Reading the States: Mississippi

Friday, June 22, 2012


State: MISSISSIPPI

Fiction:
- The Help* by Kathryn Stockett  
- A Time to Kill* by John Grisham 
- Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter* by Tom Franklin
- The Year of Jubilo by Howard Bahr 
- The Optimist’s Daughter* by Eudora Welty 
- As I Lay Dying* by William Faulkner 
- Mudbound by Hillary Jordan 
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry* by Mildred D. Taylor 
- Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes 
- Jewel by Brett Lott
- The Sound and the Fury* by William Faulkner
- The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty 
- Long Division by Kiese Laymon

Nonfiction:
- The Last Train North by Clifton L. Taulbert
- Ever Is A Long Time by W. Ralph Eubanks 
- Delta Blues by Ted Gioia
- Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody 
- Black Boy* by Richard Wright

Authors Known for Writing in or about the State:
- John Grisham
- William Faulkner   

Authors Who Lived Here: 
- Tennessee Williams  
- Eudora Welty  
- Richard Ford 

Great Bookstores: 
Square Books 
Lemuria Books

*Books I've Read 

Photo by moi.

7 comments:

Sandy Nawrot said...

This is another one of those states where this is some seriously good action. Not completely sure I'd want to live there, but it is a great setting for stories!

Jeanne said...

My favorite Eudora Welty is A Curtain of Green, which is short stories, and the best one is "Why I Live at the P.O."

Gerbera Daisy Diaries said...

Driving to Mississippi today! With an anticipated stop at Eudora Welty's home and gardens!!

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Sandy - So many literary giants are from Mississippi! The state definitely has an amazing atmosphere.

Jeanne - Welty has been on my list for awhile. I need to read her work.

Melissa Mc - No way! That is geat timing. I can't wait to hear how it goes!

Ally said...

As someone who lives in Mississippi, we are sure proud of our literary history! "Why I Live at the P.O." is my favorite of Ms. Welty's stories, as well! You missed a great bookstore, though--the fantastic Lemuria Books in our capital city of Jackson.

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

Yay!! The home/state list! I too live in MS and can say that like other states we certainly have our ups and downs, but home is where your heart is :) And tons of great artists/writers to boot! :)

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Ally - Thanks for the bookstore tip! I'll add it to the list.

Peppermint Ph.D. - You do have some great writers! I think it's a state with a literary history to be proud of.