What’s “Minnesota nice”?
This state’s residents have a reputation for being super duper nice. Does that show up in the pages of books written by local authors? Read some books and let me know your opinion.
If you think one of the books below doesn’t belong here, let me know your thoughts. Or if you’d like to add a book of your own, submit your suggestion. The book doesn’t need to be explicitly about the state, only clearly set in it and written by someone who actually lived there — ideally someone still living so we get a feel for the contemporary state of things.
Books are in no order of preference. That they are on this list is not a reflection of my personal taste or even that I’ve read them — I want you to find what works for you.
Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor, fiction / humor
The Land of Dreams by Vidar Sundstøl, mystery
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger, fiction / historical fiction
The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman and Beth Dooley, cookbook
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, fiction / historical fiction
Virgil Wander by Leif Enger, literary fiction
Purchase via Bookshop to support independent bookstores.
Purchase via Amazon? Links coming soon.
Photo credit: Erick Zajac