Mosiac, prairie dogs, and Rwanda

Terry Tempest Williams' latest book, "Finding Beauty in a Broken World," is a gorgeous analysis of how to survive that which seems unbearable. The book is written in three sections: the first, about learning to make mosiac in Italy; the second, about prairie dogs as something more than varmints; and the third, trying to heal the deep wounds of Rwanda post-genocide. She manages to link these bits together like a mosiac, creating something bigger than the fragments of stories she shares, bound by her own grief and joys. It's a page turner, and it ends with one wishing it were longer.

The parts about Rwanda were devastating, but equally so were the parts about prairie dogs. We especially appreciated that the author lets humans and animals stand side by side in this book, without apology. She understands that we are all a part of life, equally, and our whole world is diminished by extermination of any living thing. Terry Tempest Williams is an eloquent advocate of conservation, and a damn fine writer to boot.