Reading the States: Arkansas

Friday, January 27, 2012


State: ARKANSAS

Fiction:
- A Painted House* by John Grisham
- True Grit* by Charles Portis
- Fallen Angels by Patricia Hickman
- The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks by Donald Harington
- Arkansas Traveler by Earlene Fowler

Nonfiction:
- The Grail Bird by Tim Gallagher
- My Life by Bill Clinton
- Cash by Johnny Cash 

Authors Known for Writing about the State:
- Charlaine Harris (author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, her Lily Bard Shakespeare series is set in Arkansas)

Authors Who Lived Here:
- John Grisham
- Maya Angelou
- Trenton Lee Stewart
- Jenny Wingfield
- Ellen Gilchrist

Great Bookstores:
Paper Chase Book Store
WordsWorth Books & Co.

*Books I've Read

Photo by moi.

9 comments:

Kristi said...

I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings quite a while ago and didn't remember that it took place in Arkansas.

I read True Grit last year and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I really wanted to watch the new adaptation, but I refuse to watch a movie based on a book without first reading the book.

Gerbera Daisy Diaries said...

I few more Arkansans to add to your list: Trent Stewart who wrote the Juv Fic series, The Mysterious Benedict Society and Jenny Wingfield who wrote The Homecoming of Samuel Lake. Love my adopted state!

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

I didn't realize Angelou was from Arkansas! I loved the book when I read it my freshman year of college.

I read True Grit last year and felt "eh" about it but have it in my "re-read because I might like it better the second time" pile. Ha! ;)

annieb said...

I love, love, love your blog and it is one of the first I check everyday. I have been reading Bill Clinton's "My Life" and the first half is centered in Arkansas. Whether you love or hate him--he has had a very interesting life. Please keep writing and will keep reading. Deal?

Leslie @ This is the Refrain said...

I love these lists... Thank you for putting them together!

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Kristi - I have the same rule. Always read the book first if at all possible! I actually saw the movie already for True Grit, but I didn't know it was a book.

Melissa - Thanks! I'll add them in.

Trish - You have a "re-read because I might like it better the second time" pile! That's amazing. I'm having a hard time getting to re-read all the the books I love.

annieb - You just made my day! Thank you so much. I will absolute keep writing, but it's nice to know someone is enjoying it!

Lu - Absolutely! I'm hoping they will be a helpful resource for people.

Jeanne said...

Ellen Gilchrist is another Arkansas writer, although she may not have been born there. I love Arkansas, but no one has ever written about the parts of it I love best.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Jeanne - I added her in, thanks! Now I'm curious what your favorite parts of the state are.

BookQuoter said...

I didn't think I have read any book from Arkansas until I saw this list. I liked Maya Angelou's.