Humanities of Portland: 2026 Reading List
Moderated by Tanya Lyn March, PhD
Welcome to our 2026 season! This year, our curriculum exclusively features the work of women authors, highlighting diverse perspectives on the history, culture, and landscape of the Pacific Northwest.
Meeting Details:
-
When: The second Thursday of each month.
-
Where: Friendly House (1737 NW 26th Ave, Portland, OR 97210).
-
5:00 PM: Doors open for tea and social time.
-
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Book discussion led by the author or Dr. March.
-
6:30 PM: Clean up & Book signing (when the author is available).
January 8, 2026 | Tilt
-
Author: Emma Pattee
-
Pitch: A gripping debut novel set in a post-Cascadia earthquake Portland, this book follows a pregnant woman on a harrowing journey through the ruined city to find her husband. A meticulously researched and tense read that explores themes of motherhood, survival, and the future of the city. Annie’s role in the narrative interweaves her memories of husband Dom via a conversation with her unborn child “Bean” while interacting with other victims in world where everything and everyone has changed.
February 12, 2026 | A Peculiar Paradise
-
Author: Elizabeth McLagan
-
Pitch: This comprehensive history chronicles the experiences of Black Oregonians from 1788 to 1940, revealing how they overcame legal and social barriers to build communities in the state. Elizabeth McLagan’s work reveals how in spite of those barriers, Black individuals and families made Oregon their home and helped create the state’s modern Black communities. A longtime resource for those seeking information on the legal and social barriers faced by people of African descent in Oregon, the book is available again through this co-publication with Oregon Black Pioneers, Oregon’s statewide African American historical society.
March 12, 2026 | Lost Restaurants of Portland, Oregon
-
Author: Theresa Griffin Kennedy
-
Pitch: Take a nostalgic culinary tour through Portland’s past with this book that chronicles the history of the city’s most beloved, but long-gone, restaurants. This book is a delicious blend of history, personal memories, and even some recipes, making it a perfect read for foodies and history buffs alike.
April 14, 2026 | The Ground At My Feet
-
Author: Ann S. D. Stinson A former school teacher, she is president of the Family Forest Foundation and is on the board of the Washington Farm Forestry Association.
-
Pitch: A deeply personal memoir that combines family history, ecology, and loss as the author returns to her family’s tree farm in southwestern Washington.
May 14, 2026 | Sweet Cakes Long Journey
-
Author: Marie Rose Wong
-
Pitch: A deeply researched history that chronicles Portland’s Chinatowns from the 1850s until the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in the 1940s. Drawing on exhaustive primary sources, it reveals the enforcement of Exclusion Laws and the innovative ways Chinese immigrants built one of North America’s largest Chinatowns, highlighting a critical and often overlooked part of the city’s urban and ethnic history.
June 11, 2026 | The Girls of Good Fortune
-
Author: Kristina McMorris
-
Pitch: Set in 1888 Portland, this gripping historical novel follows a half-Chinese woman who awakens in the city’s notorious Shanghai Tunnels after being abducted for forced labor. As she fights to escape and protect those she loves, the story unearths dark secrets of Portland’s past, including the real-life Hells Canyon Massacre and the underground labyrinth of the city’s early history.
July 9th, 2026 | Timber Beasts
-
Author: S.L. Stoner
-
Pitch: Set in the early 1900s, this historical mystery dives into the rugged and often dangerous world of Oregon’s timber industry. It’s a gripping tale of labor rights and corporate greed.
- If anyone has a contact for the author please email Dr. March
August TBA
September 11, 2026 | Beyond the Ripple
-
Author: Dede Montgomery
-
Pitch: A poignant memoir that navigates the layers of family secrets and the healing power of the Oregon landscape. Montgomery explores how the “ripples” of our ancestors’ lives continue to shape our own identities in the Pacific Northwest.
October 8, 2026 | Ragged Edge of Medicine: Doctoring Among the Dispossessed
-
Author: Dr. Patricia Kullberg
-
Pitch: Dr. Kullberg provides a raw, compassionate look at her fifteen years practicing medicine in Portland’s public health clinics. This collection of stories offers a vital human perspective on the city’s most vulnerable populations and the challenges of the healthcare safety net.
November 12, 2026 | Near Flesh Stories
-
Author: Katherine Dunn
-
Pitch: A collection of early fiction and journalism from the legendary author of Geek Love. These works showcase Dunn’s singular, gritty voice and her deep connection to the darker, more eccentric corners of Portland’s soul. Katherine Dunn lived in Nob Hill and worked at Earth Tavern.
FYI August 13, 2026 the group going to read articles about the rise of Women Sports in Portland
December 2026 meet to select next year’s books.
2027 The Club is exploring rebranding as Humanities of Oregon