Comments on: Imagine a river more fascinating than football

By: Dante Langston

Dante Langston — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 21:35:32 +0000

“No one in Colorado will believe it, but this river is more exciting than football.’
Imagine if more people, in all states, felt the same way…”
I chuckled with the personal irony of reading that quote and the reflection about it. Fifty years ago, as a fiery sunset announced a fall evening, I stepped outside to get a breath of air. I had spent the day watching back-to-back football games on T.V. and another was being offered up. Something stirred inside me as I realized I had squandered a perfect fall day for the folly of televised sports. I bought a canoe the next weekend and never looked back. No vehicle has ever given me such life-changing pleasure. Rivers are, indeed, more interesting than football. They are lifeblood of natural experiences.

By: Jan Beasley

Jan Beasley — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 17:05:30 +0000

Thank you for bringing back such strong and wonderful memories of Centennial in this column (also published in the Pagosa Springs SUN). I was a recent CU Boulder grad when the book was published and I do remember it was all consuming in our family. We also very much enjoyed the mini series later on. The first part of the book was a slow read for me, but then the characters and the land just came alive. Random things remind me of characters, places and events in the story. I will never forget the Lapsang Souchong tea that the mountain men drank. Of course I tried it – only once and only one mouthful that wasn’t swallowed; it tasted exactly like the smell of the pine tar resin that we put on the bottom of our cross country skis in those days! Maybe I’ll attempt another read of this amazing novel and see if my attention span in these golden years will allow me to be successful at completing it.

There is no way, however, that ANY river is more fascinating than football these days for this CU Buffs fan!

By: nancy jahsman

nancy jahsman — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 23:40:56 +0000

I so loved your column both for the insightful content and how beautifully it was written. It was also personal for me. My father was associated with Mr. Michener and spent time with him during his time here in Colorado when he was researching Centennial. He was an amazing man. Left on a doorstep as a newborn, he lived an enormous life.I’ve read almost all of his books and am amazed that one man could do so much in a lifetime. Thank you for bringing attention to the evolution of our western land and waterways and our absolute need to respect and preserve them.

By: Dianne Nelson

Dianne Nelson — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 22:26:55 +0000

In reply to Elizabeth Walker. I read this book years ago while attending a Master's program at UNC. It was amazing then, and now I'm motivated to read it again, because after living elsewhere for many years, I'm now back in Greeley. Thank you for such a splendid article about "Centennial"!

By: Elizabeth Walker

Elizabeth Walker — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 16:20:36 +0000

I think because of the span of time covered in “Centennial” and the obvious love that went into it, it has become my favorite book ever. Now, both of our children live in Colorado, though they grew up in Atlanta, GA. I have re-read this book several times and visited the beautiful state it biographies. There is no state in our country that contains more of our country’s history, but it is not a history book. It is a story of the people and wildlife that have lived in Colorado. Do read it if you have not, or read it again if it has been awhile.

By: Mike Moran

Mike Moran — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 15:24:25 +0000

I enjoyed reading your article in The Daily Sentinel! It led me to check out the Writers on the Range web site. I’m tempted to read Centennial now (but intimidated by the 900-page length!).

By: Rick Freimuth

Rick Freimuth — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 04:43:38 +0000

Thank you for bringing back great memories of Michener’s epic novel. I was a young man of nineteen when I read it in 1974. Two years later I was taking a break from an alpine plant study in Idaho. We were at the July 4th Leadore Rodeo celebrating America’s Bicentennial and seeing up close the our rural western traditions of less than 200 years. I think I need to reread Centennial.