Books by local authors make great stocking stuffers

By WALT WILLIAMS, Chronicle Staff Writer

Any readers in the family?

Luckily, most books fit snugly into Christmas stockings.

Southwest Montana is home to an unusually large concentration of authors who write about a variety of topics. Western literature, adventure sports, cook books and even high fantasy are all genres covered by at least one author in the area.

The Chronicle contacted three book stores -- Country Bookshelf of Bozeman, Books and Music Ect. of Livingston and Vargo's Jazz City and Books of Bozeman -- for suggestions of books by local authors that would make good gifts, or at least local authors who have been in high demand among customers.

Listed below are some of their recommendations.

"Horses They Rode" by Sid Gustafson. Riverbend Publishing. $24.95. The newest novel by the Bozeman author and veterinarian tells the story of Montana native who returns to the ranch where he was raised. Much of the story revolves around the Blackfeet Indian Reservation near Glacier National Park. The work has received a thumbs up from Jim Harrison of "Legends of the Fall" fame.

"Give Me Mountains for My Horses: Journeys of a Backcountry Horseman" by Tom Reed. Riverbend Publishing. $12.95. Reed shares several true tales about trail riding, horse packing and mountain horses in this work. Horse lovers and nature lovers of the outdoors should enjoy it.

"Verbivore's Feast: Second Course" by Chrysti Smith, a.k.a. Chrysti the Wordsmith. Farcountry Press. $24.95. Local National Public Radio personality Smith is back for her second volume on the history behind commonly used words and phrases.

"Gallatin Canyon: Stories" by Tom McGuane. Knopf. $24. This collection of short stories by acclaimed author McGuane covers a lot of territory. The title story is about a man's business trip down the Gallatin Canyon with the woman he wants to marry, but things go sour.

"Eragon" by Christopher Paolini. Knopf. $6.99. Livingston author Paolini will be receiving much attention in coming weeks with the big-budget movie adaption of his bestselling work due out around Christmas. "Eragon" is the first in planned trilogy. The second book, "Eldest," already has been published. Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fans should especially enjoy these fantasy works set in a Tolkienesque world.

"Big Sky Cooking" by Meredith Auld Brokaw, Ellen Wright and Tom Brokaw. Artisan. $35. Country Bookshelf said this book has been a big seller at the store. It features a variety of Montana recipes, ranging from bison burgers to sage-chive biscuits. Many recipes have a distinct southwest flare.

"The Fire Arrow" by Richard Wheeler. Forge Books. $24.95. Mountain man Barnaby Skye faces crooked fur traders in the latest installment of Wheeler's popular Skye's West series. The novel takes place in local area in the 1850s.

"To the Ends of the Earth: Adventures of an Expedition Photographer." Gordon Wiltsie. $35. This coffee-table book really is too big to fit in any stockings, but outdoor lovers should enjoy it. Wiltsie, one of the nation's foremost expedition photographers, recounts his life and work in this book, which showcases many of his outstanding photos.

"Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations... One School at a Time." Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Viking. $25.95. This work, which has received national attention, recounts Mortenson's efforts to build school across Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The authors argue that education, particularly for women, to fighting terrorism and Islamic extremism.

Reader Comments