and railroad thugs? When Deuter Seebea loses his family and only friend on the way to Oregon in 1879, he has no place to go, and nobody to turn to.

Thursday, Aug 13
7pm • Charles Curtin • The Science of Open Spaces: Theory and Practice fro Conserving Large Complex Sustems
Since the days of the American Frontier, our management policies have promoted a one-size-fits-all mentality for large, complex landscapes. Landscape ecologist Charles Curtin argues that instead we need a science-based approach that accounts for the dynamic nature of complex systems and gives local stakeholders a say in their futures.

Saturday, Aug 15
2pm • Megan Feldman Bettencourt at the Center for Spiritual Living 2801 Louisiana NE • Triumph of the Heart: Forgiveness in an Unforgiving World
Veteran journalist Megan Feldman had never considered herself a forgiving person. She'd just gone through a breakup and felt perfectly justified in hating her ex forever. But then she encountered a man who had truly forgiven the teenager who murdered his only son. How could anyone forgive that? Was there something wrong with him? Or was there something wrong with her?

Sunday, Aug 16
3pm • Irene Blea • Daughters of the West Mesa
This novel is based on a true story. In 2009 eleven female remains and an unborn fetus were discovered on the West Mesa outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Irene Blea has synthesized what she experienced while living in the region and introduces us to Dora, a single mother, and her two daughters, Luna and Andrea. Luna has been missing for several months.

Tuesday, Aug 18
7pm • Claudette Sutton • Farewell Aleppo
The author's grandfather decided that safety in the face of rising anti-Semitism in Syria required him to "export his sons," beginning with the oldest, Claudette's father. She tells both her own father's unique story and the captivating larger tale of how a people once battered by history have in the end survived and thrived.

Wednesday, Aug 19
7pm • Kadampa Meditation Group Book Talk • Modern Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Come join our local Kadampa Meditation group to discuss Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's book Modern Buddhism.

Thursday, Aug 20
7pm • Larry Littlefield & Pearl Burns • Wildflowers of the Northern and Central Mountains of New Mexico: Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia & Manzano
This unique reference work describes over 350 wildflowers and flowering shrubs that grow in New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains, as well as neighboring ranges, including the Manzanita, San Pedro, Ortiz, and other lower-elevation mountains in central portions of the state.

Saturday, Aug 22
3pm • Tom Corbett & Lee Marmon • Laguna Pueblo
The distinguished American Indian photographer Lee Marmon has documented over sixty years of Laguna history: its people, customs, and cultural changes. Here more than one hundred of Marmon's photos showcase his talents while highlighting the cohesive, adaptive, and independent character of the Laguna people.

Sunday, Aug 23
3pm • Jonathan Miller • Navajo Repo
Right as he's about to propose, Sam Marlow's fiance Selena Mondragon is kidnapped by her ex-husband. With the help of Heidi Hawk and her plucky crew from Navajo Repo ("Sometimes we repo people"), Marlow has to rescue Selena and escape the bad guys as they hide out through reservations of the southwest.

5pm • Joy Harjo • Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems
In these poems, the joys and struggles of the everyday are played against the grinding politics of being human. Beginning in a hotel room in the dark of a distant city, we travel through history and follow the memory of the Trail of Tears from the bend in the Tallapoosa River to a place near the Arkansas River.

Tuesday, Aug 25
7pm • Panel Discussion - Go Set a Watchman •
by Harper Lee
Join literary experts for a panel on the new, revived Harper Lee book, Go Set a Watchman. Panelists include Sharon Oard Warner, professor of creative writing at the University of New Mexico and director of the Taos Writers Conference; Lisa Walden, University of New Mexico bookstore manager and long time bookseller; Carolyn Flynn, Southern writer of short storie and longtime newspaper editor for women's issues; Hakim Bellamy, inaugural Albuquerque poet laureate and Tom Robinson in the 2014 production of To Kill a Mockinbird in Albuquerque.

Wednesday, Aug 26
7pm • Nan Weber • Singing in the Saddle: The Life & Times of Yellowstone Chip & Mattie
After finding traces of Yellowstone Chips writing at the historic OTO Dude Ranch north of Yellowstone National Park, Nan Weber tracked Chips history. In the course of her research, she found Chips memoirs, his music, his cartooning, and his family. Chips story follows his travels from his Illinois childhood home to the majesty of the Western United States. His lively journey encompasses music, cowboy life, and, most of all, people. His is the story of a true singing cowboy.

Thursday, Aug 27
7pm • Fred Phillips & G. Emlen Hall • Reining in the Rio Grande
The Rio Grande was ancient long before the first humans reached its banks. These days, the highly regulated river looks nothing like it did to those early settlers. Alternately viewed as a valuable ecosystem and life-sustaining foundation of community welfare or a commodity to be engineered to yield maximum economic benefit, the Rio Grande has brought many advantages to those who live in its valley, but the benefits have come at a price.

Saturday, Aug 29
3pm • Sage & Jared's Happy Gland Band •
Join our favorite indie folk duo Sage Harrington and Jared Putnam of the Happy Gland Band. Donations are welcome!

Sunday, Aug 30
1pm • Jennifer Jacobson • Reads Soul Tarot Cards
Jennifer Jacobson reads tarot Soul Cards. $10 for a 10-15 minute session.

3pm • Paul Goldman • Upon Your Canvas
In this new collection of ecstatic poetry, Paul Goldman, through a collaboration with Intuitive Artist Natosha Keefer (www.natoshakeefer.com), creates a sacred space where you may again feel free to fall into the ocean of your own longing for solace, for peace, for hope and - at the deepest measure of your humanity - an enriched connection to your own personal Divinity.

