“Housekeeping” by Marilynne Robinson tells the story of two sisters, Ruth and Lucille, who grow up in a small Idaho town near a glacial lake. After their mother’s death, they are cared for by a series of relatives, including their eccentric aunt Sylvie.
The book explores themes of family bonds, loss, and the pull between stability and freedom, all set against the backdrop of the haunting and remote Idaho landscape.
The novel “Angle of Repose” by Wallace Stegner tells the story of Lyman Ward, a retired historian, as he pieces together the life of his grandmother, Susan Burling Ward, through her letters and drawings.
Susan, an artist from the East, follows her mining-engineer husband to the rugged American West, including Idaho, where their lives unfold against the backdrop of frontier challenges and personal struggles.
The book explores themes of marriage, ambition, and the clash between personal dreams and harsh realities.
Denis Johnson’s “Train Dreams” tells the story of Robert Grainier, a logger and laborer in the American West during the early 20th century.
Set against the backdrop of Idaho’s rugged wilderness, the novella follows Grainier’s simple yet poignant life as he faces loss, isolation, and the vast, untamed nature around him.
The story captures moments like his work on the railroads and the eerie sense of loneliness that seeps into his life in the quiet Idaho woods.
Zane Grey wrote “The Border Legion,” a story about a man named Jim Cleve, who feels rejected and heads to the wild Idaho mountains to join a gang of outlaws.
The story focuses on the rough lives of these characters and their struggles as Jim crosses paths with Joan, a woman who faces her own dangers in the wilderness. It’s a tale of survival, choices, and the rugged landscape of Idaho.
“The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon” by Tom Spanbauer is set in late 19th-century Idaho and tells the story of Shed, a bisexual boy of mixed heritage. Growing up in a small town, he takes on work at a brothel owned by Ida Richilieu, a strong and memorable character.
Shed sets out to uncover the mystery of his mother’s past, meeting colorful and complex characters along the way. The book weaves together themes of identity, love, and the search for belonging in the rugged Idaho landscape.
“Divided We Fall” by Trent Reedy follows the story of Danny Wright, a high school senior and member of the Idaho National Guard. After an order during a protest goes horribly wrong, Danny finds himself at the center of a national crisis.
The story explores the tension between state and federal authority, with Danny caught between loyalty to his state and the broader consequences of his actions.
It’s a fast-moving tale rooted in a small Idaho town, and Danny’s struggles feel real as he tries to navigate both personal and political fallout.