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Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2018 Challenge Prompts - Regular
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20. A book by a local author
For those of you who live in the Chicagoland area, some great choices listed here! https://www.britannica.com/list/10-ch...
I'm from Sarasota county, Florida. Do you think since Stephen King lives here half the year he would count?
Jennifer wrote: "I'm from Sarasota county, Florida. Do you think since Stephen King lives here half the year he would count?"Sure!!
Stina wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I'm from Sarasota county, Florida. Do you think since Stephen King lives here half the year he would count?"Sure!!"
Thanks!
For Minnesotans (specifically Southern Minn):Tim O'Brien - I recommend his book The Things They Carried. I read it in High School and I might read it again for this challenge.
Amanda Hocking - can't speak to the goodness of her books since I've never read them, but she was a NYT best seller a couple of times so there's probably something there.
For those that are struggling with this prompt, it might be worth it to ask a local bookstore, especially if it's an independent bookstore, whether there is an on-going "local authors" night. Or, they might be able to hook you up with a local author. Libraries might serve the same way - knowing about local authors or connecting you to a resource that lists them. I live in an area with a pretty good selection of local authors, and many of the bookstores (even national chains) have a "local authors" selection.
Just a thought....
Diane wrote: "I try to buy a book from a local author when I travel. "Ooh, I love this idea! After all, the prompt just says "a local author," not "local to where you live right now."
I was struggling, but luckily found The Wet Nurse's Tale. I spent 8 years listening to Erica Eisdorfer do book reviews for WUNC - I reckon she fits! Plus it sounds like an interesting book that is right up my alley on several counts.
I guess if that doesn't wind up working, I could go for an author local to where I was born - pretty sure I can find a good author associated with Sleepy Hollow! ;)
I was struggling with this one as I currently live in the middle of nowhere in Australia and the only book I could find was a very dry local history one. Luckily on the weekend I went to my Mums house and sitting on the table from the last time I raided the book box were a couple of books written by a friend of Mums about furphies. A furphy is Australian slang for an erroneous or improbable story that is claimed to be factual. Furphies are supposedly 'heard' from reputable sources, sometimes secondhand or thirdhand, and widely believed until discounted. Believed to be called this since the water carts in Ww1 on the battlefield were made by Furphy and the guys who brought the water were always telling tall stories. Anyhoo that one will do me just fine.
Megan Miranda lives in my neighborhood, so I am choosing her latest, Fragments of the Lost for this prompt! Can't get much closer than an author that lives a few blocks away, lol!For those that live in North Carolina, here are a few other choices:
- Charles Frazier
- Robert Beatty Serafina and the Black Cloak series
- Maya Angelou (lived in Winston-Salem prior to her death)
- Lee Smith Guests on Earth is a great book!
I also recommend checking out your local indie bookstore for local author suggestions!
I have the opposite problem because there are so many authors from London that it feels slightly like cheating. I might restrict myself to below the river because north of the river does not seem local to me!
Julie Kagawa lives in north central Kentucky. Maggie Stiefvater lives in Virginia, I don't know what part though.
Diana Gabaldon lives in Arizona...around the Phoenix area I think.
Jess wrote: "I have the opposite problem because there are so many authors from London that it feels slightly like cheating. I might restrict myself to below the river because north of the river does not seem l..."Same! I'm aiming to go as local as possible, and read an author from Islington/Highbury.
Wasatch Front, Utah . . .Brandon Sanderson, Terry Tempest Williams, James Dashner, Ally Condie MatchedAlly Condie . . .
I am shocked. I live in a small town in central Iowa, USA. I did an internet search for authors from the town I live in and found one self published author. Going to have to see if I can get my hands on her book for this one.
I am not a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks, but he does live in my small town. Any suggestions as to his best novel?
I live in the Washington, DC area, so I plan to read "The Weird Sisters" by Eleanor Brown for this prompt.
Angela wrote: "I am not a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks, but he does live in my small town. Any suggestions as to his best novel?"My favorite two are Dear John and Nights in Rodanthe. However the latter is only a little over 200 pages so it would be a quick read :)
I actually bought some books from local authors at a charity event, including Alice Hoffman and Celeste Ng, so I'll probably read one of those. Most likely Little Fires Everywhere.
Wendy wrote: "For Colorado authors I'm considering either Connie Willis or Paolo Bacigalupi."I really like Connie Willis. I like to support female Sci Fi authors. If you decide to go with her I would recommend Doomsday Book for a longer book which will give you all the feels or To Say Nothing of the Dog for a shorter farcical romp.
Does the author have to be alive? Do they have to be currently living in your state or will being born in your state suffice?H.P. Lovecraft born and died in Providence RI.
Cormac MacCarthy born in Providence RI but no longer lives here.
im stuck, I can't find anyone from Perth, Australia.
San Francisco Bay Area for me:Bastard Out of Carolina
Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Her
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places
Claire wrote: "I'm from New Mexico so I'm going to try to tackle a big one:A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin"
Bless Me, Ultima and Face of an Angel are good ones also if you need others
Mod
I'm choosing from a short list of authors who are no longer alive, and in some cases they only lived in this area for a part of their lives, as professors in one of the several nearby universities (Cornell University and Syracuse University).
