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Anne LaBastille, author of the “Woodswoman” series.
Looking for new ways to pass the time indoors?
Here are some suggestions for Adirondack and/or environmental themed books offered up by Almanack readers, who responded to a post on our Facebook page.
A mix of fiction and non-fiction, old and new (in no particular order), feel free to share your favorites in the comments!
- “Cold River” by William Judson
- “Living With the Adirondack Forest” by Catherine Henshaw Knott.
- “The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative” by Florence Williams
- “Loon Lake” by E.L. Doctorow.
- “The Stranger in the Woods” by Michael Finkel.
- “The Truth and Legend of Lily Martindale” by Mary Sanders Shartle
- “Wandering Home” by Bill McKibben
- “A Woman in the Polar Night” by Christiane Ritter
- “Tailspin: The Strange Case of Major Call” by Bernard F. Conners
- Anything William Kennedy
- “Woodswoman” (series) by Anne LaBastille
- The Explorer publication by Phil Terrie, “Seeing The Forest” We still have a few copies for sale.
- “In Praise of Quiet Waters” and “Finding A Woman’s Place” by Lorraine Duvall
- “In Camp with Adirondack Hunters” by Robert J. Elinskas
- The Frank Bennett Adirondack Mountain Mystery Series by S. W. Hubbard
- “Adirondack Detective” by John H. Briant
- “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben
- “The Overstory” by Richard Powers
- “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- “The Dirty Life, A Memoir of Farming, Food and Love” by Kristin Kimball.
- “Adirondack Almanac: A Guide to the Natural Year” by Saranac Lake author Tom Kalinowski
- The Adirondack Kids series
- “Neighbors of Yesterday” by Jeanne Robert Foster
- “No Place I’d Rather be: Wit and Wisdom from Adirondack Lean-to Journals” by Stuart F. Mesinger
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I might recommend Maitland DeSormo’s books, “Summers on the Saranacs,” et al, as well as “French Louie,” by Harvey Dunham.There is also a great book, “Cache Lake Country,” which is not exactly Adirondack, because the author, John J. Rowlands, was a timber cruiser in Canada and wrote of his life there in a cabin he built on a remote lake. The book, published in 1947, has recently been reissued, with the original illustrations, which are delightful. I first found this book in our shelves as a twelve year old on a cold rainy afternoon, and have reread it ever since.
Then of course there’s the 46er book, “Heaven Up-Histedness” if you can lift it up — it weighs a ton.
Cache Lake Country is great ( I have it as well as French Louie) I was surprised the Adirondack Classic about Louie wasn’t included!
I would include as essential reading anything by George Washington Sears and Christine Jerome’s lovely homage to Sears and memoir of her own retracing of Sears’ famous Adirondack paddle, “An Adirondack Passage: The Cruise of the Canoe Sairy Gamp,” This is my favorite Adirondack book, elegantly written, funny and touching.
I was surprised that the trilogy by Tony Holtzman was not mentioned in either of your 2 suggested reading lists published. Years ago When I was on vacation , I picked up signed copies at the Saranac Lake Community Store. This spring I finally was able crack into these 3 novels, and both my husband and myself really enjoyed them. We are not from the area, but were in pursuit of the 46 peaks so we would be up summers for years and got to know the area. While reading the books, it was refreshing to be reminded of all the places mentioned in the books. Interesting read in my opinion!
Do you ever publish poems from unknown people. My grandfather published a few back in the 1920s that I think you would like.
Hi Anita, please send to editor@adirondackalmanack.com! I’d love to take a look. Where did your grandfather live?
I’ve just started “Finding True North” by Fran Yardley, about the history and resurrection of the Bartlett Carry Club between Middle and Upper Saranac Lakes. Good so far!
Any thing by E.L. Doctorow is worth a read and “Loon Lake” is no exception. His mysteries, or adventures with some political overtones are remarkable. I also recommend the Tony Holtzman books.
Thanks! I will check out the Loon Lake book.
Hi, lots of great reading! I would also recommend Christine Jerome’s book “An Adirondack Passage”.
Any of Bob Elinskas’s books are great reads. Fantastic author and historian of the North Country.