The Dog Stars is a page-turning novel whose setting will be of particular interest
to those of us living in the. Grand Valley. “The Dog Stars gripped me — it's the ...
KKCO
find complete event information at guides.mesacountylibraries.org/onebook
The Dog Stars takes place in a post-apocalyptic America where most of the population has been wiped out by a mysterious blood disease. The survivors of the pandemic are left to fend for themselves in scattered bands where the reality is kill or be killed. Hig, the main character in the novel, has found refuge in an abandoned airport in eastern Colorado with a paramilitaristic loner named Bangley. But Hig isn’t satisfied with mere “survival.” He wants to find a sense of meaning in this decimated world. Trying not to think of his former life, Hig finds sanity in fishing, staring at the constellations, and flying his plane. With his dog, Jasper, Hig flies the perimeter of their safety zone in his 1956 Cessna. Bangley has a
well-stocked arsenal, and between them, they keep a watchful eye for unfriendly invaders. On one of his forays, through broken static, Hig hears another pilot over the radio, an incident that haunts him until he goes in search of this other human being. Packing enough supplies to get him there and back, he takes off for western Colorado in search of the voice. During his six-week journey, he discovers more than he bargained for. Part lament for humanity, part ode to nature, Peter Heller’s prose is by turns vividly crisp and beautifully lyrical. The Dog Stars is a page-turning novel whose setting will be of particular interest to those of us living in the Grand Valley.
“The Dog Stars gripped me — it’s the real deal. Heller’s voice is extraordinary and his narrator’s toughness seems to hide a beautiful and aching restlessness. One of those books that makes you happy for literature.” — Junot Díaz, Wall Street Journal
Peter Heller is the awardwinning author of The Dog Stars and four books of literary nonfiction. He is a contributor to National Public Radio and Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal and National Geographic Adventure. At the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he received an MFA in fiction and poetry and won a Michener fellowship for his epic poem “The Psalms of Malvine.” Heller is an avid outdoorsman and kayaker. He has traveled the world as an expedition kayaker, writing about challenging descents on several continents. His previous works are: Kook: What Surfing Taught Me about Love, Life, and Catching the Perfect Wave
(2010). Having resolved to master a big-hollow wave — to go from beginner to shredder — in a single year, Heller travels south down the coast of Mexico with his girlfriend and surfers they meet. Kook won the National Outdoor Book Award for Literature. The Whale Warriors: The Battle at the Bottom of the World to Save the Planet’s Largest Mammals (2008). While on assignment for National Geographic Adventure, Heller joined the crew of an eco-pirate ship belonging to a radical environmental group as they sailed to Antarctica to disrupt the Japanese whaling fleet. Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet’s Tsangpo River (2004). In
2002 Heller joined the ground team for the most ambitious whitewater expedition in history as it made its way through the Tsangpo Gorge in Eastern Tibet. The gorge, three times deeper than the Grand Canyon, is sacred to Buddhists and is the inspiration for James Hilton’s Shangri La. It is so deep there are tigers and leopards in the bottom and 25,000-foot peaks up top. Outside Magazine’s Urban Adventure: Denver/Boulder (2002). This guide details the options for outdoor adventuring all within (or a half day’s drive from) the city limits.
Peter Heller is an award-winning author and journalist. He will speak live at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, at the Avalon Theatre.
FEB 3 – Movie Series 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Central Library Program Area
Explore Hollywood’s take on some of the themes in The Dog Stars. For a list of movie titles and descriptions visit your nearest Mesa County Libraries location.
Each year One Book, One Mesa County selects a book that is both entertaining and discussable. As with all of our past selections, The Dog Stars is no exception. Join fellow community members at one of seven book discussions to share your thoughts about the 2013 selection.
