I am a voracious reader and I like to take lots of books on vacation, preferably great books about or set in the area I'm visiting. Anyone have recommendations for good books about or set in San Fran, Monterey, Big Sur? Fiction, or local history or biography that would make a good read. A good bio of Hearst or other colorful area figures...All help is appreciated.

A great book, "Cannery Row" by Steinbeck, is set in the Monterey area.

I haven't got around to reading it yet, but my sister recently gave me a book titled Murder at San Simeon (written by Patricia Hearst).

Citizen Hearst, by WA Swanburg is the classic, standard biography. I believe it might still be in print. However, I also notice that there's a copy on eBay right now ( 1534759294 ), ending this evening, and awaiting an opening bid of 2.50.

The "Tales of the City" series by Armistead Maupin and about San Francisco. Very light reading (lots of dialogue) -- some of my all-time favorites.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Now I've got a great list. I loved the "tales of the city" series in college, and will enjoy re-reading them in san fran. (maybe I can find the inspiration for Barbary Lane in my wandering).

I believe Barbary Lane was based to some degree on the Filbert Steps, the part of Filbert St. on Telegraph Hill that consists of a stairway because the hill's too steep. There are similar "stepped" streets in the area: Napier Lane, parts of Greenwich and Vallejo...really a rewarding prowl through this wonderful neighborhood.