The Next Best Book Club discussion

Here's some you might want to check out:

Takes place in Idaho:
The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher

Takes place in Montana:
Blood Lure by Nevada Barr, from her Anna Pigeon series.

Takes place in Washington:
Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series, starts with Moon Called
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Yasmine Galenorn's Sisters of the Moon series, starts with Witchling and her Chintz'n China Mystery series that starts with Ghost of a Chance
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
C.E. Murphy's The Walker Papers series, starts with Urban Shaman

Takes place in Oregon:
Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary
Born To Be Wild by Christine Warren, from her The Others series

Takes place in Alaska:
Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong, from her Women of the Otherworld series

Alaska:
Cloven Hooves by Megan Lindholm
White Fang by Jack London

Pacific NW (Seattle)
Wizard of the Pigeons also by Megan Lindholm

If anyone was not aware, Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm are pen names for the same author.

Riversong series by Craig Lesley.

Author Molly Gloss

Also H.L Davis
"Honey in the Horn"

Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt
Snow Falling on Cedars and Our Lady of the Forest by David Guterson
Raven Stole the Moon by Garth Stein
Over Tumbled Graves by Jess Walter

Nonfiction:
In the Shadow of Denali: Life and Death on Alaska's Mt. McKinley by Jonathon Waterman


These are all books I've read which gave me a real sense of place for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Mrs. Mike, by Benedict Freedman takes place in the North West Territories, in Canada. This book really gives a sense of the isolation and vastness of the area- plus it's a beautiful love story between a girl from Boston and her husband from Canada - together they build a life in the Canadian northwest. It's an older novel, so might seem a bit dated but I remember really enjoying it.

Tisha: The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaska Wilderness
I read this book a long time ago and remember really enjoying it- set in Alaska.

Vancouver by David Cruise

Jack Hodgkins books take place on Vancouver Island

There's another author who's name I can't remember at the moment. He's written about 3 books based on Vancouver's Chinatown and his parent's immigration from China. If I remember, I'll add it here.

I second Tisha - that was a good book!

Alaska:
* Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves by Farley Mowat
* Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (You didn't specify age/genre; this is recommended for age 10-12, but was a good book, if you don't mind middle-grade/YA.)

Washington:
* The Dark Place by Aaron J. Elkins

Sometimes a Great Notion
By Ken Kesey

Alaska by James Michener

When the River Ran Wild!: Indian Traditions on the Mid-Columbia and the Warm Springs Reservation
by George W S Aguilar

How about White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones (mystery set in Alaska)

The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland (mostly set in BC)

Sue wrote: "Alaska by James Michener"

I also recommend this book because it is the finest that I know. I was raised in Alaska.

Ice Palace by Edna Ferber is about Alaska before it became a state.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Any of the Kate Shugak mysteries by Dana Stabenow (all about Alaska).

Author Donald Hines has written a number of books from research done in the 1900s by a rancher named Lucullus McWhorter. One of these (which I helped make into a radio play back when I did public radio for an Indian tribe) is The Forgotten Tribes, Oral Tales of the Teninos and Adjacent Mid-Columbia River Indian Nations: Oral Tales of the Teninos and Adjacent Mid-Columbia River Indian Nations.

oops, Hines books are about Indian tribes in Oregon and Washington. sorry.

Jack London by The Collected Jack London: Thirty-Six Stories/Four Complete Novels/a Memoir

If you're into fantasy, look at Devon Monk, all the books in her first series are set in Portland, OR. The first one is Magic to the Bone. Patricia Briggs, which was nominated by Joseph, is another favorite author of mine.

I'm also seconding Aaron Elkins if you like mystery. His Gideon Oliver series has a few books set in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

And lastly, I've heard good things about Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, which is a steampunk novel set in Seattle.

Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Robert wrote: "Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer"

I just came on here to add this one. You beat me to it!

Robert wrote: "Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer"

My parents live in Alaska, and I know a lot of people here really dislike this guy and this book because he acted so recklessly and so selfishly. He had hardly any knowledge, skills, or planning, purposely didn't bring a map, and went out into the Alaskan wilderness and, surprise surprise, died shortly thereafter.
But, on the other hand, I've heard the writing is good.

