Alta Journal: Stories of California and the West

THE LATEST FROM ALTA

Don't miss this week's upcoming events and new stories.

lisa see, michael luo, john freeman, california book club, on gold mountain

Event Recap: Lisa See’s ‘On Gold Mountain’

Author Lisa See, special guest Michael Luo, and host John Freeman had an illuminating conversation about the California Book Club’s December selection.

train dreams by denis johnson, good things by samin nosrat, flesh by david szalay

California Bestsellers List (December 18, 2025)

ansel adams, rows of barracks at the manzanar ware relocation center in owens valley california, chiura obata, untitled, topaz water tower with sunset, topaz relocation center, utah

An Artistic Friendship Born in Yosemite

this year, 365 songs annotated a book of days by john darnielle, book review

Memory Book

a weathered red barn in a dry field beneath a blue sky in point reyes, california.

Poetry: Point Reyes

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holiday shopping promotion featuring various products related to california literature

GIFTING SEASON

The Alta Holiday Gift Guide

From timeless back issues to stocking stuffer folios and a full year of Alta, our holiday gift guide is packed with ideas for the booklovers on your list.

alta, issue 33, cover, art and architecture

CURRENT ISSUE

Issue 33: Art & Architecture

Alta Journal celebrates the impulse to create, build—and rebuild in our 33rd issue.

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scott and angela uriu, uriu architecture, altadena eaton fire, rebuild

ENVISIONING

‘We Get to Start from Scratch’

Three prominent architects lost their Altadena homes in the Eaton Fire. Now, with little guidance from the county, they’re rebuilding.

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Latest from the California Book Club

Join the West Coast literary conversation every month.

cover of janet fitch’s novel white oleander, showing a black and white photograph of a woman leaning forward, overlaid with handwritten white text.

The New Canon

Why You Should Read Janet Fitch’s ‘White Oleander’

Fitch’s novel is the California Book Club’s March 2026 selection.

janet fitch seated outdoors against a blue wall, smiling warmly, with a vase of yellow flowers behind her—capturing her reflective, creative spirit.

Why I Write: Janet Fitch

grand avenue, a novel in stories, greg sarris

Why You Should Read ‘Grand Avenue’

Why Greg Sarris Writes

‘On Gold Mountain’

FUNNY BUSINESS

altatude, issue 33, cartoon, amy kurzweil

Weekly Cartoon: Altatude #13 Issue 33

altatude, issue 33, cartoon, robert leighton

Weekly Cartoon: Altatude #12 Issue 33

altatude, issue 33, cartoon, kendra allenby

Weekly Cartoon: Altatude #10 Issue 33

altatude, issue 33, cartoon, todd condron

Weekly Cartoon: Altatude #11 Issue 33

THE MONDAY BOOK REVIEW

Sign-up for our weekly book review email.

Permission for Writers

Elizabeth McCracken’s A Long Game is a craft book that sidesteps rules.

only way out by tod goldberg, book review

Long Con in the New West

Time and Tide

The Physics of Grief: Aja Gabel’s ‘Lightbreakers’

Nurses and Lowriders

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a dozen musicians perform under a giant “50” banner at the alaska folk festival’s main stage in juneau, celebrating its 50th anniversary.

MUSIC FOR CONNECTION

For the Joy of It

Meredith Lawrence visits Juneau’s free, community-run Alaska Folk Festival—where music, community, and weirdness take center stage.

illustration of flapper style woman with dark bob haircut, red lips, and diamond jewelry—depicting lorelei lee, protagonist of gentlemen prefer blondes.

GIRL'S STRENGTH

‘A Diamond and Safire Bracelet Lasts Forever’

The hardscrabble origin story of Anita Loos’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the bestselling 1925 novel that spawned a smash Broadway musical and the iconic Marilyn Monroe film.