Reading Across America

I came across this idea elsewhere and it looked like fun so I thought I would give it a try.

The idea is simple. Read a book for each of the 50 states (each book read should be set predominately in one of the states)

I am not counting books I have already read, but only books of which I read from this point forward and I plan to make my trip a meandering one with no set time limits for completion.

Here is a my perspective reading list:

Books I Already Own

Alaska- Heartbroke Bay
California - East of Eden
Connecticut - Revolutionary Road
Florida - Duma Key
Georgia - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Illinois - The Outsider
Louisiana - Jitterbug Perfume or The Moviegoer
Maryland - A Mercy
Maine - The Dark Half
Massachusetts - Herzog
Michigan - Song of Solomon
Minnesota - Main Street
Missouri - Pudd'nhead Wilson
Nevada - The Ox Bow Incident
New Hampshire - A Widow For One Year
New York - The Godfather
North Dakota - Arrowsmith
Ohio - Wench
Oregon - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Pennsylvania - The Killer Angels
Rhode Island - The Witches of Eastwick
Tennessee - Child of God
Texas - All The Pretty Horses
Washington - Snow Falling on Cedars
Montanna - Red Harvest

Books I do not have at present but am interested in reading:

Colorado - Eventide
Indiana - A Girl of the Limberlost
Nebraska - My Antonia or O Pioneers
Utah - The Monkey Wrench Gang
New Mexico - The Plumed Serpent
North Carolina - Look Homeward Angel
Iowa: A Thousand Acres

Good luck! I hope it gives you a new insight into the US

Thank you! I look forward to it.

Wow! I think that this is a great idea. I am not sure if I could do every book, but I would read some on the list. I want to read Witches of East Wick. I think I'll add that to my list next. I am STILL reading The Idiot. I'll see how that goes and maybe come back for another on the list. I'll let you know as I go.

Good luck with The Idiot, I enjoyed that one, but then I like just about everything by Dostoyevsky. It was a fun process just looking up each of the states and reading the lists of what books are associated with which states and trying to figure out what to read. Of course some of the states I still have no clue on but I will figure that out when I get there.

I am currently making my way through East of Eden, not sure yet when I will get to the others.

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Originally Posted by Dark Muse

Connecticut - Revolutionary Road
Massachusetts - Herzog
North Dakota - Arrowsmith
Pennsylvania - The Killer Angels
Washington - Snow Falling on Cedars

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I would like to read these as well. If you let me know, I might join you... Actually, I think we will read the last one as our Christmas Reading in the Book Club...

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

I would like to read these as well. If you let me know, I might join you... Actually, I think we will read the last one as our Christmas Reading in the Book Club...

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That would be fun, when I am getting to read them I will be sure to let you know.

I would suggest Red Harvest for Montana.
Something by Tony Hillerman for Arizona; you can also use him for Utah and New Mexico, but do read about the incompetents of the Monkey Wrench Gang.

You should read something by Kenneth Roberts for Maine. And Massachusetts is better served by Robert B. Parker, especially the Spenser series. The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations deserves a reading of a collection of H. P. Lovecraft's writings. New Hampshire deserves eithe [i]Lolita]/i] of Peyton Place.

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Originally Posted by PeterL

I would suggest Red Harvest for Montana.
Something by Tony Hillerman. You can also use him for Utah and New Mexico, but do read about the incompetents of the Monkey Wrench Gang.

You should read something by Kenneth Roberts for Maine. And Massachusetts is better served by Robert B. Parker, especially the Spenser series. The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations deserves a reading of a collection of H. P. Lovecraft's writings. New Hampshire deserves eithe [i]Lolita]/i] of Peyton Place.

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I actually own Red Harvest, but could not find anything online to identify where it may have been set in, so I will add it to my list now.

Lolita I have already read some time back.

I do believe I have a collection by Lovecraft that I have not read already so I will keep that in mind and look into your other suggestions.

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Originally Posted by Dark Muse

I actually own Red Harvest, but could not find anything online to identify where it may have been set in, so I will add it to my list now.

Lolita I have already read some time back.

I do believe I have a collection by Lovecraft that I have not read already so I will keep that in mind and look into your other suggestions.

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Red Harvest is based on events that took place in Butte, Montana. Hammett wasinvolved as an agent of the Pinkerton Agency. I wonder how much is a recounting of actual events. I tried calculating how many people were killed in the novel, but I lost count.

Some of Lovecraft's stories are set in Massachusetts, and some are in Rhode Island, but most were firmly in his imagination.

Perhaps you could read Kerouac's On The Road and thus doing several states at a time? Talk about beating the system :p

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Originally Posted by aaron stark

Perhaps you could read Kerouac's On The Road and thus doing several states at a time? Talk about beating the system :p

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I actually read that one already, and I like the extra challenge to myself of reading one book per state.

Do you have one for Wyoming?

If not, consider The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich and Close Range by Annie Proulx.

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Originally Posted by The Comedian

Do you have one for Wyoming?

If not, consider The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich and Close Range by Annie Proulx.

