The Neill Public Library will host David Guterson, author of “Snow Falling on Cedars,” Monday at 7 p.m. Guterson’s appearance at the library is part of the 2009 Everybody Reads program. This program is regional and is featured at libraries, bookstores and universities across the Palouse and the Lewiston/Clarkston Valley. It encourages those of all ages to read the same book. Guterson will be promoting his newest novel, “The Other.” The book is about two men of different backgrounds who share a fervent love for the outdoors. When the men get lost in the wilds of the North Cascades, they each feel compelled to take different paths. John, a trust fund baby and student of prestigious private schools, feels compelled to take an austere route. On the other hand, Neil, a member of the working class, chooses a traditional path. The novel explores the compromises made to balance meaning and security in people’s lives through the choices and subsequent consequences of John and Neil. Elyse Gillespie, a senior speech and hearing sciences major, said that though she has not read the novel, she would like to. “The storyline reminds me of ‘Into the Wild,’ which is a great story full of adventure,” she said.

The story, embedded in nature, is a result of Guterson’s own love for the outdoors. Guterson said he likes to be outdoors and on foot as much as possible. He has roamed extensively across Washington state, where he says the vast majority of his works have taken place.