New Englandy literature is an interest of mine, and Boston.com has come out with a list of “100 Essential New England Books”. It is actually interactive in a sort of cool way, too, so go check it out.
I’ve read 17 of these, and really, I have to question the New Englandiness of some of the items. Memoirs of a Geisha? I don’t know that Golden’s being a Brookline resident is really enough of a connection there for me. Even Catcher in the Rye seems only marginally New England to me, since Caulfield leaves New England for New York City. And, not unexpectedly, the list is quite Boston-centric. But there’s still some cool stuff on it that I’d like to get to someday. And I like lists.
This IS a good list – and it includes several books I possess but have yet to read: The Wapshot Chronicle, Practical Magic, The Emperor’s Children. I must print it out and refer to it. Boston is one of the places in America that I am determined to visit one day.
What a great list – I’ve read a bunch of these (a surprising 23!) and there are several I’d like to read – especially Housekeeping and Sophie’s Choice as well as a few of those non-fiction titles.