'Great Montana Read' announces winners
“Perma Red” by author Debra Magpie Earling has been voted the top book beloved by Montanans through “The Great Montana Read” program, headed by MontanaPBS and Montana Public Radio.
In a recent press release, the organizations also announced Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It” finished in second place, while “This House of Sky” by Ivan Doig received enough votes for third place.
More than 2,500 votes were cast on the MontanaPBS website. Voting ended at the end of 2018.
As part of the nationwide search for America’s best-loved novel through the PBS-sponsored “Great American Read,” a panel of seven Montana literary experts chose 20 books for voters to consider.
“’The Great Montana Read’ is an exciting collaboration, encouraging conversation and celebration around the Treasure State’s rich literary tradition,” said Sarah Aronson, host of Montana Public Radio’s “The Write Question.” Aronson wrote and hosted video segments featuring each nominated book.
Partners for “The Great Montana Read” included the Montana Library Association, Humanities Montana, the University of Montana, Mansfield Library, the UM Creative Writing Department, MontanaPBS and Montana Public Radio.
Top five books for 2018:
“Perma Red” by Debra Magpie Earling
“A River Runs Through It” by Norman Maclean
“This House of Sky” by Ivan Doig
“Blind Your Ponies” by Stanley Gordon West
“Fools Crow” by James Welch
Other books on the list:
“Winter in the Blood” by James Welch
“Legends of the Fall” by Jim Harrison
“The Big Sky” by A.B. Guthrie
“The Miseducation of Cameron Post” by Emily Danforth
“The Surrounded” by D’Arcy McNickle
“Blind Your Ponies” by Stanley Gordon West
“Canada” by Richard Ford
“English Creek” by Ivan Doig
“Fourth of July Creek” by Smith Henderson
“Hattie Big Sky” by Kirby Larson
“Last Bus to Wisdom” by Ivan Doig
“Letters from Yellowstone” by Diane Smith
“The Last Good Kiss” by James Crumley
“Yellow Raft in Blue Water” by Michael Dorris
“Winter Wheat” by Mildred Walker