I love lists of books.
In fact, thanks to the proliferation of screens in my life, I seem to be reading more lists of books than I’m reading the individual books appearing in them, an embarrassing admission for sure.
In March of this last year, The Atlantic Monthly came out with a phenomenal list called “The Great American Novels,” covering books published from 1923-2023. The Spokane Is Reading committee—a partnership between Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane County Library District, and Spokane Public Library—was delighted to see our 2024 book selection, Perma Red, listed as one of the outstanding titles. And I celebrated seeing so many authors I love—including Shirley Jackson, Jesmyn Ward, Toni Morrison, Louise Erdrich (even the devastating graphic novel Sabrina by Nick Drnaso)—included in its rankings.
Then The New York Times, just last month, published another heavy-hitting list, “100 Best Books of the 21st Century.” There are incredible titles gathered there, such as Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko and Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, but readers swiftly pointed out how the list egregiously neglected to include any Native voices (unthinkable, really). I also have a hard time believing a list reflects the ‘best’ when it lauds Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections but doesn’t mention Louise Erdrich’s The Round House, a far more relevant American book in my opinion than Franzen’s. Also missing, horribly, were the works of Miriam Toews, and in particular Women Talking. As if in response to its omissions, The New York Times swiftly followed up with 100 books chosen by their general readership, which included Tommy Orange’s There There and Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass (I’m still mad no Erdrich or Toews though haha). Braiding Sweetgrass is not only penned by a Potawatomi botanist, but it’s also published by an indie press, the wonderful Milkweed Editions in Minneapolis. It seemed there was better indie press representation in the general reader list than in the “expert” list.
It goes without saying that book lists—especially those purporting to be selecting the ‘best’ titles—are arbitrary and subjective, but I love to examine them anyway. I love seeing books and authors uplifted. I love seeing carousels and collages of gorgeously designed book jackets. I love seeing how many books I’ve read, how many I’ll likely read, how many I unapologetically won’t read. I love saying, “Hell yeah, Ferrante!” And, “Hell no, Franzen!” I love laughing at myself for my strong opinions. I love seeing what others’ opinions are because it makes me consider and question my own. And mostly I just love seeing books celebrated, because I’ve noted how they are disappearing from our collective lives, and from my life, personally, due to new embraced modes of storytelling (screens). I am hoping we will all work together to keep the beautiful wondrous object of a book alive.
In the spirit of a great book list, I’ve penned one of my own. It’s not a ‘best’ list. It’s not a comprehensive list. But it’s a list of strong voices from around the Pacific Northwest, books all published within the 21st Century. If you’re looking for a great read from a Northwest author, this is a list for you. I made sure there was indie press representation here as well as the traditional publishers. I’m posting this with the caveat that this list IS subjective, it IS individualized, and it IS undoubtedly flawed.
What books have you read on the list? What books do you want to read? What books do you love? What would you add to the list that I forgot? Feel free to email me your thoughts at sshields@spokanelibrary.org.
My rules for selection are the following:
- The author must live in the Pacific Northwest or be affiliated with a Northwest tribe.
- I’m defining the Pacific Northwest (Cascadia) as Alaska, British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
- Only one book is allowed per author (unlike the NY Times list).
- The title selected MUST appear in our library collection here at Spokane Public Library.
- No listing of books from my own household (mine or my husband’s).
- All books have to be published in 2000 or thereafter.
- I do not include poetry, largely because a lot of my favorite poets weren’t included in our library collection! And poetry warrants a list all on its own. Local poets, please note you can ask the library to add your books to our collection here: https://www.spokanelibrary.org/request/
- I’m acknowledging there is a dearth of genre fiction here (again, this is a subjective list), and these books warrant their own list, too. There are so many awesome mysteries, romances, and more from authors here in Spokane and in the larger NW.
- I did not include children’s books (again! we should make another list for this!) and tried to stick mostly to fiction and memoir, but there are a few YA novels that appear here…

When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End Times by Leah Sottile

Michi Challenges History: From Farm Girl to Costume Designer to Relentless Seeker of the Truth, The Life of Michi Weglyn by Ken Mochizuki

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage, and Survival by Velma Wallis, Illustrations by Jim Grant

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

The Entire Sky by Joe Wilkins