417 Librarians discussion
Local Authors
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Miranda
(new)
Aug 13, 2014 08:02AM
Who are your favorite authors from Missouri/the Ozarks? Any recommendations?
reply
|
flag
The Weight of BloodI really enjoyed Laura McHugh's debut novel The Weight of Blood. She came to my library branch this past winter to do a reading and sign books. She's from the Lebanon area and did most of her writing in the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, MO. The Weight of Blood is a super-compelling gritty thriller set in the 417 area. Loved it!
Daniel Woodrell
Another author from around here that I love is Daniel Woodrell. I really need to read more of his stuff. I've read his newest, The Maid's Version, which is based on a true story about a dance hall explosion in West Plains, MO. I remember my great grandmother telling me about that tragedy, and how she had lost friends from it. I've also read Winter's Bone, which had a film adaptation that was very successful--both the book and the movie are very well-done.
Unfortunately, most of the literature that I've read that is set in this area highlights the negative aspects of the 417 area: drugs, sex slavery, poverty, racism, etc. Even though that's usually the kind of stuff I read, it'd be nice to find something that highlights the positive characteristics (natural beauty, local economy, friendly atmosphere, growing art/music scene) of the 417 area.