I don't like that I'm doing this, because it feels like cheating, but I have already read the two living local authors that I know of, and I didn't like either of them, so I'm not wasting time on more books I won't like. And I can't seem to find any other interesting current local authors, but I haven't given up on looking.
Nadine wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Does the author have to be alive? Do they have to be currently living in your state or will being born in your state suffice?..."I'm choosing from a short list of authors who are no..."
Thanks! I feel like Lovecraft should count at least... He's buried here. The University thing is a good idea. There must be some authors out there that went to Brown.
And I'm with you on not reading things you don't want to. I tried a similar challenge this year and found myself asking what the point of punishing myself was by reading a book I didn't like or that didn't interest me to fulfill some meaningless prompt on a book challenge.
I'm all for expanding my horizons but only to the point where it still remains enjoyable and fun. Life is too short.
Brooke wrote: "im stuck, I can't find anyone from Perth, Australia."What about Tim Winton? I'm pretty sure he lives in Western Australia, but I don't know exactly where. And,
Craig Silvey lives in Freemantle.
Angela wrote: "I am not a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks, but he does live in my small town. Any suggestions as to his best novel?"I thought See Me was one of his best and very different from other things he's written.
I'm from Toronto and I'm thinking of reading a book by Rupi Kaur!
Massachusetts: Elin Hildebrand, Allice Hoffman, Anita Diamant, Geraldine Brooks, Anita Shreve or Jessica Shattick for current Authors. Historical could be Nathanial Hawthorn, Edgar Allen Poe, Louisa May Alcott
Sarah wrote: "Does the author have to be alive? Do they have to be currently living in your state or will being born in your state suffice?H.P. Lovecraft born and died in Providence RI."
I'm going to give you an unreserved blessing to read Lovecraft as a local Providence author. His gravestone in Swan Point Cemetery literally says, "I AM PROVIDENCE." Let me know if you want any suggestions! :) :) :)
If you're from Minnesota, you can always read F. Scott Fitzgerald. That's what I'm going to do... any reason to get The Great Gatsby into my reading challenge, I'll take it!
Does this mean local as in born in area or currently living?
Unauthorized Cinnamon wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Does the author have to be alive? Do they have to be currently living in your state or will being born in your state suffice?H.P. Lovecraft born and died in Providence..."
Haha! Thank you! I did decide to go with Lovecraft because I figured his grave is here, even if he isn’t alive that’s local. I was going to read The Call of Cthulhu but if you have another recommendation I’d love to hear it!
I'm from Maine. So, I kind of have it easy. Anything Stephen King!
I live in Aberystwyth, Wales so this could have been a tough one but I actually cat sit for an author here! Karl Drinkwater, he writes mainly horror that is set in this town so I'm excited to read his work!
Talking to a coworker today I learned about two local authors that I'd never heard of! One is Patrick Rothfuss (who guess is kind of a big deal now) and the other wrote The Animal Keepers! I'm so excited about these new finds because I was dreading this topic as I can only ever find books about natural resources or paper mills due to my area.
Taylor wrote: "Talking to a coworker today I learned about two local authors that I'd never heard of! One is Patrick Rothfuss (who guess is kind of a big deal now) and the other wrote..." Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind was a book I had for a challenge this year and didn't get around to. I think I added it for the category "element of weather" or whatever though and I found a copy in a local used book store. I hope you enjoy if you go with him!
If anyone else is in Kansas, Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool is my pick for this. I also briefly saw something about Gary Paulsen but didn’t actually confirm him.
For Massachusetts, I am going to read On the Road by Jack Kerouac! A classic that I never read!
Tonya wrote: "Here are some authors I've found for NC. 1. Patricia Cornwell - she was born in FL but moved here when she was 6. I personally would still count this as local
2. Thomas Wolfe
3. Orson Scott Card..."
A few more from NC:
Margaret Maron
Jan Karon
Sharyn McCrumb
Charles Frazier (Cold Mountain)
Wiley Cash (one of the lesser known but his books are fantastic)
O'Henry
Ellen Elizabeth Hunter (mysteries set on Wilmington)
I don't know how local to go. Scotland, or west coast, or Glasgow, or my actual town. I'm trying to stick to my own bookshelves rather than buying anything new. Right now I think I'm going with Remedy is None, which is west coast. But I have a few Louise Welsh's who is Glasgow, and I could have a look in the local library for Suzy Johnston.
Also check your local library, the branch that I use has a special section just for local authors. Made my search a lot easier.
Anything by Celeste Ng! She was raised in Shaker Heights,Ohio and I grew up in Cleveland,Ohio.
I think I'm gonna go with Tolkien cause he lived and worked in Oxford for so many years and is really associated with Oxford even though he's not actually from here? He's definitely the main author I think of when I think of Oxford so I hope that isn't cheating
Washington State authors include Sherman Alexie (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian), Debbie Maccomber (1012 Evergreen Place), Tobias Wolf (This Boy's Life), Maria Semple (Where'd You Go, Bernadette?), Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick (The Paid Companion). I'm going to go with The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, since I've already read Where'd You Go, Bernadette.
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I love her book Walk on Earth a Stranger and its sequels, so I think I'll read something else by her!