Richmond Reads

2024 Title: The Last Ranger by Peter Heller 

“Officer Ren Hopper is an enforcement ranger with the National Park Service, tasked with duties both mundane and thrilling: Breaking up fights at campgrounds, saving clueless tourists from moose attacks, and attempting to broker an uneasy peace between the wealthy vacationers who tromp through the park with cameras, and the residents of hardscrabble Cooke City who want to carve out a meaningful living. When Ren, hiking through the backcountry on his day off, encounters a tall man with a dog and a gun chasing a small black bear up a hill, his hackles are raised. But what begins as an investigation into the background of a local poacher soon opens into something far murkier: A shattered windshield, a series of red ribbons tied to traps, the discovery of a frightening conspiracy, and a story of heroism gone awry. Populated by a cast of extraordinary characters-- famous scientists, tattooed bartenders, wildlife guides in slick Airstreams--and bursting with unexpected humor and grace,  Peter Heller masterfully unveils a portrait of the American west where our very human impulses--for greed, love, family, and community--play out amidst the stunning beauty of the   natural world.” - from publisher summary -

Peter Heller is the best-selling author of The Last Ranger, The Guide, The River, Celine, The Painter, and The Dog Stars, which has been published in twenty-two languages. He is a longtime contributor to NPR, and a former contributing editor at Outside Magazine,  Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure. Peter is also the author of four books of literary nonfiction. Heller was born and raised in New York. He attended high school in Vermont and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire where he became an outdoorsman and whitewater kayaker. He holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in poetry and fiction and lives in  Denver, Colorado.  His latest novel, Burn, will be released in August 2024.   Photo credit: John Burcham

Copies are available to borrow at the library in regular print and large print. It is also available on Libby as an ebook and audiobook. Copies are available to purchase for $20 (hardcover) or $15 (paperback). Select copies of Heller's other books are also available to purchase for $15. 

Book Discussions: Monday, October 7 at 6:30 pm and Wednesday, October 9 at 9:30 am
Wolves at Our Door Virtual Program: Wednesday, October 2 at 7 pm 
Movie Screenings at RML: Yellowstone Documentary:  Thursday, October 10 at 6 pm
NYS DEC Canine Officer Program: Presented by Genesee Community College. Thursday, October 17 at 1 pm at GCC Room T102

Review contest: write a review of The Last Ranger by Peter Heller for a chance to win dinner with the author and program committee on October 24! The contest opens on September 16 and all information will be available at that time. 

Richmond Reads is an independent initiative of Richmond Memorial Library and sponsored by the Friends of Richmond Memorial Library.  We welcome all support of the program.  Should you wish to contribute financially, forms are available at the front desk or at the reference desk.

Author Peter Heller will visit Richmond Memorial Library on Thursday, October 24 at 7 pm!
The event will include a talk and a book signing. 

This event is free to attend. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. 

Copies of The Last Ranger will be for sale at the event for $20 (hardcover) and $15 (paperback).

Contact Samantha Stryker Basile, Adult & Community Services Librarian at sbasile@nioga.org or at 585-343-9550 x8.

Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/richmondmemoriallibrary

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Sue Briggs
Leslie DeLooze
Cynthia Hagelberger
Jennifer Reardon
Rita Nan Tresco
Samantha Stryker Basile, Program Coordinator