Feb 9 — PALISADE Branch Discussion 10 a.m., Saturday, Palisade Branch Library Feb 12 — CLIFTON Branch Discussion 3 p.m., Tuesday, Clifton Branch Library Feb 16 — ORCHARD MESA Branch Discussion 10 a.m., Saturday, Orchard Mesa Branch Library Feb 21 — Community Book Discussion 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Central Library Program Area Feb 21 — Collbran Branch Discussion 7 p.m., Thursday, Collbran Branch Feb 23 — de Beque Branch Discussion 11 a.m., Saturday, De Beque Branch Library mar 2 — FRUITA Branch Discussion 10 a.m., Saturday, Fruita Branch Library
FEB 4 - The Night sky
Humans have been gazing and studying the night sky since the dawn of man. Get an in-depth look at what the constellations mean and how they have been interpreted by man over the ages. Local poet and mythology expert Luis Lopez and astronomy experts Hank Schoch and Danny Rosen present.
FEB 20 - HIG’S COMFORTS
Hig lives in a grim world but finds some comfort in many of the same things we take for granted, notably our relationship with our pets. Learn about the strength of that relationship and how other activities help keep us human at Hig’s Comforts featuring Bill Haggerty, Teri Thomas, and Lew Evans.
FEB 27 - superflus
Talk about timing. After one of the worst flu seasons in recent years, learn about superflus, survival in emergency situations and common sense. Information presented by Jeff Kuhr from the Mesa County Health Department, retired Military Police Offer Rich Paul, and GJPD Officer Cody Kennedy.
Feb 4 – Hig and the Night Sky 6 p.m., Monday, Central Library Program Area
Why are humans compelled to gaze at and study the night sky? What consolation are the constellations to Hig and to all of us? Join Luis Lopez, a local poet and expert in Roman and Greek mythology; Danny Rosen of the Western Sky Planetarium; and Hank Schoch, President of the Western Colorado Astronomy Club, to discuss these and other questions.
FEB 10 – Movie Series 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Central Library Program Area
Explore Hollywood’s take on some of the themes in The Dog Stars. For a list of movie titles and descriptions visit your nearest Mesa County Libraries location.
Feb 11 – Flying, Maintaining a Plane in Hig’s World 6 p.m., Monday, Central Library Program Area
Learn about how challenging it would be to keep a plane operational and safe in a postpandemic world… and about the enjoyment of piloting over the Rocky Mountains. Hear from local pilot Bob Fisher, who flies the same model Cessna that Hig does, and Dana Brewer, owner of Monument Aircraft Services, LLC, at Mack Mesa Airport.
FEB 17 – Movie Series 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Central Library Program Area
Explore Hollywood’s take on some of the themes in The Dog Stars. For a list of movie titles and descriptions visit your nearest Mesa County Libraries location.
Feb 20 – Hig’s Comforts: Nature, Fishing, a Loyal Dog 6 p.m., Wednesday, Central Library Program Area
Despite Hig’s grim world, he found solace and escape in the Rocky Mountains, fly fishing and his dedicated companion and copilot, his dog Jasper. Learn more about these subjects from Bill Haggerty, retired Division of Wildlife spokesman, author of a local hiking guide and outdoor columnist for The Daily Sentinel; Teri Thomas, owner of Angels in the Making, LLC, dog training and animal behavior counseling service, Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Canine Behavior Counselor; and Lew Evans, past President of Grand Valley Anglers, the largest chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers in Western Colorado.
Feb 21 – Community Book Discussion 6 p.m., Thursday, Central Library Program Area
Join an open discussion of The Dog Stars facilitated by One Book, One Mesa County committee members.
FEB 24 – aVALON MOVIE: contagion 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Avalon Theatre, Downtown Grand Junction
Join us for a special showing of Contagion staring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet. A lethal airborne virus spreads to millions of people across the planet, killing many quickly. The medical community races to stop the pandemic while ordinary people fight for survival in a world where panic is as lethal as the virus. Movie tickets are available at the theater.
Feb 27 – Superflus, Survival and Common Sense 6 p.m., Wednesday, Central Library Program Area
Could a lethal virus decimate humanity? What helped Hig and others survive in a harsh world without medical care, normal society or basic supplies? Learn more from Jeff Kuhr, PhD, Executive Director of the Mesa County Health Department; Rich Paul, retired Military Police Officer and member of Mesa County Search and Rescue; and Cody Kennedy, Grand Junction Police Officer with special training in emergency situations and preparing for disasters.
