Reading America….4th July
July 4th is the American Day of Independance and what better excuse that to read about some of the most fascinating places, moments in history, meet some of the best fictional people in American literature? Not that we need an excuse but….here’s a mini trail for you get that American Spirit into your reading:
July 4th
The Confederate South and the ‘free’ North
The Floating Theatre Author/Guide: Martha Conway
This is a very unique premise and setting for a story. The daily life on a showboat floating on the Ohio river, gives a real insight into the coastal small villages and the people who worked on the border of such a political divide. Set during the time of the underground railway , the floating theatre reveals the political currents and the political divide of that time. It’s a story of hope and perseverance but also of one young girl’s struggle to make sense of it all . Location: Cincinatti, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana
The fun and sun of the Hamptons
Holiday in the Hamptons Author/Guide: Sarah Morgan
After the darkness of the marshlands, get yourself all sunnied up and maybe even a little bit tanned with this book. So sunny, you need your sunglasses to read it so the rays don’t get in your eyes as you open the pages. You’re not going to get much of a holiday though if you go looking for an escape and then you end up bumping into your ex! STill, the background sure will help….hopefully. It can’t be easy facing someone like this anywhere. It’s the wit and charm of Sarah Morgan that weaves a serious story with emotional impact with a story of hope and starting over.
The magic of the American Theatre
The Magician’s Lie Author/Guide: Greer MacAllister
The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. But one night she swaps her trademark saw for an axe. This novel brought home the magic of the theatre in the 890s. The thrill of the travelling shows, the smell of greasepaint on the stage, the old style American theatres… lots of evocative detail here. Makes me want to head straight to Broadway! Location: Janesville, Iowa, Biltmore, New York City
The thrill of the chase of those bounty hunters!
Deep Down Dead Author/Guide: Steph Broadribb
This is a real treat – I’d not read about bounty hunters in a novel before but this just blew any worries or preconceptions out of the water. A fast paced and quite simply brilliant read. The author, trained as a bounty hunter herself and there is more grit and kick -ass action in this thriller than in anything I’ve ever read. Chasing fugitives across the desert, hiding out in diners, getting ambushed at a gas station…..Apart from this however, the novel has depth and real characters who are compelling to read about. Definitely one to watch for and look forward to the next in the series.
In the presence of a King…
I remember the first time I read Misery. My first Stephen King book many moons ago and it’s never left me. I am still as chilled by this book as I was back then. I used to read it late at night and I even reread it ub winter to scare myself witless. It is just a phenomenal read and even though I’ve read many titles since (even going so far as to ask to study this author for A levels and being told in no uncertain terms that Thomas Hardy was a much better bet) I’ve been a fan, Brilliant in every way and the isolation, the cold, the fear, the ‘OMG quick get back before she sees you’ moments are something I’ve never forgotten.
There are so many books to introduce you into great fiction set in the USA so why not pack your literary suitcase and start your travels