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No I did not have any idea for that one yet, so I will look those up.

Do you have a fixed time range for your journey? If you don't, it's not really comparing like with like. Are you doing the non-mainland states, Hawaii and Alaska? I think it's a good idea for a reading project. I would say, look first at the states which are hardest to find stories set in, then see if there any stories with a twenty-thirty year time span of each other. When you get to the most populous states, you will have plenty to choose from. You won't read the pick of American literature, but you will read an interesting section of literature.

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Originally Posted by kev67

Do you have a fixed time range for your journey? If you don't, it's not really comparing like with like. Are you doing the non-mainland states, Hawaii and Alaska? I think it's a good idea for a reading project. I would say, look first at the states which are hardest to find stories set in, then see if there any stories with a twenty-thirty year time span of each other. When you get to the most populous states, you will have plenty to choose from. You won't read the pick of American literature, but you will read an interesting section of literature.

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I have no real time range just whatever books I find, and seem interesting to me. So it will be a mix of different time ranges. Starting with whatever I can find already on my shelves that will fit in.

It is my intention to do all of the states.

Started Updike- sort of like modern chick lit., but better written. Hope that doesn't offend anyone...

Seeing as it appears you do not have a book for Virginia, Mark Z. Danielewski's "House of Leaves" is rather disturbingly lovely. And the major storyline of this post-modern novel is set in the Virginia countryside.

For West Virginia, "John Henry Days" by Colson Whitehead is quite a good read.

For Alabama, Truman Capote's "Other Voices, Other Rooms" is also a good way to escape from the two most famous classics of Alabama literature (To Kill a Mockingbird and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe)...

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Originally Posted by islandclimber

Seeing as it appears you do not have a book for Virginia, Mark Z. Danielewski's "House of Leaves" is rather disturbingly lovely. And the major storyline of this post-modern novel is set in the Virginia countryside.

For West Virginia, "John Henry Days" by Colson Whitehead is quite a good read.

For Alabama, Truman Capote's "Other Voices, Other Rooms" is also a good way to escape from the two most famous classics of Alabama literature (To Kill a Mockingbird and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe)...

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Thank you for those.

I have heard of House of Leaves, it sounds like it could be interesting.

House of Leaves is quite brilliant at times, quite pedestrian at others, though this may not be accidental. It's fragmented yet always driving towards something, parallel stories wandering along similar yet divergent paths. It's disturbing at times, safe at others. I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Are you going to post reviews of the books on here as you read them? Or at least a brief something. There are several on your list that I have not read and might be interested in reading.

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Originally Posted by islandclimber

Are you going to post reviews of the books on here as you read them? Or at least a brief something. There are several on your list that I have not read and might be interested in reading.

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I have not given it much thought but I could keep track of my progress here and say a word or two about the books I read.

1. Massachusetts - The Bostonians by Henry James

I have read my first book for this challenge of mine, though it is an alternative book as it was not the book I had originally planned to read. I had initially Herzog listed for Mass. which I still plan on reading, but in the meantime I had the opportunity to read The Bostonians by Henry James.

I thought it was quite an enjoyable and interesting book. I know James stirs up a lot of mixed feelings among people, and I am one of the ones who really does like reading him. I found that The Bostonians on one level was rather comprehensible for a James works, but on the other hand was still full of complexity. I love his in depth psychological investigations of the characters he provides along with complex relationships between people.

Rating: 4/5

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Originally Posted by Dark Muse

1. Massachusetts - The Bostonians by Henry James

I have read my first book for this challenge of mine, though it is an alternative book as it was not the book I had originally planned to read. I had initially Herzog listed for Mass. which I still plan on reading, but in the meantime I had the opportunity to read The Bostonians by Henry James.

I thought it was quite an enjoyable and interesting book. I know James stirs up a lot of mixed feelings among people, and I am one of the ones who really does like reading him. I found that The Bostonians on one level was rather comprehensible for a James works, but on the other hand was still full of complexity. I love his in depth psychological investigations of the characters he provides along with complex relationships between people.

Rating: 4/5

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No, for Massachusetts you should read "Horror over Innsmouth" by H. P. Lovecraft. If that doesn't appeal to you, then try Arundel by Kenneth Lewis Roberts. Arundel isn't in Massachusetts anymore, but it was during the period in which the novel was set. Or you could use tht for Maine.

What about "The Crucible" by A. Miller?

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Originally Posted by hannah_arendt

What about "The Crucible" by A. Miller?

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I read that in High School. It was very good.

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Originally Posted by PeterL

No, for Massachusetts you should read "Horror over Innsmouth" by H. P. Lovecraft. If that doesn't appeal to you, then try Arundel" byt Kenneth Lewis Roberts. Arundel isn't in Massachusetts anymore, but it was during the period in which the novel was set.

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I have read several of Lovecraft's works, I am not sure if I have read that one. The name sounds a bit familiar.

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Originally Posted by Dark Muse

I have read several of Lovecraft's works, I am not sure if I have read that one. The name sounds a bit familiar.

