We’re a pretty well-read part of the world, I would say, with oodles of authors, a strong literary culture and a statue and mural of a famed writer smack-dab in our cities’ two downtowns.
But have you read up on Lane County lit itself? Here’s a starter guide — this is a living list, so if I’ve left out your favorite, drop me a line at [email protected], and I’ll update my roundup and include a shoutout to you.
‘Sometimes a Great Notion’ by Ken Kesey
I think the Lane County commissioners would excommunicate me if I didn’t include a book by Ken Kesey, our local patron saint of counterculture and Oregon literature. I’m picking up this book to start during my own stretch of time off this week.
Kesey’s novel after “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Sometimes a Great Notion” is about the life of the Stampers, a family on the Oregon Coast whose livelihood revolves around logging, during a labor dispute. Or at least, that’s what I’ve heard! No spoilers, please…