As part of Read Yourself Happy’s America…In Books feature, here are some of the best books set in Georgia.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
I read this book during my junior year of high school when I was definitely too young to enjoy it. I don’t remember much about it, but I remember being intrigued, just not really getting it. I recently purchased a copy though, so I’ll be re-reading it soon. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a non-fiction account of a murder that happened in Savannah. I’m also a little biased towards books set in Savannah. I traveled there for a weekend back in my early twenties and it was a gorgeous city, even in the stifling heat.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Color Purple is easily the most famous book set in Georgia. This historical fiction is a classic and often read in schools. The story is centered around Celie, a black girl born in the American South before the Civil War.
Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat by Patricia Williams
For a non-fiction book set in Georgia, this autobiography of comedian Patricia Williams, aka “Rabbit,” would be a great pick. Williams grew up in a very troubled Atlanta neighborhood and watched as her mother committed crimes and got drunk. Williams doesn’t hold anything back as she tells her life’s story.
Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell
This piece of classic Southern literature is set prior to and during the Great Depression and follows a family of poor sharecroppers. While I haven’t personally read this book (although I want to) I’ve heard that it’s a very difficult book to read, but worth it.
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
I have a feeling that I don’t really need to say much about this well-known classic novel that the more-famous film is based on. “My dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Deliverance by James Dickey
I watched the film Deliverance many years ago, and until doing the research for this article had no idea that it was based on a book. The story is set in the remote Georgia mountains and follows four men on what might be the worst canoe trip ever.
What are your favorite books set in Georgia? Let me know in the comments!
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