Since January I’ve been working on my local library’s challenge to read a book set in every state before Dec 31. Hoping to get some solid recommendations for the states I have left!
Arkansas
Indiana
Iowa
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Open to fiction or non-fiction. I don’t usually read fantasy or romance but hey, I’m willing to try if it checks a state off the list.
by Interesting-Way-1312
14 Comments
My Antonia by Willa Cather takes place in Nebraska.
Sons of Mississippi by Paul Hendrickson is excellent.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Mississippi
Lonesome Dove includes time in Montana!
Jane Smiley has a few books set in Iowa.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Nevada.
Grapes of Wrath is partially set in Oklahoma.
The Maze at Windermere by Gregory Blake Smith — Rhode Island
Rhode Island: The Wedding People by Alison Espach
* Arkansas: *True Grit* by Charles Portis
* Indiana: *Zorrie* by Laird Hunt
* Iowa: *Arrowood* by Laura McHugh
* Mississippi: *The Little Friend* by Donna Tartt
* Nebraska: *Worth Dying For* by Lee Child
* Nevada: *Play It As It Lays* by Joan Didion (portions)
* North Dakota: *The Master Butchers’ Singing Club* by Louise Erdich
* Oklahoma: *Primary Justice* by William Bernhardt
* Rhode Island: *She’s Come Undone* by Wally Lamb (portions)
* Tennessee: *Christy* by Catherine Marshall
Indiana: All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann for Oklahoma
I know I’m not suggesting one, but OP, please share your list.
For Mississippi, do not miss The Natchez Burning Trilogy, and quite a few other books with the same characters and setting, by Greg Iles. They are novels with a MC who is a lawyer, a mayor, and a writer who gets caught up delving into unsolved historic cases of civil rights abuses.
Louise Erdrich has set many novels in North Dakota with native American characters. LaRose and Love Medicine are two of them.
You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey – Nebraska
Oklahoma has to be The Outsiders, stay Golden ponyboy, it’s required reading in every Middle School/highschool English class