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Ask a Bookseller

These California booksellers are always happy to help you find the right book—including their picks for favorite Golden State titles.

By Alta Editors

Karen Finlay at Alibi Bookshop, Vallejo

25 books that define california, chowder, karen finlay
karen finlay
  • Favorite California novel: The Day of the Locust, by Nathanael West
  • Favorite California sci-fi: Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E. Butler
  • Favorite California noir: Tapping the Source, by Kem Nunn

John Evans at Camino Books, San Diego

25 books that define california, chowder, john evans
John Evans
  • Favorite California novel: The Barbarian Nurseries, by Héctor Tobar
  • Favorite California sci-fi: Ubik, by Philip K. Dick
  • Favorite California noir: Inherent Vice, by Thomas Pynchon
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Fiction

cover of rabih alameddine’s novel "the true true story of raja the gullible," featuring a turquoise background with red thread loops. portrait of rabih alameddine wearing a black cap and glasses, standing against a gray wall.

Time After Time

the martian chronicles by rad bradbury, book review

Rocket Man

cover of peter orner’s novel the gossip columnist’s daughter, featuring a matchbook and typewriter on a green background. author peter orner photographed outdoors with ocean in background.

Unsolved Homicide

moderation by elaine castillo, book review

What Reality Is This?

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nolan knight, the gorgon of los feliz, book review

Grifter’s Paradise

which walks by laura moriarty, book review

Oblique Strategies

cover of typewriter beach by meg waite clayton, showing a woman in a black dress framed by a grand arched window overlooking the california coast.

American Fantasy

a bomb placed close to the heart by nishant batsha, book review

Inventing History

michelle huneven, bug hollow

The Adult in the Room

crown, evanthia bromiley

Writer’s Room: Evanthia Bromiley

illustration of edward abbey

The Origin of ‘The Monkey Wrench Gang’

the giveaway by owen hill, clay backburn novels

Down These Mean Streets

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