The Good Rain, by Timothy Egan

Book Report by Kelly Greenwood

Genre: Non-fiction
​  Themes: Pacific Northwest, History, Anthropology, Politics

This book came to me as all good books should—with a friend pressing it into my hands and saying, “You have got to read this one.”

It was my first summer in the Pacific Northwest, and this book is about as Pacific Northwest as it gets. Loosely following the path of an 18th century explorer, Egan wanders around Washington, Oregon, and Vancouver Island, weaving together the past, present, and future of this unique and wonderful corner of the world. He regards every creature he meets along the way with thoughtful consideration, from towering Douglas Fir trees to dirtbag climbing legends.
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Egan story doesn’t just teach the reader about the people and the place, but also how to understand where you are and who has walked there before you. This book teaches you how to fall in love with the land around you. With beautiful descriptions, thoughtful commentary, and just enough of an edge to keep you on your toes, The Good Rain is a book everyone should read. If you hang around me, very likely at some point I will press it into your hands and say, “You have got to read this one.”