It’s been a minute since I’ve done this type of post and I miss it! So, let’s change that. Today I’m going to be sharing a few of my favorite Southern Lit Books. But first off let’s talk about what Southern Literature is.
Southern Literature is pretty large in scope. It refers to literature written in or about the American South. The South’s unique, and often dark, history created a unique style, tone, and mood that has been picked up by the most notorious Southern writers. Think Harper Lee, William Faulkner, Alice Walker, etc.
There are a ton of sub genres in Southern Lit and I’m not going to dive into that too much today. I’m covering the genre as a whole including classic and contemporary works. So, let’s get to it.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing is a contemporary Southern Lit that came out in August of 2018. It was a major bestseller that was adapted into a movie in 2022. And the other night I finally watched it which is what inspired this post. I loved this book, and I forgot how much I loved it. It’s set on coastal North Carolina and follows the story of the “Marsh Girl” and the mystery she gets caught up in. It’s equal parts heart-breaking and hopeful. The mystery is gripping, and the setting is absolutely amazing. It made me want to explore the marsh with her.
To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird is and will always be one of my favorite books. It’s also a quintessential Southern Lit novel. I won’t say too much about this one because I’m sure you know what it’s about. It’s a classic for a reason. This coming-of-age story follows Scout and her family through her childhood in 1930s Alabama. I read this in high school, and I re-read it a couple of year later and fell even deeper in love with it. Harper Lee’s unmatched wit and character development makes it easy to fall in love with the story.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil caught my attention even before I loved Savannah, Georgia. It’s a non-fiction book surrounding the aftermath of the murder of one of its most notorious residents. It goes in depth to explain what happened in the case, but it always does a great job at capturing the feeling of Savannah. To be non-fiction the atmosphere is absolutely amazing. It made me fall in love with Savannah and the true crime genre.
So those are a few of my favorite Southern Lit Books. I have a few more I’m not going to mention yet because I want to do a part two. I just have to find my copy of the books first, hahaha.
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Great choices! I’ve read #1 and #2, and intend to eventually read the 3rd!
I hope you enjoy it!
Living in the south, I do enjoy Southern Lit. I’ve only read To Kill a Mockingbird from your list, but I thought it was good. I haven’t picked up Where the Crawdads Sing because the controversy around it scared me off. 🙂
I read it way back when it first released, and I didn’t learn about the controversy until recently. I will say the book is great but I’m going to have to look into the claims a little more. I’m not informed enough to have an opinion yet lol.