Anonymous
07/23/2025 21:15
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Alaska should be that Jack London book about the dog. Or maybe tjulie of the wolves.
Agree California should be Steinbeck or chandler.
Runner up for Florida is the yearling.
For Maryland what do we think about The collected works of Edgar Allen Poe?
For Minnesota, I wonder if Lake Woebegone would be a better pick.
I thought NJ would be a Philip Roth book.
There must be something better for Ohio! Cleveland?
Also feel like there’s probably something better for Rhode Island but I don’t know what.
It’s an interesting idea though and I feel like many of the states are right. But it also highlights how some states just do not have a lot of good literature placed there.
Agree California should be Steinbeck or chandler.
Runner up for Florida is the yearling.
For Maryland what do we think about The collected works of Edgar Allen Poe?
For Minnesota, I wonder if Lake Woebegone would be a better pick.
I thought NJ would be a Philip Roth book.
There must be something better for Ohio! Cleveland?
Also feel like there’s probably something better for Rhode Island but I don’t know what.
It’s an interesting idea though and I feel like many of the states are right. But it also highlights how some states just do not have a lot of good literature placed there.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 21:01
Subject: Re:Most famous book set in every state?
Maryland - Misty of Chincoteague?
My teacher (in Texas) read this to us, so I’ve always considered it a minor childhood classic, similar to Bridge of Terabithia, Tuck Everlasting, etc. Is it really somewhat obscure but I was just fortunate to have a teacher who found it and shared it with us, or would it be a good representative for this list?
My teacher (in Texas) read this to us, so I’ve always considered it a minor childhood classic, similar to Bridge of Terabithia, Tuck Everlasting, etc. Is it really somewhat obscure but I was just fortunate to have a teacher who found it and shared it with us, or would it be a good representative for this list?
Anonymous
07/23/2025 20:54
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Anonymous wrote:I would have thought Giant for Texas.
I agree. Also, something by Steinbeck for California.
The list is pretty good for the 3 states where I spent most of my life before moving to Maryland, though (Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee).
For Maryland, I think I would have chosen The Accidental Tourist.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 20:44
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
I think if you are using setting as the criteria for the list, the story should have something to do with or inform you in some way about the setting. If the same story could happen anywhere, then why bother listing by location?
So many better choices for PA that actually have something to do with the setting. Love "The Lovey Bones," but didn't even register the location of the story. I mean, "The Catcher in the Rye" is more famous and also set in PA, but could have been anywhere.
On the other hand, "Fences," "Baker Towers," "Fever 1793," "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," "Out of this Furnace," "In the Valley of Decision," "The Signature of All Things," seem to have place as an important part of the story.
So many better choices for PA that actually have something to do with the setting. Love "The Lovey Bones," but didn't even register the location of the story. I mean, "The Catcher in the Rye" is more famous and also set in PA, but could have been anywhere.
On the other hand, "Fences," "Baker Towers," "Fever 1793," "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," "Out of this Furnace," "In the Valley of Decision," "The Signature of All Things," seem to have place as an important part of the story.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 20:16
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Native Son by Richard Wright should be the Illinois book. It’s set in Chicago.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 20:12
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Anonymous wrote:FYI for those who don’t like the link…
Maryland is Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (I haven’t read this one and it doesn’t seem very famous)
Virginia is Bridge to Terabithia (I don’t remember that this was supposed to be Virginia, I do remember that The Great Gilly Hopkins was set in basically Takoma Park.)
DC is The Lost Symbol (EW there must be a better choice for this)
South Dakota should have been one of the Little House books once they end up there but they used Little House in the Big Woods for Wisconsin.
New Jersey (Drown by Junot Diaz) and California (Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion) both seem to need better choices than these. Almost everything Judy Blume wrote took place in Jersey so Are You There God It’s Me Margaret would be a good pick. California could be anything by Steinbeck, or The Joy Luck Club, or almost anything Raymond Chandler to be more famous.
Forgot to add DC’s should be The Exorcist. Also for my hottest take: the most famous book set in Virginia is Flowers in the Attic.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 20:09
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
FYI for those who don’t like the link
Maryland is Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (I haven’t read this one and it doesn’t seem very famous)
Virginia is Bridge to Terabithia (I don’t remember that this was supposed to be Virginia, I do remember that The Great Gilly Hopkins was set in basically Takoma Park)
DC is The Lost Symbol (EW there must be a better choice for this)
South Dakota should have been one of the Little House books once they end up there but they used Little House in the Big Woods for Wisconsin.
New Jersey (Drown by Junot Diaz) and California (Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion) both seem to need better choices than these. Almost everything Judy Blume wrote took place in Jersey so Are You There God It’s Me Margaret would be a good pick. California could be anything by Steinbeck, or The Joy Luck Club, or almost anything Raymond Chandler to be more famous.
Maryland is Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (I haven’t read this one and it doesn’t seem very famous)
Virginia is Bridge to Terabithia (I don’t remember that this was supposed to be Virginia, I do remember that The Great Gilly Hopkins was set in basically Takoma Park)
DC is The Lost Symbol (EW there must be a better choice for this)
South Dakota should have been one of the Little House books once they end up there but they used Little House in the Big Woods for Wisconsin.
New Jersey (Drown by Junot Diaz) and California (Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion) both seem to need better choices than these. Almost everything Judy Blume wrote took place in Jersey so Are You There God It’s Me Margaret would be a good pick. California could be anything by Steinbeck, or The Joy Luck Club, or almost anything Raymond Chandler to be more famous.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 19:56
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Anonymous wrote:Why is it all fiction except for Tom Brokaw and the book about Matthew Shepherd? If you're including non-fiction books there are far better choices. All The President's Men for DC, for example.
Walden is also not a novel. The Scarlet Letter would be better for Massachusetts.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 19:39
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Anonymous wrote:I would have thought Giant for Texas.
That was my first thought, as well. I guess time had taken it’s toll, though, and it’s been forgotten.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 14:07
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Anonymous wrote:Do we agree with this list? https://www.businessinsider.com/most-famous-book-set-in-every-state
I think it fails on the DMV choices.
That website is trash and impossible to use to see the list.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 14:04
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Why is it all fiction except for Tom Brokaw and the book about Matthew Shepherd? If you're including non-fiction books there are far better choices. All The President's Men for DC, for example.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 13:56
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Frederick Douglass biography would be better for MD.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 13:49
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Mass and NY are pretty good. Not sure what else you would pick for MD or VA. DC I’d think you could do better (all the president’s men maybe?).
Anonymous
07/23/2025 13:45
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
I would have thought Giant for Texas.
Anonymous
07/23/2025 10:10
Subject: Most famous book set in every state?
Do we agree with this list? https://www.businessinsider.com/most-famous-book-set-in-every-state
I think it fails on the DMV choices.
I think it fails on the DMV choices.