Reading the States: Arizona

Friday, January 20, 2012


State: ARIZONA

Fiction:
- The Bean Trees* by Barbara Kingsolver
- Stargirl* by Jerry Spinelli
- Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan
- Mojave Crossing by Louis L’Amour
- The Lament of Charlie Longsong by Roch Carrier
- The Wailing Wind by Tony Hillerman
- No Man's Land by G.M. Ford
- The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
- These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner
- The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint: A Novel by Brady Udall
- The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman
- The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
- Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

Nonfiction:
- Half Broke Horses* by Jeannette Walls
- My Confession: Recollections of a Rogue by Samuel Chamberlain
- Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon by Michael P. Ghiglieri

Authors Known for Writing about the State:
- Terry McMillan
- Barbara Kingsolver
- J.A. Jance

Authors Who Lived Here:
- Erma Bombeck
- Stephenie Meyer
- Diana Gabaldon
Great Bookstores:

*Books I've Read

Photo by moi.

9 comments:

Kristi said...

I lived in AZ for four years and I miss it. I haven't read any of the books that you listed, but I really want to get to Half Broke Horses since I enjoyed The Glass Castle so much.

I do remember hearing wonderful things about These is My Words by Nancy E Turner. It's about AZ in the late 1800's and many readers from AZ have recommended it. It's really well reviewed at goodreads also. I haven't read it so I can't recommend it, but it's definitely on my TBR list.

Sandy Nawrot said...

I forgot that Jance's books took place there. I just pay no attention to where anything happens...

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Kristi - That book does look good! I've added it in.

Sandy - This project has definitely made me pay more attention to where books take place. It makes me appreciate the setting more.

BookQuoter said...

Have Half Broke Horses at home, I am sure that will be good.
I do want to read a McMillan someday.
Read the Bean Trees but didn't enjoy it as much.
Thanks!

Captain Nick Sparrow said...

Yay Arizona! There are a few books on that list I'd like to check out. I'd also like to recommend The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint: A Novel by Brady Udall which takes place mostly in Arizona.

Captain Nick Sparrow said...

P.S. I loved The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver and The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey!

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

BookQuoter - As always, our tastes tend to be very similar. I wasn't a fan of Bean Trees either.

Captain - Thanks! I'll add that one in. I do want to read the Abbey book, it's suppose to be good.

Jillian said...

Interesting. I don't think I would ever be able to come up with such a long list of books based off of states. Don't know much about Arizona either, but thanks for this.

I really want to read The Lament of Charlie Longsong. Sounds good.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Jillian - I think it sounds good too. It takes awhile to compile each list, but I think it will be a fun resource to have when I visit the states.