Favorite Oregon author?

Right now, I'd say mine is Larry Colton because I really enjoyed Goat Brothers. Also, he's involved with that writers' forum event thing that I cannot remember the name of right now.

What are other favorites?

One that comes to mind right away is the wonderful Beverly Cleary. As a child I loved her books, and would often hide one inside my schoolbook to read during class.

Though I'm not sure she'd really be considered an Oregonian, since I understand she doesn't spend much time here, I love Diana Abu-Jaber, especially Crescent. Beautiful writing, very sensual, good storyteller.

Another favorite is Craig Lesley.

And, though he left Oregon for Montana, David James Duncan is one of my alltime favorite authors, fiction and nonfiction.

I second the Duncan. I'd also go with Ursula LeGuin and Ken Kesey, and I've got a complete set of Timothy Zahn on my shelves as well - it's fun reading his Star Wars novels and suddenly realizing that the strange geological formation on some distant planet is actually Devil's Punchbowl...

But it's Duncan all the way. 'The Brothers K' is my favorite novel ever.

I can't believe I haven't read Brothers K yet -- it's on my shelf but I just haven't gotten to it. Maybe when baseball season starts...

It's started, teelgee - they're playing in the Cactus League right now. Now get your butt into your most comfortable chair and start that wonderful monster of a novel - and if you don't cry at least twice at the beauty of life presented therein, I'll happily buy you a beer at Bridgeport and mock you mercilessly while I'm doing it.

Happy reading!

I loved Crescent too, it dripped honey, butter and passion. Abujaber is a writer to watch. And Lesley's recent memoir was wonderful.

Another good writer from Oregon is Lois Wadsworth who used to write the movie reviews for Eugene Weekly.

My favorite though is William Stafford. He was such a personal poet with images that stay with you.

Thank you for reminding me of Stafford. For some reason I don't think poets when I think favorite authors. He was remarkable. His son Kim Stafford has written a memoir about him Early morning: remembering my father, William Stafford that is on my list to read.

My, that list has sure grown since I started on this site!

Ok, John, I will take your challenge. I have two library books to finish first, then I'll take on the Bros K. I'm looking forward to it!

I really enjoyed Molly Gloss' The Dazzle of Day and Wild Life.

I'll have to agree about Ursula LeGuin, she's amazing. I am also thinking of Susan Fletcher's book Dragon's Milk. I read it aloud to my kids and we were all equally enthralled. And for some reason I'm thinking Octavia Butler was an Oregonian. Am I right about that?? If so, I'd have to include her in my list.
-Ric

As far as I know, Octavia Butler lived her entire life in California.

>>As far as I know, Octavia Butler lived her entire life in California.

Ah...maybe just wishful thinking then. She was a talented woman. I didn't love all her books (some were too hard hitting!) but I loved _Lilith's Brood_.

My favorite work of LeGuin's is a short story, "She Unnames Them."
-Ric

Octavia Butler lived in Seattle from 1999 until her death just over a year ago.

"Octavia Butler lived in Seattle from 1999 until her death just over a year ago."

I'd never have guessed. I saw her at a book signing/Q&A for Parable of the Talents, and she said she doubted she'd ever move. That would have been late 1998 or early 1999... not long before she moved.

My fave is Craig Lesley because of his terrific books and, probably, because I took writing classes from him and found him to be informative, helpful, and an all-around great professor.

Hey, me too! Had Craig for writing and lit at Clackamas Comm. College about 20 years ago. Nice man. Good writer.

I'd have to go with Diana Abu-Jaber too. Crescent was fabulous, and her memoir The Language of Baklava is just as good. What I especially loved about Crescent was that it had a compelling plot -- really an old-fashioned heart-wrenching and suspenseful romance -- combined with beautifully literate and intelligent writing. There has been such a divide in recent decades between "genre" novels whose stories would be thrilling if they didn't insult the reader's intelligence with their sloppy execution, and "literary" writing that could be really boring. But I've been seeing more books like Crescent recently that blend great stories with great writing.

Well I finally finished The Brothers K today, and yes, I did cry at least twice. So poignant and funny and heartwarming, amazing character studies. Really beautiful. Thanks for encouraging me to dive in, John. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait till DJD comes out with another novel.

I read a great interview with him on the Grist website recently: http://www.grist.org/comments/interactivist/2007/04/02/duncan/index.html

Be sure to read the Q and A from the readers, too.

I'm so glad you read and enjoyed the novel, teelgee; I think it's a monumental acheivement, that book, and am happy whenever someone else discovers its boundless pleasures.

I'll still buy you a beer sometime, though. Just let me know, and my wife and I will meet you at Bridgeport or the Bucket Brigade.

Now, 'The River Why' is a great book as well (not as good as 'The Brothers K', but what is?), but you have to go into it realizing that it was Duncan's first book and that he hadn't toned down his love of florid language yet. It's a wonderful experience, and I've read it probably ten times, but it's gonna hit you hardest if you happen to be young when you come across it. I was fifteen, and one of my English teachers gave it to me - and though it didn't change my life or anything, it was a great milepost in my appreciation of literature. Kind of like some folks when they read 'The Catcher in the Rye' or 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance', and realize that other people out there share their concerns, their loves, their quandaries.

And 'River Teeth' is worth a read as well...

The River Why was my first introduction to DJD, I read it probably 20 years ago; it's on my Top Twenty list. I was just thinking I'd like to give it another read. And River Teeth is on my "reading now" shelf, I pick it up every couple days and read a story or essay. I had to put that down while I was reading BK - kept mixing up characters and fiction and nonfiction. When I finish that, I will have read all his books (that I know of) and will impatiently await the next.

I too am still in love with Miss Beverly Cleary. She stole my heart at a very young age and has kept it locked away 'til this day....

Diana Abu-Jaber has a new novel out -- Origin. She's giving a reading at Powell's on Wednesday evening, July 11. Alas, I'll be out of town and can't go.

Does John Varley still live in the state? I know that both he and Dean Ing lived in Eugene in the 80's. I also think I saw Kate Wilhelm at the big SF store (2nd or 3rd street?) once...

And Le Guin, of course, is wonderful.

where is the love for richard brautigan? david james duncan is great and all but dont forget your true dark oregonian

For general fiction: Ken Kesey
For poetry: The staffords father and son
For mystery: Philip Margolin
Children's: Bev Cleary
F/SF: Ursula Le Guin

I like Diana Abu Jaber as well, but Sometimes a great notion has got to be one of the 5 top novels I have ever read.

Need to read Richard Brautigan, I keep hearing how good he is.

I would have to say Ken Kesey.

Jean M Auel
Have not read Le Guin or Kesey... but want to.

Just discovered this group. I recently read Homesick Creek by Diane Hammond. I wouldn't say she's a favorite but I did enjoy the book.

Molly Gloss! Surprised no one has mentioned her. Jump Off Creek and Hearts of Horses are both great.
Also, she and Ursula K. Le Guin are apparently buddies

Kim Stafford and some of Phillip Margolin's

Hi everyone...I'm just looking over the border from SW WA, hope you don't mind me crashing the party?

I have not read anything by Ursula K. Le Guin - any suggestions on where I should start?

I also enjoy Beverly Cleary - have you read her autobiographies? They are very interesting.

I've recently read 3 books by husband and wife co-authors Mike Nettleton and Carolyn Rose, they are OR authors and the books are set in OR, the last one I read was The Hermit of Humbug Mountain but I think I liked the first two better: The Hard Karma Shuffle and The Crushed Velvet Miasma. Sorry, I need to read more OR authors before I can pick a favorite.