Jesse

A bookseller since 1988, Jesse realized in May 1973 that the earth is choking to death on Homo sapiens, and in 33 years has only seen the asphyxiation intensify. A life and lit informed by themes of diminishment, extinction, and impermanence, he tends our Nature and Eastern Philosophy sections and is responsible for the return of our unsold stock to the "Island of Misfit Books." His taste in books runs to Edward Abbey and Derrick Jensen for truth, Han Shan and Gary Snyder for solace. Personally an incorrigible optimist, he lives in Seattle and takes as his totem Ectopistes migratorius. His ambition is to tie a perfect 1/0 "Winter's Hope" (McMillan) and cast it in the Sol Duc some January. His goal is to wake up, in this incarnation or some other.

Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis
by Howell Raines
The troubles Howell Raines had as Executive Editor of the New York Times are as may be. All I know for sure is that over ten years ago he crafted a terrific meditation on fly fishing and its place in one man's life. Recently re-issued by Harper, this book reads (cliché or not) much like a flowing river as it passes through the landscapes and the seasons, and the eddies make it the more interesting. Contemplative and wonderful.

The Golden Spruce
by John Vaillant
Like D.B. Cooper, poet-logger Wobblies, potlatches, and the geoduck, THe Golden Spruce is the kind of story Cascadia produces best: mystical, misty, mystifying, and just a little bit larger than life. A great read, engaing without pandering or condesencion, this story is part whodunit, part song-of-place, and part sorrowful cautionary parable. A must for all readers who love the rainy old Northwest; land, sea, forest and (sometimes) cranky, contrarian inhabitants.

Raw Spirit
by Iain Banks
Iain Banks, the mist Highlands of Scotland, and a dram of savoury single-malt Scotch whisky...aaahhh! Grab this great book an' a wee dram of your favourite and enjoy as Banks escorts, you on a "grand tour" of his native land and its unmatched (and unmatchable) native spirit. I enjoyed this book so much, it motivated me to join the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America (www.SMWSA.com).