9 Southern Novels You Must Read
There is just something about a good southern novel. Whether it’s the setting or the characters or the nostalgia factor, books set in the south just seem to have a little something extra, don’t they? Here are nine southern novels you must read.
The Sound and the Fury
William Faulkner is the quintessential southern novelist. His novels depict the trials and hardships of the south against the backdrop of towns and families that have seen better times. The Sound and the Fury chronicles the fall of the Compson family, former aristocrats who struggle to cope with the dissolution of their family and its reputation. Broken into four parts/points-of-view, the novel follows the family as they fall into financial ruin, lose their faith, and see many of them die tragically. It’s not the most upbeat of reads, but it does provoke the reader to consider a number of moral questions.
Gone with the Wind
Is there a more southern novel than Gone with the Wind? Probably not. The sweeping epic follows southern belle Scarlett O’Hara and her turbulent relationship with Rhett Butler during the Civil War and Reconstruction. It’s a beast of a book, more than a thousand pages long, but it’s hard to put down as Scarlett fights to hold onto life as she knows it, fights her feelings, fights the way the world is changing around her. It is certainly a story about the south of old, but if read through today’s eyes, lessons about history and how we can learn from it can be found.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Set in Savannah, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a must-read. A non-fiction novel, it follows the story of an antiques dealer on trial for the murder of a male prostitute, a plot based on the real-life murder of Danny Hansdord by his wealthy boss, Jim Williams. The characters – also based on real people – are unforgettable, and the setting is so vivid the reader can see themselves wandering the streets of Savannah as they follow along with the writer, John Berendt, in his quest to uncover whodunnit.
The Vanishing Half
The Vanishing Half is a touching yet heartbreaking story about the lives of two Black sisters growing up in the Deep South. The Vignes twins choose different paths based on the light color of their skin, one of them disappearing without a trace while the other scrapes and fights her way through life to make ends meet while caring for her daughter. Set in Louisiana and California in the 1950s to 1990s, The Vanishing Half is a poignant and authentic story about race, racism, the love and complications between families, and how choices can impact the lives of others.
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird should be required reading. The classic story explores the nature of human beings – are humans innately good or innately evil? – by exposing Scout and Jem to the harsh realities of racism, prejudice, and social inequality as their father, lawyer Atticus Finch, defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a young white woman. To Kill A Mockingbird has been a source of controversy for decades with people debating whether the book’s content, racial slurs, and profanity are appropriate as it is often used in high school English classes and can be found in nearly every library. Read it, but also? Learn from it.
Where The Crawdads Sing
A frequent flier in book clubs, Where The Crawdads Sing is set in the marshes of rural North Carolina. Kya Clark, the “marsh girl,” is accused of murdering local golden boy Chase Andrews, but things aren’t as they seem. While Kya may be the logical suspect, she has survived for years alone in the marsh, exercising her intelligence to put food on the table, befriending the gulls, and teaching herself lessons in the sand. When two young men from town become intrigued by her, she opens herself up to love – until the unthinkable happens. This coming-of-age story grips the reader from the beginning – and has a surprising ending.
The Night Swim
Set in a coastal North Carolina small town, The Night Swim follows true crime podcaster Rachel Krall while she covers a rape trial in real time – and tries to solve a decades old murder on the side. Full of twists and turns in a town where everyone knows everyone and secrets run deep, Rachel finds herself caught up in a deadly web of secrets and lies that are meant to be taken to the grave – even if that grave turns out to be Rachel’s.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Janie Crawford, a Black woman in her forties, recounts her life, detailing the rape of her grandmother and then her mother which resulted in her birth, and her own quest for love in the masterpiece Their Eyes Were Watching God. Intelligent and independent Janie refuses to be a victim to her past as she learns about both people and herself through three marriages and a life marked by poverty, trials, and purpose. Eventually, Janie finds herself on trial for the murder of her third husband, Tea Cake, despite her claim – and the evidence – that it was self defense.
A Streetcar Named Desire
While A Streetcar Named Desire is technically a play, it is one of the most critically-acclaimed works set in the south there is. It follows former southern belle Blanche DuBois as she moves into a shabby apartment rented by her sister and brother-in-law in New Orleans after losing her home to creditors. As Blanche tries – and fails – to adjust to the cards life has handed her and navigate the tumultuous relationship with her family, particularly her brother-in-law, she begins to lose her grip on the present, leaving the reader to wonder about the struggle between appearances and reality.
There you have it – nine southern novels you must read. Did we miss any? Leave us a comment and let us know!
