Turn the page, take the trip—what new perspective awaits?

How I Read at Four Eye Books

A simple look at the four lenses that guide how I read every book.

Story

How the book is told — craft, structure, and voice.

Time and Place

Context, setting, and cultural relevance

Big Ideas

Themes, meaning, and deeper questions

Reflections

What stayed with me — the personal imprint

Explore the Four Lenses in Depth

Book Reviews

Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) by Matt Tory — A Review

Book cover of Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) by Matt Tory, featuring iconic American landscapes including Yosemite, a coastal lighthouse, Horseshoe Bend, and a historic mill in autumn.
In this reflective review of Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits by Matt Tory, I explore a travel guide built on curiosity, accessibility, and quiet discovery. Rather than offering a checklist, the book creates momentum, encouraging readers to appreciate overlooked places, travel intentionally, and rediscover wonder close to home.

Cameron

Bearing Witness: A Reflective Look at Forest of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha

Cover of Forest of Noise featuring minimalist design in dark tones
Forest of Noise is a searing, intimate collection by Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha—one that captures the ache of displacement, the fragility of memory, and the stubborn persistence of hope. In this review, I explore the book’s themes, the lived reality behind the poems, and why Abu Toha’s voice feels both urgently political and deeply human.

Cameron

Finna by Nino Cipri: A Multiverse of Emotion and Identity

finna-nino-cipri-bookcover-optimized

Cameron

The Reading Room

Seeing What’s Already There: A Conversation with Matt Tory on Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All)

In this thoughtful conversation, Matt Tory discusses Go See America and why meaningful travel doesn’t require distance — only attention.

Cameron

Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) by Matt Tory — A Review

Book cover of Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) by Matt Tory, featuring iconic American landscapes including Yosemite, a coastal lighthouse, Horseshoe Bend, and a historic mill in autumn.
In this reflective review of Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits by Matt Tory, I explore a travel guide built on curiosity, accessibility, and quiet discovery. Rather than offering a checklist, the book creates momentum, encouraging readers to appreciate overlooked places, travel intentionally, and rediscover wonder close to home.

Cameron

Bearing Witness: A Reflective Look at Forest of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha

Cover of Forest of Noise featuring minimalist design in dark tones
Forest of Noise is a searing, intimate collection by Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha—one that captures the ache of displacement, the fragility of memory, and the stubborn persistence of hope. In this review, I explore the book’s themes, the lived reality behind the poems, and why Abu Toha’s voice feels both urgently political and deeply human.

Cameron

Bookish Adventures

Author Interview – Jose Vadi on “Downriver, November 1949”: Memory, Place, and the California Delta

Sacramento Noir Summer Square Poster
A reflective conversation with Jose Vadi about his story Downriver, 1949 in Sacramento Noir. Explore memory, place, and hidden histories along the Sacramento River in this Four Eye Books interview.

Cameron

Every Street Has a Story: Sacramento Noir Author Panel at Beers Books(May 2025)

Sacramento Noir Summer Square Poster
Final stop of the Sacramento Noir tour at Beers Books—an author panel celebrating Sacramento’s stories, voices, and literary legacy.

Cameron

Butterfly in the Sky: How Reading Rainbow Inspired Generations and Why It Still Matters

reading rainbow
Butterfly in the Sky isn’t just a nostalgic look at Reading Rainbow—it’s a powerful reminder of why books, representation, and public broadcasting matter. More than just teaching kids how to read, Reading Rainbow sparked a love of books, inspired curiosity, and connected children to the real world. But today, book bans are on the rise, and public broadcasting faces new threats. In this post, I reflect on Reading Rainbow’s legacy, LeVar Burton’s unwavering authenticity, and why we need to fight for access to books and stories that shape our world. Because, as Burton always said: "But you don’t have to take my word for it."

Cameron