The Buckeye State
The birthplace of a number of presidents and a staggering number of pro athletes, there is a lot going on in Ohio. Let’s get to know it and its people through the pages of books.
Is there a book you love and feel does a great job of highlighting its Ohio setting? Send your suggestions and please don’t forget to tell me why you think that book is a good choice for this state. It doesn’t need to explicitly be about the state, only clearly set in it and written by someone who actually lived there. I have a bias towards books written by authors who are still living so that we can reflect more on today’s reality but I won’t turn down a classic if you make a good argument for it!
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.
At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier, historical fiction
Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld, fiction
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance, memoir
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, fiction
Ohio by Stephen Markley, fiction
The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste, literary horror
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo, mystery
Purchase via Bookshop to support independent bookstores.
Purchase via Amazon? Links coming soon.
Photo credit: Erick Zajac