Ivan Doig captured readers with his tales of the American West. His books often explored families, the land, and the spirit of the people who lived there. If you enjoy this kind of storytelling, you may be interested in discovering other authors with a similar style.
Books by Wallace Stegner often explore the American West through vivid characters and landscapes, capturing human relationships with subtle depth. Readers who enjoy Ivan Doig might appreciate Stegner’s “Angle of Repose.”
This novel follows historian Lyman Ward as he retraces the journey of his grandparents, Oliver and Susan Ward, pioneers who travel westward in the late 1800s.
Through letters and journals, their story unfolds, revealing marriage tensions, family hardships, and the struggle to find stability in the harsh, beautiful terrain of the West.
Stegner weaves past and present into a thoughtful narrative, rich with emotion, courage, and the complexities of ordinary life.
Kent Haruf was an American novelist known for his deeply authentic stories of small-town life. His writing captures the quiet struggles and quiet joys of everyday people, especially in rural communities.
If you’ve enjoyed Ivan Doig, you might appreciate Haruf’s novel “Plainsong.” Set in the fictional town of Holt, Colorado, “Plainsong” follows several characters whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways.
There’s a high school teacher facing personal difficulties, two young brothers coping with their mother’s absence, and a pregnant teenager who finds kindness in surprising places.
Haruf weaves these separate threads into a gentle yet powerful portrait of community, resilience, and compassion.
Books by Annie Proulx capture the raw beauty and tough realities of rural life, often set against vast western backdrops readers of Ivan Doig would appreciate. In “The Shipping News,” Proulx introduces Quoyle, a quiet man with a faltering life and failing career.
After tragedy strikes, he relocates to Newfoundland, a place harsh yet oddly comforting. This coastal town with its unique cast of locals becomes a fascinating place of second chances and surprising discoveries.
Proulx tells a story deeply rooted in place, family history, and resilience that makes everyday struggles feel vivid and profound.
Readers who appreciate Ivan Doig’s rich portrayal of the American West might find William Kittredge equally absorbing. Kittredge grew up in southeastern Oregon’s ranch country, an environment that vividly shapes his writing.
In his memoir, “Hole in the Sky,” Kittredge reflects on his life on a large family ranch, set against a vibrant yet challenging natural backdrop. The book is a thoughtful meditation on family legacy, land stewardship, and personal awakening.
Through personal anecdotes and a clear-eyed look at ranching culture, Kittredge reveals how he gradually recognized the harm to the land and questioned the values he grew up with.
For readers drawn to nuanced, heartfelt accounts of Western life, Kittredge’s story offers plenty to appreciate.
Books by Molly Gloss often explore life in the American West through characters who are resilient and deeply human, qualities readers of Ivan Doig will appreciate.
Her novel “The Hearts of Horses” is set in Oregon during World War I. Martha Lessen is a skilled horsewoman who arrives in a rural town to help ranchers train their horses at a time when many men have left to fight overseas.
As Martha moves from ranch to ranch, she becomes connected with the families she meets, encountering love, friendship, and loss amid difficult times.
Gloss captures the realities and beauty of ranch life while painting a thoughtful portrait of a community shaped by war and change.
Jim Harrison was an American author known for his vivid storytelling and rich connection to the American West, qualities readers of Ivan Doig often appreciate. Harrison’s novel “Dalva” tells the story of a strong and independent woman named Dalva Northridge.
She returns to her family ranch in Nebraska after years away, seeking clarity about her painful past and her Native American heritage. Harrison moves readers through beautiful American landscapes and portrays complex characters struggling with history, family, and identity.
Fans of Doig’s work will likely enjoy Harrison’s thoughtful reflections on family legacy and emotional depth, set against striking Midwestern settings.
Norman Maclean is a writer who evokes the spirit of Montana through personal history and beautifully crafted storytelling. His novella “A River Runs Through It” centers around two brothers raised by a stern Presbyterian minister in early 20th-century Montana.
The story explores family bonds, brotherhood, and the depth of human relationships, all intertwined with vivid descriptions of fly-fishing on the Big Blackfoot River. Maclean’s writing captures the rugged beauty of Montana and the complexity hidden beneath quiet lives.
For readers who appreciate Ivan Doig’s blend of vivid setting and thoughtful examination of family ties, Maclean offers a similar experience with warmth, authenticity, and emotional resonance.
