9 Great Books About Portland
Dreaming of Portland? These 9 essential reads capture the unique spirit of the Pacific Northwest:
Worth the Wait
by Karelia Stetz-Waters
Get your HEA in the PNW! The latest in Karelia Stetz-Waters's lesbian romance series Out in Portland follows the reunion of Avery and Merritt, two former best friends whose friendship finally has a chance to develop into something more.
Moon Pacific Northwest
by Allison Williams
Don't just read about craft brews and dreamy woodland walks, plan a visit: Moon Pacific Northwest can help you see the best of Portland, Seattle, and the rugged mountains, wild coastlines, and dense forests between.
My Bookstore
Edited by Ronald Rice
Introduction by Richard Russo
Illustrated by Leif Parsons
Afterword by Emily St. John Mandel
This collection of essays about bookstores features author Chuck Palahniuk's tribute to Portland's massive Powell's City of Books, a must-visit for every book lover.
Speaking of Palahniuk, Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon is part memoir, part journey to the strangest corners of the city.
Night Dogs
by Kent Anderson
For a thrill, pick up acclaimed crime writer Kent Anderson’s authentic and disturbing police novel and follow a Vietnam veteran turned cop on the meanest streets of 1970s Portland.
The Sweetheart Deal
by Polly Dugan
We're not crying, it's the rain. Actually, it's this poignant, Portland-based story that explores what happens when a woman who thinks she’s lost everything has the chance to love again.
One Tough Mother
by Gert Boyle
With Kerry Tymchuk
Foreword by Mark O. Hatfield
Talk about iconic: Read the true story of the forty-six-year-old housewife and mother of three who, with no business experience whatsoever, took Columbia Sportswear from a small outerwear manufacturer in Portland to the leading seller of skiwear in the United States.
Also check out these other great reads at the suggestion of Karelia Stetz-Waters:
The Widmer Way: How Two Brothers Led Portland’s Craft Beer Revolution covers the rise of the city’s famous brewery scene. (Bonus: this book comes to you from Portland-based Ooligan Press, a not-for-profit that honors the cultural and natural diversity of the Pacific Northwest.)
Colin Meloy, lead singer of the quintessential Portland band The Decemberists, is also a writer; he and his wife, the illustrator Carson Ellis, penned the children’s fantasy series Wildwood Chronicles, which take place in a mythical version of the Pacific Northwest.
