The first beer a young Jess Walter ever ordered was in a North Idaho bar, though he admits he might not exactly have been of drinking age yet. The first book the now best-selling Spokane-based author and journalist ever wrote was about the 1992 Ruby Ridge incident in North Idaho. So, he felt plenty at home Thursday night as the guest speaker at the 2014 Northern Idaho Distinguished Humanities Lecture and Dinner. A record 460 people attended the lecture and dinner at The Coeur d'Alene Resort, and Walter delivered with a speech that drew plenty of laughs and a standing ovation. But he had plenty of serious things to say, too. "I'm here to ask you to stand up for the stuff we call literature, which is under endless assault by TV and Internet, by Fifty Shades of Vampires, by a culture that values entertainment above all," he told the audience/David Cole, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (SR file photo: Author Jess Walter is shown after writing "Beautiful Ruins")

DFO: One of the privileges I've had in my 30 years with the SR is working with top-notch individuals/writers like Jess Walter and his equally talented wife, Anne Windishar (on the editorial board). If you haven't read any of the books by Jess ... what are you waiting for?

Question: Which Jess Walter book is your favorite? Why?