Mary Clearman Blew captures the spirit of the American West with authentic detail and emotional honesty. Her memoir “All But the Waltz” explores the changes occurring over generations on her family’s Montana ranch.
The author’s vivid portrayal gives readers a close-up look at ranch life, family bonds, and the tough choices faced across decades. Blew reflects on inheritances—both the land itself and the burdens and joys carried with it.
Her thoughtful storytelling shares similarities with Ivan Doig’s narratives about Montana, family history, and the ever-evolving frontier landscape.
Readers who appreciate Ivan Doig’s vivid portrayals of the American West may also enjoy Pam Houston. Houston has a knack for capturing the rugged charm of rural life and complex human emotions.
Her book, “Cowboys Are My Weakness,” offers a set of engaging short stories that follow independent women who navigate relationships, wilderness adventures, and unexpected challenges.
Houston brings the mountain terrain and raw human experiences to life, exploring love and adventure through strong, relatable female characters. Each story is a snapshot of life’s unpredictable moments set against stunning, sometimes harsh landscapes.
Readers who enjoyed Ivan Doig’s rich storytelling of the American West may appreciate the work of Bill Kittredge. Born and raised in the ranch country of eastern Oregon, Kittredge deeply understands life on the land.
In his memoir, “Hole in the Sky,” he explores the challenges of growing up on a working ranch and the complex family relationships shaped by hard work and wide-open spaces.
Kittredge reflects honestly on the myths and realities of the western landscape—its harsh beauty, family obligations, and the longing for a larger purpose.
Fans of Doig’s vivid Western settings and genuine characters might find “Hole in the Sky” resonates strongly with their tastes.
Willa Cather shares Ivan Doig’s talent for capturing vivid landscapes and the resilient spirit of small communities. Her novel “My Ántonia” paints an earnest and heartfelt picture of pioneering life on the Nebraska plains.
It follows the story of Jim Burden and Ántonia Shimerda, childhood friends who grow up together among immigrant settlers. Through Jim’s eyes, Cather brings to life their hardships and joys, along with the profound impact Ántonia leaves on those around her.
The book beautifully explores the strength of friendship, nostalgia for youth, and the unique bond formed between people and the land they inhabit.
Readers who enjoy Ivan Doig’s vivid portraits of the American West may find themselves drawn to Craig Lesley’s novels. Lesley captures the realistic lives and rugged landscapes of the Pacific Northwest in a thoughtful and compelling way.
His novel “Winterkill” explores the relationship between Danny Kachiah, a Nez Perce fisherman who struggles with fatherhood, and his teenage son Jack.
After years of estrangement, Danny tries to bridge the emotional distance with Jack amid harsh conditions and the backdrop of traditional tribal salmon fishing.
Lesley’s careful depiction of family bonds and wilderness survival brings out a rich, authentic sense of place that Doig readers may appreciate.
Readers who enjoy Ivan Doig’s warm and insightful storytelling may also appreciate Catherine Ryan Hyde. Hyde writes intimately about life’s challenges and the resilience of ordinary people.
Her novel “Take Me With You” follows August Shroeder, a teacher profoundly shaken by personal loss. When his RV breaks down during a summer road trip, August finds himself making an unexpected deal: offering to travel with a mechanic’s two sons in exchange for repairs.
This journey through national parks and open roads gently uncovers meaningful connections, quiet courage, and the transformative possibility tucked into moments of kindness.
Books by Barbara Kingsolver often capture the heart of rural America and the lives of people deeply connected to the land. In her novel “Prodigal Summer,” she explores the stories of three individuals whose lives intersect over one vibrant summer in Appalachia.
Each character faces struggles with family bonds, personal dreams, and their role in the natural world around them. Kingsolver’s writing blends vivid descriptions of nature with thoughtful reflections about human connections.
Those who enjoy Ivan Doig’s stories of community, landscape, and life’s complexities may find Kingsolver’s honest and heartfelt storytelling equally appealing.
Readers who enjoy Ivan Doig’s vivid depictions of the American West may also appreciate the novels of Ron Carlson. Carlson authentically captures rural and small-town America through genuine characters and thoughtful storytelling.
In “Five Skies,” he brings readers to the stark landscapes of Idaho, where three men come together to build an ambitious construction project high above a rugged canyon.
Each man carries a past he prefers to leave behind, yet as they face daily challenges and personal setbacks, they learn to trust and rely on one another.
With quiet wisdom and sharp attention to detail, Carlson explores friendship, loss, and redemption against a richly drawn western backdrop.