Does anyone know of any good books set in Wisconsin or Minnesota?
Hi all! Does anyone know of any good books set in Wisconsin or Minnesota?
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Hi all! Does anyone know of any good books set in Wisconsin or Minnesota?
Wisconsinite here. Check out Population 485 by Michael Perry. Perry is a first responder and firefighter in New Auburn, just north of Eau Claire. It’s an intimate narrative describing his experiences with the people in the small town and stories from emergencies he responds to.
Sweet! I lived in EC for a bit 🙂
Awesome! I grew up in EC 🙂
One of my favorite authors!
Little House on the prairie. ?
Loving Frank
Ann Patchett’s the Magician’s Assistant? I think…
Parts of it are in MN, others in CA. I loved that book!
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
Awesome book.
http://www.signature-reads.com/2017/11/take-literary-tour-states-50-books/. A book for every state
The Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace – all set in “Deep Valley” MN, which is actually Mankato. The first 4 are kidlit, the others are YA and can happily be read and enjoyed by adults.
Main Street by Sinclair Lewis.
The American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld is partly set there.
Loved it!
PJ Tracy and Brian Freeman have books based set in Wisconsin.
Brian Freeman is one of my favorites!
Little Girl Gone & Shadow Girl by Gerry Schmitt
Hannah Swenson series by Joanne Fluke
If you like mysteries the John Sanford ‘Prey’ series. Violent and a lot of the f word as a warning.
And the Virgil Flowers series— John Sandford
@Kristine true. I like both series. May actually prefer Flowers. Like the interplay between the two series. And of course I can no longer think of him as just Flowers!
Michael Perry
I think one of Louise Erdrich‘s novels is set in MN/WI area.
Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country: Traveling Through the Land of My Ancestors is the book I’m thinking of
Most of her books are set in and around MN. One of my favs is the Master Butcher’s Singing Club.
I think The Dive from Clausen’s Pier was set in Wisconsin as was Whistling in the Dark by Leslie Kagen. I enjoyed both!
The Dive From Clausen’s Pier was great!
Ordinary Grace ( and others ) by
William Kent Kruger
Also- The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
–all set in MN
Mystery authors whose books are set in: MINNESOTA
Allen Eskens
Brian Freeman
David Housewright
William Kent Krueger
P.J. Tracy
John Sandford books
Anything by Jon Hassler or William Kent Krueger.
The whole John Sanford series of Prey books. Great reads.
John Hassler series set in Minnesota. Best Books Ever
Steve Hamilton’s Alex Knight books are all in the UP of Michigan.
I think some of Jane Hamilton’s books are set in Wisconsin.
“A Map of the World”
Michael Perry is a popular humorist who lives in and writes about Wisconsin
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a wonderful book set in Wisconsin. Be warned, it’s rather grim, but very powerful. (In theme, a contemporary version of the Hamlet story. No happy endings.)
Joanne Fluke has Hannah Swenson baking in MN !!!
Laverle Spencer’s books take place in Minnesota….mostly Stillwater.
I love David Rhodes. His books are set in the Driftless region of WI. I knew nothing about this area until I read his books.
The Lake Wobegon series is set in a fictional Minnesota town.
Nicholas Petrie’s mystery book The Drifter takes place in Milwaukee. Great read.
The Weather Man by Steve Thayer
Ordinary Grace, by William Kent Krueger, and for a fun mystery series, the Monkeewrench series by P.J. Tracy
Ordinary grace is in Minnesota
My book, A Life in Waiting, is set in both Wisconsin and Minnesota. Available on amazon
I love John Sandford, all his Prey and Virgil Flowers books are set in Minnesota…
William Kent Kruger sets most of his books in Minnesota.
Lorna Landvik sets some in MN. Julie Kramer also.
Love Lorna Landvik’s humor and characters.
Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy books are set in early 20th Century Minnesota.
A favorite of mine, Caddie Woodlawn set in Wisconsin.
I thought of Caddie Woodlawn this last week. Need to reread it!
William Kent Kruger has a mystery series which is set in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House Books, The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens, The Bohemian Flats by Ellis Mary Relindes
The majority of American Gods by Neil Gaiman takes place in MN and WI- there is a scene where shadow is walking outside in the winter cold that is just Spot.On.
The Land of Dreams (first book the Minnesota Trilogy) by Vidar Sundstol
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
@Jean ?
Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
Monica Ferris needlecraft mysteries.
Look on Amazon for one I wrote years ago: “Outrageous Fortune.”
Cheryl Strayed from Wild book grew up in Mn. Part of the book set there. I grew up around 50 miles from her childhood town!
That book… I listened to it at work and oh my god…
@Hailey omg good or bad…at our library book club most HAAATED IT! They are mostly in 70s and 80s and I’m 40 and really liked it!
I hated it bc I didn’t believe it. You don’t hike 1000 miles on your very first hike ever. And why would you start a hike with boots that didn’t fit and a gross of condoms, totally stupid.
@Paula, I was mehhhh about it. I was irritated by her lack of preparation and research. The horse part, that had me though. I wouldn’t reread it, ever.
@Hailey yeah the horse part was horrifying ?
Lake Woebegone
American Gods has settings in both. Including one of my favorite parts at a lake in Minnesota and the finale at the House on the Rock in Wisconsin. http://www.startribune.com/neil-gaiman-says-american-gods-is-rooted-in-minnesota-wisconsin-weirdness/420666163/
I made the same comment about the lake! If you know northern winters- that seen haunts you! ❄️
I scanned the comments to not duplicate, but I missed yours. I’m southern California raised, and don’t think I can’t imagine ever feeling brave enough to walk on a frozen pond, I don’t think I’d survive a fall there, let alone deep winter.
no worries about the comment- I just love that it struck the same chord. Trust me- it is well written!!
John Sanford’s “prey” series
Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy Reichert.
I think The Women in Cabin 10 is set in Wisconsin, but might be Minnesota.
American Gods (one of my favorites), Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons (way better than the title sounds), much of the Little House series
Actually, only 2 Little House books, unless you count the first chapter or two of Silver Lake.
Shotgun Lovesongs
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Peace Like a River (wonderful!) set in Minnesota
All of John Sanford’s books.
??
Vacationland by Sarah Stonich
I’m reading A Fireproof Home for the Bride now and like it. Set in Minnesota.
Ladies with Options by Cynthia Hartwick
Anything by Michael Perry.
Brian freeman
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wreblewski is set in Wisconsin. Bonus if you love dogs.
@Tracy‘s novels are set in Wisconsin. They’re a lot of fun. I believe @Amy‘s novels are set there as well. The Dive From Clausen’s Pier takes place in Madison.
I enjoyed Coincidence of Coconut Cake.
The Repeat Year by Andrea Lochen is set in Madison.
The Art of Fielding is set in Wisconsin.
Loving Frank
That is a tough read but I’m glad I read it. Loved Frank myself for decades but never knew the backstory. Devastating.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal
Pretty much everything Mark Munger writes is set in MN. I just started Margi Preus’ Northwoods mystery series, set in fictional MN and have high hopes for it.
Diamonds for the Dead by Alan Orloff
Everything You Want Me To Be by Mindy Mejia is a good book. One of my favorites that I’ve read this year.
Any of the Prey series or Virgil Flowers series by John Sandford.
Books in the Little House series
Safe From the Sea and The Lighthouse Road, from Peter Geye, are both set in Minnesota and are very good reads.
most books by Louise Erdrich are set in Minnesota
All of John Sandford’s books