March 6 – Literary Approach to The Dog Stars 6 p.m., Wednesday, Central Library Program Area
Dystopian literature is a fast-growing genre, particularly with young adults. Dystopian literature explores the opposite of utopia… a society that is dehumanized, often with oppressive governments, environmental disasters or other forces associated with a cataclysmic decline in society. Explore the major themes, characters and world views of The Dog Stars with Maureen Neal, PhD, Colorado Mesa University Department of English Professor; Brenda Wilhelm, PhD, Colorado Mesa University Sociology Professor; and Shanna Smith, Mesa County Libraries Teen Librarian.
March 9 – Peter Heller Author Event 7 p.m., Saturday, Avalon Theatre, Main Street.
Hear The Dog Stars author Peter Heller speak at this free event.
Note: The Central Library is temporarily located at 1st Street and Gunnison Avenue.
Honorary Chair Library Director Eve Tallman
Steering Committee Lois Becker, co-chair Janine Rider, co-chair Angie Allen Donna Bettencourt Esther Broughton Betsy Brodak Lynn Silipigni Connaway Sarah Cron Betsey Dick TJ Gerlach David Goe Laura Mettauer Barbara Roberts
Special thanks to…
Dufford, Waldeck, Milburn & Krohn Friends of the Mesa County Libraries Lynn Lickers Five 60 Salon Contact One Book through Mesa County Libraries, 970-683-2435, or visit www.mesacountylibraries.org.
KKCO
The One Book, One Mesa County committee believes a community that reads together, grows together. That’s why this year we’ve made it easier than ever to snag a copy of the 2013 One Book selection, The Dog Stars. The book is available in multiple formats, including CD audiobook and as a downloadable audiobook and downloadable ebook from Mesa County Libraries. There are also more than 130 hardback copies available for checkout. Reserve your copy of The Dog Stars online at www.mesacountylibraries. org or from the Mesa County Libraries mobile app. You can also reserve your copy by visiting one of eight library locations throughout Mesa County. Once you have finished reading the book, make sure to attend a book discussion and share your opinion. Book discussion events are listed in this guide. For more information about reserving your copy of The Dog Stars, call 970-243-4442.
“The community that opens the same book closes it in greater harmony.” — Mary McCrory, late Washington Post writer
One Book invites you to read, discuss and enjoy the same book as many of your neighbors and friends. For several weeks in February and early March, One Book will serve up a smorgasbord of programs, discussions, and movies related to the book. Then comes dessert on March 9, a visit from Peter Heller at the Avalon Theatre. The Dog Stars is a book with a frightening but believable premise: a pandemic has killed most of the population. One Book tries to provide readers with a variety of books over time, and venturing into a postapocalyptic world will be a new experience for us. Why participate in One Book? First, it’s fun to read a book with others so you can talk about it together. One Book might also tempt you to read a book you don’t know about or wouldn’t choose otherwise. Attend the programs and enrich your understanding of topics suggested by the book. Finally, meet and listen to the author, ask questions, and have him sign your book. Please join us this year as we celebrate the ninth year of One Book, One Mesa County.
From local hero Aryn Kyle to national best seller John Grogan, the One Book program has been fortunate to host some of the most talented writers in America. Here is a list of past authors who have visited Mesa County.
U 2004
RUDOLFO ANAYA — Bless Me Ultima
U 2006
CYNTHIA KADAHOTA — Kira Kira
U 2007
JOHN GROGAN — Marley and Me
U 2008
ARYN KYLE — The God of Animals
U 2009
JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER — Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
U 2010
ERIC WEINER — The Geography of Bliss
U 2011
DAN CHAON — Await Your Reply
U 2012
AMOR TOWLES Rules of Civility
Additional support for One Book is provided by Mesa County Libraries