Sue Henry has written at least 2 or 3 mystery series which take place in Alaska. Having never been to Alaska (yet!) I can't vouch for the authenticity, but she spins a good story.

Emily wrote: "But, on the other hand, I've heard the writing is good...."

I read this book years ago and thought it was awful....under 1*. There really wasn't anything to like about this fellow.

Petra wrote: There's another author who's name I can't remember at the moment. He's written about 3 books based on Vancouver's Chinatown and his parent's immigration from China. If I remember, I'll add it here.. ..."

I saw one of his books while on the Ferry this week. The author's name is Wayson Choy. The Jade Peony is his first novel (I think) and is set in Vancouver's Chinatown.

You've all got to read 'The Imposter' by Tiffany Carmouche! I totally loved it! It got me hooked! The 2nd of the trilogy is due out around Feb 2012, so get ready :) It's very cheap on Amazon at the minute too. xx
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Impostor-Stor...

Has anyone read Snow Child? I've heard great things about it!

Also a couple of new ones out this year: The Storms of Denali, by Nick O'Connell (a novel) and Kayak Girl..for children...by Monica Devine.

A book set in Seattle Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. I really loved it.

Shannon wrote: "Has anyone read Snow Child? I've heard great things about it!

Also a couple of new ones out this year: The Storms of Denali, by Nick O'Connell (a novel) and Kayak Girl..for children...by Monica De..."

Shannon wrote: "Has anyone read Snow Child? I've heard great things about it!

Also a couple of new ones out this year: The Storms of Denali, by Nick O'Connell (a novel) and Kayak Girl..for children...by Monica De..."


I read Snow Child. An interesting story that keeps your attention. A bit mystical and a bit sad, the story captures the essence of yearning. Great sense of place if you are interested in Alaska. Not an easy life. Try it! I think you will enjoy it!

Sue wrote: "Sometimes a Great Notion
By Ken Kesey"

LOVED this book. It's been many years since I read it and yet certain scenes have stayed with me. Very powerful!

Great Gail- thanks for the confirmation!

My favorite books about Alaska include John Haines "The Stars, the Snow, the Fire" and Barry Lopez's "Arctic Dreams." Also Sherry Simpson's "The Accidental Explorer: Wayfinding in Alaska."

Any of the Mountaineers (Braided River) coffee table books are incredible: "Seasons of Life and Land," "Arctic Wings," "The Last Polar Bear" - just stunning. There's a new one out on the Western Arctic too.

And Seth Kantner, who lives a subsistence lifestyle in the Western Arctic from childhood (and now with his own family) has a couple of good books out too: Shopping for Porcupine and Ordinary Wolves (one memoir and one novel)

So many good books listed here: what a great question. I add Kevin Patterson's Consumption for Alaska/Arctic, and Anna Keesey's Little Century for Oregon. And Karen Fisher's A Sudden Country. I second the Molly Gloss books, especially The Jump Off Creek.

There is another Cloud Atlas besides the award winning one. I read it by accident, thinking I had the well known one. It is very interesting and well worth the read. About a little known historical fact about Alaska during WWII. lots of interesting info and a good fictional story to back it up. G

The Snow Child byEowyn Ivey
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

. An astonishing memoir

Here's another one I just remembered the name of: The Curve of Time by Blanchet
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... A travel memoir about a widow in the 1920s and 30s who takes her kids exploring the coastline of British Columbia.

Shannon wrote: "Great Gail- thanks for the confirmation!

My favorite books about Alaska include John Haines "The Stars, the Snow, the Fire" and Barry Lopez's "Arctic Dreams." Also Sherry Simpson's "The Accidental..."

I was going to offer up "Ordinary Wolves," but you did it for me. It's very good.

I wasn't crazy about it, but Jonathan Evison's "West of Here" is interesting. It's set in Washington and hops back and forth between 19th and 20th centuries.

Didn't Nora Roberts publish a mystery set in Alaska a few years ago? I can't remember the name of it.