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Explore Books

@explorebooksaspen

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Books, coffee, and room(s) to wander.
OFF-SEASON HOURS
Bookstore: 9 AM – 5 PM
Café: 9 AM – 3 PM
Open daily ✨
📍221 E. Main St. ASPEN

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Finished this one on a warm October evening! Two books about grief, back to back, provide a strong point of reflection for me. Loved One feels classic and vivid and cherished like a beloved golden heirloom or a flower arrangement you press after the fact. Everything is just so, and yet, it all works, flows, binds together in a way I’m sure took time and concentration but to us (the readers) feels smooth like a worry stone. I knew these characters, though we’ve never met, and I love them for their love and grief and bare humanity they learn to display. Maybe grief is looking at all the what-could’ve-beens, but maybe it’s also about holding everyone close, in only the way you can right now.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Also included photos of a gloomy neighborhood walk, a new book pile, a stunning sunset, a quiet morning with June and Colorado from above!

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Today's headlines:

1. The Snowmass Village Town Council on Monday gave final approval for Aspen Skiing Co.'s 20-unit employee housing building called "The Shop." Construction on the project — located near Krabloonik — is anticipated to begin next spring. The council's unanimous approval came after months of tense negotiations between SkiCo and the neighboring Divide Homeowners Association.
📷️Photo: Aspen Daily News file

2. In Katie Rizzo's new book "The Trimesters of Grief," she hopes to put a face to one of the 80,000 people in the U.S. who lost their lives to overdose in 2024 — her son Nicholas, who died from an opioid overdose at the age of 25. Rizzo will return home to Aspen Friday for an event at Explore Books called "When Someone You Love Dies, What Does Love Look Like?" The event runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
📷️Photo: Courtesy of Katie Rizzo

3. Garfield County commissioners appeared open to devoting $150,000 of the county's 2027 budget to continue being a member of the Garfield Clean Energy collaborative. The collaboration aims to maximize the county's energy efficiency, primarily by helping residents, businesses and municipalities to consume less power and secure rebates and funds for energy-saving infrastructure projects.
📷️Photo: Drew Shaw/Aspen Daily News

Read more at aspendailynews.com.

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“The Journeyman” was featured at the second ever Aspen Literary Festival last month. What an amazing opportunity to engage with our local community! ✨📚🍂 Find “The Journeyman” @explorebooksaspen

#localauthors #indieauthors #aspen #aspenwords #aspenlitfest

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Had an amazing time at the Aspen Literary Festival! Cannot wait for next year’s event!

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MONDAY MUSINGS: YOU CAN’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, OR CAN YOU?
CERTAINLY, FOR THE AVERAGE BOOKSTORE BROWSER—AND WHO DOESN’T LIKE TO BROWSE, WHAT ATTRACTS US IN THE FIRST PLACE TO PICK ONE BOOK OVER ANOTHER IS THE COVER. THESE BOOKS SEEMED TO CLAMOR FROM THEIR SHELVES “ PICK ME. PICK ME!”

I’ve noticed in recent years book covers have more Day-Glo colors such as bright orange, lime green, and shocking pink. I recall Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus had a bright pink or was it an orange cover. I forget which, but I won’t forget the tall stacks of her novel on display in Barnes & Noble as Book of the Month where even the end papers facing out were electric blue.

If you are a follower of the book world, you’ll know that the 2026 winner of the Booker Prize will be announced on November 9, in London. Down from 13 books to the short list of six, I was chuffed to see I had picked four of the six potential winners. They are: JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stewart, which I intend to read; THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY by Elizabeth Strout, which I have read and recommend; MAY WE FEED THE KING, a debut novel by Rebecca Perry, which I’m debating adding to my nightstand; and THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James. I did not guess the last two. THE END OF EVERYTHING by M. John Harrison and BLACK BAG by Luke Kennard, but chose instead SWITZY by Emma Cline, on my list to read also is fellow Dubliner Djamel White’s debut novel ALL THEM DOGS.

Who do I think will win? Douglas Stewart is a contender for sure. But I thought at first Elizabeth Strout who has been nominated before and is a master storyteller would win.
Now I put my money on Marlon James. While I think it may be too brutal for some to read, it is a substantive novel, both in size 640 pages, and content.
It’s about the aftermath of a homophobic assault on eight gay men who are performing in a play. Two of the men disappear after the attack and years later two others in the group try to find them, which leads the novel through the gay underground, the Aids era, friendship, and betrayal. James’ novel is also nominated for the National Book Award.

Interesting to note The DISAPPEARERS has two covers (pic 2 is the US version).

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✨Ariel Lawhon Appreciation Post✨

This last Monday, I had the MASSIVE honor of getting to be @ariel.lawhon ‘s conversation partner for her event at the @tatteredcoverbookstore in Denver. And to make things even more fun, I also got to spend the weekend before our event with Ariel in Aspen at the @aspenwords Literary Festival, and all of it was a dream come true!✨

I am such a massive fan of Ariel’s books, and her latest book, The Pirate Queen, is PHENOMENAL. So, imagine my delight when I discovered that Ariel is even more wonderful than her books!✨

I am so inspired by Ariel’s story, and how she is now this incredible voice for so many women in history that people know very little about. Her stories bring these awe-inspiring women to life in such an unforgettable way, and I truly believe that the stories she tells are making the world a better place.✨

Ariel, thank you for the work that you do, and for the stories you tell. Thank you for being so kind and gracious, and for allowing me the huge honor of being in conversation with you! You are such a gift to this world and I can’t wait to read what you write next!🤍

#ariellawhon #tatteredcoverbookstore #thepiratequeen #pieladybooks #bookevents

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Aspen before the snow. 🍂

Golden aspens, crisp mountain air, long afternoons in town and some of the best hotels and restaurants in Colorado — fall here deserves a spot on your travel list.

Whether you’re looking for a last-minute fall escape or planning ahead, let’s do Aspen right — with personalized recommendations and VIP perks at some of Aspen’s best hotels when you book through me.

#Aspen #AspenColorado #FallTravel #LuxuryTravel

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Thank you to @explorebooksaspen for hosting and all who came out!! Such a great visit to Aspen💙

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From #Bustang to #VelociRFTA, #Colorado has made huge progress on #transit. The successes are clear when you come to the Roaring Fork Valley. Thanks to speakers from CDOT, RFTA, the Mayor of #Aspen and Aspen One. This area is a model for transit. Nearly hour service on Bustang along I 70 connecting to RFTA - dedicated lanes, frequency, and lots of local options. Reduces pollution, crashes and costs. Come enjoy the transportation options!

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Aspen Literary Festival LIT UP the town this weekend! 📚Thank you to everyone who helped make this chapter of the festival so memorable! What were some of your favorite moments? Share highlights in the comments below ⬇️

#aspenliteraryfestival

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Want to learn how to start composting but not sure where to get started? Join us this Wednesday to chat with Cassandra Marketos, author of "Compost After Reading," to learn how you can get started composting at home.

P.S. Yes, @cassmarketos's book is, in fact, compostable.

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