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Original poster

Read your way around the USA

86 replies

ScarerAndFuck · 18/10/2013 20:03

Just seen a list of the most famous books, one from every state in the USA.

I thought it might be interesting to share here in case anyone felt like a reading challenge with a difference.

The list is here

I've already read 20 of them, although two were for the same state as they were joint first on the list.

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarerAndFuck · 19/10/2013 17:48

I just knew it would be DH Lawrence for Nottinghamshire.

I am going to make it my mission to find something, anything, else, and make it more famous that sodding DH Lawrence if it kills me. Grin

OP posts:
EBearhug · 19/10/2013 16:28

I've read 13 and seen the films of 5 more.

If I have the funds one day, I'll do a Laura Ingalls Wilder tour of the US, which means I'll see some fairly uninspiring parts, but it won't be entirely the normal tourist route. Also, PEI in Canada because of LM Montgomery.

I've already been to the Snowy Mountains in Australia because of Elyne Mitchell, and I saw real brumbies up on Mt Koscuiszcko, though not a silver one.

For the UK - there could have Daphne du Maurier for Cornwall. RD Blackmoore on Devon. Bloody Hardy for Dorset (I grew up in Dorchester, so had a fair bit of Hardy at school). Jane Austen for Hampshire. Dickens or Monica Edwards or EF Benson (I've discounted Henry James on the grounds that he's actually American) or Virginia Woolf for Kent. Brontes for Yorkshire. Alexander Cordell for South Wales somewhere. Malcolm Saville for Shropshire. Arthur Ransome for Cumbria. Walter Scott for somewhere Scottish. Lilian Beckwith for Skye. Catherine Cookson or Robert Westall for Tyneside. Sue Townsend for Leicestershire. DH Lawrence for Nottinghamshire. Shakespeare for Warwickshire.

ConfusedandDazed24 · 19/10/2013 16:17

This looks fab, thanks for sharing OP. I'd also be quite interested in a UK version Smile

Cherrypi · 19/10/2013 16:03

Great idea for a UK one. I can't think of anything. Hmm Hardy and Wessex. Wink

SconeRhymesWithGone · 19/10/2013 15:56

As someone with strong ties to both Georgia and Florida, I certainly can't argue with GWTW as the most famous for Georgia, but I was expecting The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings to be the Florida book.

Original poster
ScarerAndFuck · 19/10/2013 14:42

That sounds like a great idea tripfiction. I'd be interested in that.

I've read 20 more by accident than design, but I'm still quite pleased about it Grin

OP posts:
Apileofballyhoo · 19/10/2013 13:54

Have read a lot of them, but delighted to have some to look forward too. Would like to read them all again, with a map.

Apileofballyhoo · 19/10/2013 13:51

What a super idea.

DontMentionThePrunes · 19/10/2013 13:49

I would love a county-by-county list for the whole of the UK, what a brilliant challenge.
Love the US list too.

tripfiction · 19/10/2013 13:45

Wow, that is a great achievement to have read 20 so far. I am debating whether to replicate this for the UK, what do you think?

mrscog · 18/10/2013 20:52

OOh thanks - I love this kind of thing :)

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