There are plenty of things about the South that I’m either indifferent to (NASCAR, sweet tea) or ashamed of (a history of slavery, segregation and racism; Ernest). But I’m certainly proud of our writing tradition, from William Faulkner to Alice Walker. Here are 10 great novels and collections of short fiction by Southern writers, set in the 20th Century South.
As with any of the lists on my blog, these are simply my favorites. We do plenty of lists in Paste magazine, all of which are researched, vetted and argued over endlessly. But what follows are simply 10 books that were a joy for me to devour. As you head to the beach, consider taking one of these with you:
10. Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
Ellen is one of the most memorable child narrators, opening the novel with the line, “When I was young, I would think of ways to kill my daddy.” After her mother’s suicide, the precocious 11-year-old raised by an abusive father. But her story has enough humor and hope to overcome those miserable circumstances.
9. The Mysterious Secret of the Valuable Treasure by Jack Pendarvis
This collection of short stories is the only book here funnier than A Confederacy of Dunces (#4) and Paste contributor Pendarvis’ characters sometimes make Ignatius J. Reilly seem downright reasonable.
8. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
The most compelling read on this list, Frazier tells a thrilling tale with the kind of prose that makes you want to put it in a vase on the center of your dining-room table. Plot, meet style. You two should hang out more often.
7. Run With the Horsemen by Ferrol Sams
Sams is a physician who published Run With the Horsemen, the first in his Porter Osborne Jr. trilogy, when he was 60. He continued to practice medicine for for 24 more years, finally retiring in 2006. The novel takes place in Fayette County, Ga., during the Depression.
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