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It is about beasties from around a Pacific Ocean island that a ship's captain brought back to Innsmouth, Around Innsmouth they interacted and intermarried with people. The results of the mixtures were different, Eventually the narrator learns that he had one of those beasties as an ancestor. There is an excellent section in which the narrator was chased out of Innsmout by a horde of yammering monstrosities. As a whole the story points out how bad a mistake it can be to take the wrong bus.

Could anyone recommend me any set in New England?

Pretty much half of Stephen King's works are set in New England

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Originally Posted by hannah_arendt

Could anyone recommend me any set in New England?

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Most of H. P. Lovecraft's works. Some of Kenneth Robert's books. Robert B. Parker's novels. Kirby Farrell's novels. and others

Thank you very much:)

And what about any novel/ poetry connected to Puritans? I am going to have a course in American Literature next year, but maybe you`ll help me to find anything interesting:)

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Originally Posted by hannah_arendt

Thank you very much:)

And what about any novel/ poetry connected to Puritans? I am going to have a course in American Literature next year, but maybe you`ll help me to find anything interesting:)

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There wasn't much American literature until the 1800's. The Puritans didn't write fiction; they wrote Sermons such as "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards. There were some stories byt John SMith and others and a fair amount of poetry that was overwhelmingly religious.

The novels of Nathaniel Hawthorn were about the Puritans, but they were written 150 years after the fact (The Scarlet Letter and The House of Seven Gables are his best known, but his short stories were better. He was the grandson or great grandson of the judge who presided over the Salem witch trials. There was some literature from the early colonial period, but I don't know anything about it. There were other authors who set their stories in the coonial period most notably James Fennimore-Cooper and Washington Irving. As bad as his writing was, Fennimore-Cooper is often called the first American writer, and there is some justification for that. You might also want to consider the writings of Benjamin Franklin. He write an autobiography that is readable, and some of his essays were good.

If I were teaching a course in early American literature, then I think that I would have a piece of Franklin's autobiography. Then I would go to Washington Irving, Cooper, and Hawthorne, and I might handle those in order of the setting of their works. After them there were plenty: Hale, Bierce, Harte, Twain, etc.

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Originally Posted by PeterL

There wasn't much American literature until the 100's. The Puritans didn't write fiction; they wrote Sermons such as "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards. There were some stories byt John SMith and others and a fair amount of poetry that was overwhelmingly religious.

The novels of Nathaniel Hawthorn were about the Puritans, but they were written 150 years after the fact (The Scarlet Letter and The House of Seven Gables are his best known, but his short stories were better. He was the grandson or great grandson of the judge who presided over the Salem witch trials. There was some literature from the early colonial period, but I don't know anything about it. There were other authors who set their stories in the coonial period most notably James Fennimore-Cooper and Washington Irving. As bad as his writing was, Fennimore-Cooper is often called the first American writer, and there is some justification for that. You might also want to consider the writings of Benjamin Franklin. He write an autobiography that is readable, and some of his essays were good.

If I were teaching a course in early American literature, then I think that I would have a piece of Franklin's autobiography. Then I would go to Washington Irving, Cooper, and Hawthorne, and I might handle those in order of the setting of their works. After them there were plenty: Hale, Bierce, Harte, Twain, etc.

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Thank you very much:) My course probably won`t be too long many hours, I think. However, as usual, I am going to read more:)

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Originally Posted by PeterL

There wasn't much American literature until the 100's. The Puritans didn't write fiction; they wrote Sermons such as "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards. There were some stories byt John SMith and others and a fair amount of poetry that was overwhelmingly religious.

The novels of Nathaniel Hawthorn were about the Puritans, but they were written 150 years after the fact (The Scarlet Letter and The House of Seven Gables are his best known, but his short stories were better. He was the grandson or great grandson of the judge who presided over the Salem witch trials. There was some literature from the early colonial period, but I don't know anything about it. There were other authors who set their stories in the coonial period most notably James Fennimore-Cooper and Washington Irving. As bad as his writing was, Fennimore-Cooper is often called the first American writer, and there is some justification for that. You might also want to consider the writings of Benjamin Franklin. He write an autobiography that is readable, and some of his essays were good.

If I were teaching a course in early American literature, then I think that I would have a piece of Franklin's autobiography. Then I would go to Washington Irving, Cooper, and Hawthorne, and I might handle those in order of the setting of their works. After them there were plenty: Hale, Bierce, Harte, Twain, etc.

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Not true: John Winthrop, William Bradford, Roger Williams, etc., etc.
Cooper a bad writer? Don't be ridiculous. {EDIT}

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Originally Posted by cafolini

Not true: John Winthrop, William Bradford, Roger Williams, etc., etc.
Cooper a bad writer? Don't be ridiculous. {EDIT}

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I don`t have much knowledge in American literature but maybe Peter`s opinion depends on the understanding the word "literature"? He wrote "It wasn`t much", not :" It wasn`t at all". But as I have already written, I won`t quarrel about it.