Every fall, as the rains return, we are reacquainted with the knowledge of where exactly on Earth we are. Autumn in Seattle can be gloomy and hard to survive emotionally, but it is also an experience that can be enhanced by delving into the cultural history and storytelling of the specific place we are in. To that end, here are three books by Pacific Northwest writers that either take place in Seattle or in the surrounding area that are perfect for reading indoors in the middle of one of our infamous October downpours.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
When a boy discovers a time capsule of old treasures in an old hotel room in Seattle’s International District, he is launched into the heart-wrenching story that takes a look at the history of Japanese Internment in Washington State. This is historical fiction, and it is also the story of the relationship between twelve-year-old Chinese-American Henry Lee and his first love, a Japanese-American girl named Keiko Okabe. Aside from its engaging love story and its critical engagement with this uncomfortable legacy of racism in Seattle’s past, it also features real Seattle locations such as the Panama Hotel itself. This is certainly a great one for anyone who wants to get to know Seattle’s geography, history, and cultural legacies a little better.
Waxwings by Jonathan Raban
This is a book from 2003 that tells the stories of two Seattle residents who are chasing the so-called “American Dream” in very different ways. The first is Tom Janeway, a radio journalist who lives in Queen Anne and is struggling to take next steps in both his career and in his personal life. The other is Chick, an immigrant from China who has survived a grueling journey to Seattle stowed away in a shipping container as it crossed the Pacific Ocean. While Janeway himself is an immigrant (he was born in Hungary, but spent much of his life in England), his experience as a first-generation American is wildly different and significantly more privileged than Chick’s, which becomes increasingly apparent as their two lives become entangled. While some of the terminology and political references of this novel may be somewhat dated for a 2020 reader, it nonetheless provides an interesting look at Seattle’s identity as an immigrant destination.
Starbird Murphy and the World Outside by Karen Finneyfrock
Well-known as one of Seattle’s favorite poets, Karen Finneyfrock has delivered a quintessentially Washingtonian story in this young adult novel from 2014. The main character is a sixteen-year-old girl named Starbird, who was spent her whole life growing up in a commune in rural, forested Washington State. Her life changes dramatically when she decides to move to Seattle to work at the restaurant associated with her farm, becoming acquainted, at last, with the “World Outside.” This book marries Starbird’s coming-of-age story with her exploration of the city itself – as she gets to know Seattle, she is also getting to know herself. A great book for any readers, young or old, who are feeling ready to go on a similar journey themselves.
~ Posted by Hannah P.
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