Amy Jones, Ensemble Contributor
Whether you turn to books for design inspiration, places to visit, local (or weird) history, or just a good yarn, here’s a PNW reading list of under-the-radar books sure to enhance your love of where you live.
For Architecture and Design Lovers
John Yeon Architecture: Building in the Pacific Northwest edited by Randy Gragg
Pioneering architect John Yeon paved the way for the Northwest Regional style of modernism and is known for the Watzek House and other remarkably beautiful homes.
Architects of the Pacific Northwest edited by Francesc Zamora Mola
Building or remodeling? Drool over hundreds of photographs featuring aesthetically creative and environmentally conscious residential design and construction from top architectural firms.
For History Buffs
Building the Columbia River Highway by Peg Willis
A fascinating look at the creation of the country’s oldest scenic highway and Samuel Lancaster – the polio survivor and genius who turned modern engineering on its ear to create a "poem in stone."
Cohassett Beach Chronicles: World War II in the Pacific Northwest by Kathy Hogan
What started as The Grays Harbor Post of Aberdeen’s "Kitchen Critic," column about daily life in Cohassett Beach is now a surprising social history of the war at home in the Pacific Northwest.
For Urban Explorers – and Lovers of the Quirky
Seattle Walks: Discovering History and Nature in the City by David B. Williams
One of the best guides you’ll find for exploring the city on foot and seeing it in a new light from its sidewalks, panoramic views, trails, secret hideaways, architectural gems, and lush greenways.
Weird Washington by Jefferson Davis and Al Eufrasio
No matter how long you’ve lived here, you’ll be shocked by the amount of weird going on in Washington. Delve into unexplained events, mysterious phenomena (we’re ranked second in the country for it), America’s only unsolved hijacking… and corpses that turn into soap?
For Music Lovers
Music in Washington: Seattle and Beyond by Peter Belcha
Rare photos highlight this extraordinary retrospective ranging from early 19th-century brass bands to Roaring Twenties jazz combos, 1940s hillbilly twangers, 1950s R&B singers, and generations of rock 'n' rollers: the rockabillies, garage bands, psychedelics, and punks.
Everybody Loves our Town: An Oral History of Grunge by Mark Yarm
In 1986, fledgling Seattle label C/Z Records released a compilation featuring six local bands including Soundgarden, Green River and Melvins. It tanked – and also heralded the regional sound that put Seattle on the musical map. It’s grunge history in the words of the musicians, labels, managers, photographers, journalists, club owners, publicists, and scensters who lived it.
And a Few Classics for PNW Fiction Fans
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Disclosure by Michael Crichton
This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff
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