Saturday, Aug 1
10:30am • Dr. Seuss Story Time at Animal Humane 615 Virginia SE • What Pet Should I Get?
Join us at the lovely Animal Hmane New Mexico campus for a special Dr. Seuss story time and pet appreciation event! Connie Griffin of Bookworks will read the new Dr. Seuss book and animals and the new campus additions will be on display for those folks interested in the work of Animal Humane New Mexico.

Thursday, Aug 6
10:30am • Story Time featuring animals at night!
We will start out with Good Night Gorilla and go on from there. We'll have stories, songs and snack. Play groups and preschool classes welcome.

Saturday, Aug 8
10:30am • Bad Kitty Birthday Party!
We are planning to be purrfectly silly at our party for book character Bad Kitty. It's his birthday year and we are joining in the fun! Please feel welcome to come dressed as a cat.

Thursday, Aug 13
10:30am • Story Time! Something's fishy!
We will be reading stories about fish. Get in the swim and join us for stories, songs and snack.

Saturday, Aug 15
10:30am • We're building dioramas!
Bring a shoe box if you can and we will have paper, fabric and such on hand. Pick a theme and dig in. The event is free and open to the public, all ages. Our inspiration for this event is a new book by Tara Altebrando entitled My Life in Dioramas. Authors and others around the country are taking up the challenge to create a diorama. Join the fun!

4:30pm • Teen Book Club
The book selection for the month is Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews.

Wednesday, Aug 19
4:30pm • American Girl Book Club! Sunlight & Shadow
New members welcome. We will talking about Sunlight and Shadow, a Josefina Classic vol. 1. It is part of the American Girl Beforever books. The book club is free and open to the public. We also have a craft activity and snack.

Thursday, Aug 20
10:30am • Story Time • Art!
Our theme for this week is art. We will will have stories, songs, snack and of course an art project.

Saturday, Aug 22
10:30am • Stories on Saturday with Caroline Rose StarrOver in the Wetlands
Publishing in time for the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, here is a beautiful read-aloud about animal families preparing for an impending storm in their bayou habitat.

Wednesday, Aug 26
4:30pm • Magic Treehouse Book Club!
Our book will be Dolphins at Daybreak. We talk about the book, do a craft activity and have snack. The club is free and open to the public.

Thursday, Aug 27
10:30am • Story Time! Ships Ahoy!
We are going to read books that feature boats. Set sail in search of stories, songs and snacks. Ahoy!

Saturday, Aug 29
10:30am • Stories on Saturday with award winning author Jacqueline Kelly!
Jacqueline Kelly will talk about and sign her new book The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate. This is a great time for children and teachers to meet at talk with the author of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Join us to see how she has continued the story of the Tate family.

Monday, Aug 10
7pm • Coloring Coffee Klatch and Conversation •
Because of the popularity of coloring books we are starting aColoring Coffee Klatch and Conversation group. A customer talking about the great interest in artist Johanna Basford's books suggested it and we said," Let's try it!' Bring a cup of coffee, or tea, pencils, crayons or markers and coloring book, or buy one here.

Wednesday, Aug 12
7pm • Bookworks Book Club • Finding Flow
by Mihaly Csikszentimihalyi
Part psychological study, part self-help book, Finding Flow is a prescriptive guide that aims to help us reclaim ownership of our lives. Based on a study of thousands of individuals, this handbook contends that we often walk through our days unaware and out of touch with our emotional lives.

Monday, Aug 17
7pm • Reading Purls Knitting Group • Love in Every Stitch: Stories of Knitting & Healing
by Lee Grant
Bring whatever knit or crochet project you are working on and join us for book and yarn talk. We will be talking about a book entitled, Love in Every Stitch by Lee Grant.

Monday, Aug 24
7pm • Austen Project Book 2 • Northanger Abbey
by Val McDermid
This month we will be discussing Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid. We are reading and talking about the books in the Austen Project which pairs six contemporary authors with the six complete Austen novels.

Tuesday, Sept 1
7pm • Adrienne Celt • Daughters
Lulu can't sing. Since the traumatic birth of her daughter, the internationally renowned soprano hasn't dared utter a note. She's afraid that her body is too fragile and that she may have lost her talent to a long-dreaded curse afflicting all of the mothers in her family. In incandescent prose, debut novelist Adrienne Celt skillfully intertwines the sensuous but precise physicality of both motherhood and music.

Thursday, Sept 3
7pm • Tony Hoagland • Application for Release from the Dream
Are we corrupt or innocent, fragmented or whole? Are responsibility and freedom irreconcilable? Do we value memory or succumb to our forgetfulness? Tony Hoagland's fifth collection of poems, pursues these questions with the hobnailed abandon of one who needs to know how a citizen of twenty-first-century America can stay human.

Saturday, Sept 5
5pm • Sarah Maas • Queen of Shadows
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire-for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past. She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people.

Sunday, Sept 13
3pm • Katha Pollitt • Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights
In this controversial and necessary book, Pollitt reframes abortion as a common part of a woman's reproductive life, one that should be accepted as a moral right with positive social implications. In clear, concise arguments, Pollitt takes on the personhood argument, reaffirms the priority of a woman's life and health, and discusses why terminating a pregnancy can be a force for good for women, families, and society. By whole-heartedly defending abortion rights, Pollitt argues, we reclaim the lives and the rights of women and mothers.

To post a comment, you must register and login.