Most Famous Books Set in Every State

[officerripley]

I thought this list was interesting:

http://www.businessinsider.com/most-famous-book-set-in-every-state-...

[Countryphyl]

Very interesting. Have read quite a few of the books except for my home state which is Ohio. I will have to check that one out. Thanks.

[Carolyn Tewell]

PHYL...yes, I hear you about Ohio. I have fun with Les Roberts and of course Michael Symon with all his cook books.

Spent 1/3 of my life in Florida so grab those writers, too. Especially Carl Hiaason.

Many mysteries seem to take place in New York...someday I need to trip around with a resident so can get a true visual understanding of the scenes.

Love the Michigan, Minnesota...and of course James Lee Burke with Louisiana.

Gee, I feel like traveling now? Maybe 'cause it is dark at 7PM in NE Ohio already?~mellow

[Countryphyl]

I am really enjoying "The Jazz Bird" - it is bringing back lots memories of downtown Cincinnati even though it takes place a little before my time.

[Mandy Muffin]

I have to disagree with Florida, as "The Yearling" by Marjorie Rawlings is much more highly regarded, having won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature.  I do remember reading "To Have and Have Not" as a teenager.  Of the last ten novels I have read, at least three have been placed in Florida, a very popular state to use as a location. 

I am currently reading "Bloodstream" by Tess Gerritsen.  This is a creepy story placed in Maine.  Sound familiar as a creepy novel location? 

I enjoyed the list, as tried to think of the novels I have read over the years that were placed in the various states.  Maybe I'll try to come up with my own listing. 

[officerripley]

That'd be cool to see your list, Mandy! :-)

[Mandy Muffin]

Mandy's List

Books I have read by state included in the plot of the story: 

AL Looking for Alaska, John Green

AK The Tenth Circle, Jodi Picoult

AZ The Andromeda Strain, Michael Cichton

AR A Painted House, John Gisham

CA A-V, Sue Grafton

CO Angle of Repose, Wallace Stenger

CT I Know This Much is True, Wally Lamb

DE Beloved, Toni Morrison

FL Duma Key, Stephen King

GA Deliverance, James Dickey

HI From Here to Eternity, James Jones

ID The Stand, Stephen King

IL Devil in the White City, Erik Larson

IN Some Came Running, James Jones

IA Moo, Jane Smiley

KS In Cold Blood, Truman Capote

KY Youngblood Hawk, Herman Wouk

LA Cane River, Lalita Tademy

ME Needful Things, Stephen King

MD The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot

MA The Wapshop Chronicles, John Cheever

MI The Time Traveler's Wife, Audry Niffenegger

MN A Million Little Pieces, James Frey

MS A Time to Kill, John Grisham

MO Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

MT The Big Sky, A. B. Guthrie

NE O Pioneers!, Willa Cather

NV The Ox-Bow Incident, Walter Clark

NH A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving

NJ Portnoy's Complaint, Philip Roth

NM Santa Fe Rules, Steward Woods

NY Billy Bathgate, E. L. Doctorow

NC The Notebook, Nicholas Spark

ND The Round House, Louise Erdrich

OH And Ladies of the Club, Helen Santmyer

OK Pigs in Heaven, Barbara Kingsolver

OR Sometimes a Great Notion, Ken Kesey

PA Rabbit is Rich, John Updike

RI The Witches of Eastwick, John Updyke

SC The Prince of Tides, Pat Conroy

SD Bury My Heart in Wounded Knee, Dee Brown

TN Carved in Bone, Jefferson Bass

TX Streets of Laredo, Larry McMurtry

UT The Righteous, Michael Wallace

VT House Rules, Jodi Picoult

VA Point of Origin, Patricia Cornwell

WA Snow Falling on Cedars, David Guterson

WV The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls

WI The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski

WY Yellow Hair, Clay Fisher

Putting together this list brought back some fond memories of the books I have read over the years and the story behind these books.  For example:  I found while reading Cane River, I am related to Lalita Tademy through my ancestors in France.  I have corresponded with the author on this connection. MY old boss helped Phillip Roth edit his books while he was attending the University of Pennsylvania.  John Updyke places the action in the Witches of Eastwick in a small Rhode Island town.  It is actually Warwick, where I was born.  Wally Lamb places all his stories in Eastern Connecticut, where I lived for a number of years.  Some of the locations are eerily familiar, such as, he has his character going into a small grocery store in Jewett City where I once worked.  ETC.

[Ioruach]

Pretty impressive, Mandy. How long did it take you to come up with it? You must have a super memory. I'm sure I could never do it.

[Ursula]

Great list!!  Looking for Alaska is set in Alabama!!  Who would have guessed?!!  Guess I'll have to read it.

Thanks for the effort!!

[Mandy Muffin]

I got the book title here about 4 months ago.  It is a great story of kids in a private school in Alabama and the demons that plague them.  Alaska is the main character. http://www.amazon.com/Looking-Alaska-John-Green/dp/0142402516 The author, John Green, is also the author of the huge bestseller, "The Fault In Our Stars" that is destined to be a classic, as it deals with juvenile cancer.  I have had occasion to spend a day in a juvenile cancer ward in some medical training I did several years ago.  http://www.amazon.com/The-Fault-Stars-John-Green/dp/0525478817

These are two of the best books I read in the past year. 

[Mandy Muffin]

I'm not bragging, but it took me about 1/2 hour yesterday morning.  This was just enough time to enjoy a cup of coffee.   I did use 3-4 web sites to make sure I got them right. I have been reading pretty heavily for over 60 years, during which I got a college degree with a minor in English Literature.  I tend to remember most books I read and am especially interested in the locations where these books take place.  As I mentioned, many of these books have a side story of sorts.  I spend a week in the San Juan Islands where "Snow Falling on Cedars" takes place.  I have worked with the mental health clinic in Minnesota where "A Million Little Pieces" happened, even though it is mostly fiction, as Oprah exposed.  I have hiked the Georgia mountains where Deliverance is set.   Etc.  Over my lifetime I have spent time in all 50 states.  Each state now has a story associated with it.  

[Carci]

WOW Mandy!!!  I am truly impressed with your recall...  while I have read many of those listed, I could not tell you what state was the location for most of them.

[officerripley]

Thanks, Mandy; I'm impressed too! :-)