What a wonder… high-level expansiveness.   A t its core, this book is a relentless philosophical inquiry into the nature of an ordinary existence, masterfully challenging the traditional heroic narrative. It follows William Stoner, a man born to poor Missouri farmers, who unexpectedly finds his calling in literature and becomes a modest, uncelebrated university professor. A meticulous chronicle of small failures: disappointments in marriage, professional inactivity, and the solitary pursuit...

Tremendous. Elmhirst’s work transcends the genre of travelogue. It’s a compelling existential narrative on identity and environment. By chronicling a lost at sea…117 days adrift of a married couple, Elmhirst relays how the essential self of two people are tested by deliberate isolation. The sea is not merely a setting but a void. It’s stripped of the external social world (career, community, consumerism) that typically anchors people in the modern world… the evolution of humans, when meaning...

A short and powerful memoir. A bit over 100 pages, Walger’s Lion  is an exploration of memory, legacy, and the deep imprint a parent leaves on a child’s life. The title itself is a powerful metaphor for the author’s father, whose larger-than-life presence and absence both loom large throughout the narrative. Walger’s prose is lyrical and introspective, weaving together fragments of memory, family lore, and personal reflection. The book challenges the reader to consider how we construct...