Top Ten Tuesday (TTT) brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.
Great. Another wide open Top Ten Tuesday.
“FREEBIE – your choice!”
Not always a good thing for a non-creative type like myself. Since I just got back from my vacation, I’m going to do Top Ten Books set in California. This is actually going to be pretty difficult for me – the majority of books I read are set in the UK – England and Scotland, primarily.
My goal is to get some new books in my list this week. For a while it felt like Groundhog Day around here, featuring the same books every week. Let’s give it a shot.
So this is my…
[not necessarily] Top Ten [but the ten I could think of, I know I missed some good ones] Books Set in Sunny California
(And yes, I know San Francisco can be quite foggy. But it sure was sunny and hot last week.)
Classics
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – A Pulitzer Prize winning American classic.
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett – I haven’t actually read this one, but I want to. I’ve heard great things.
The Black Dahlia by James Elroy – A bit of a cheat putting it with classics. Yes, this book itself is not a classic, published in 1987. However, it is based on a real unsolved crime from 1947, and has that classic Noir feel.
Series
I’m trying to keep the list fresh this week, but I never miss these two authors. In fact, these were the first two that came to mind when I was thinking about books set in California. Sorry for the repeats.
Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller Series – Michael Connelly
Kinsey Milhone series by Sue Grafton
Singles
Landline by Rainbow Rowell – Another repeat from past lists, but that’s just because this book is. So. Good.
The Sauvignon Secret by Ellen Crosby – The last book in her Wine Country Mysteries (sob! I hope she does another one) takes us away from the usual Virginia/D.C setting and out to San Francisco and Napa Valley.
Paper Phoenix: A San Francisco Mystery by Michaela Thompson – A fun mystery set in 1970’s San Francisco.
Non-Fiction
The Happiest Days of our Lives by Wil Wheaton – I love Wil Wheaton. His writing always moves me – sometimes a laugh, sometimes a tear. Great collection of essays.
Disneywar by James B. Stewart – This book was published at a great time – right when Roy E. Disney resigned from Disney’s board and convinced the shareholders to vote Michael Eisner out and Save Disney. I read Disneywar at the time and found it fascinating.
Bonus
You know me, I love TV and movies, too. Charmed is a favorite TV show of mine, and it’s set in San Francisco (although it wasn’t really filmed there). But nothing beats this car chase from Bullitt starring Steve McQueen. One of my Dad’s favorites.
What about you? Have a favorite California novel? I bet you do, and it’s probably a beachy one. Based on this list, it would appear I don’t read many novels set at the beach. I guess I should have included Sweet Valley High; I was an 80’s girl and loved to see what Jess and Liz were up to.
Link up to your TTT if you’ve got one, I can’t wait to see what topic you chose for this freebie week!
I’ve read Landline and The Maltese Falcon (which is excellent by the way). I really want to read Disneywar – last night I watched an episode of American Experience about Disney. 🙂
Check out my TTT.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Disneywar was fascinating. He was invited in to do a book and then realized all these internal battles were going on and wrote about that.
LikeLike
Good topic – I have yet to think of one this week!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You thought of a good one. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should try Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It’s set in California and reminded me a bit of a Rainbow Rowell book. Plus, alternate timelines are always fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I will give that a try! 🙂
LikeLike
Awesome list! As someone living in California (although not so sunny — more like daily fog), I appreciate the great tribute to our beautiful state. If you like weird and funny fiction, then I’d recommend any of Christopher Moore’s books set in California, particularly A Dirty Job or his San Francisco vampire trilogy. I really need to read more Steinbeck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to live in NorCal for a few years, San Mateo. Loved the fog! I’ve heard great things about his books, I need to give them a try. Thanks!
LikeLike
Such a unique, cool (even if California can be stifling hot) topic! Sounds like you had a good vacation 🙂
My Top Ten Tuesday was about my favorite Graphic Novels and Comics if you’re interested https://dreamingthroughliterature.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-favorite-graphic-novels-and-comics/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I still have the Pirates of the Caribbean ride song stuck in my head. Which is awesome. 🙂 “yo ho, yo ho a pirates life for me!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read Black Dahlia a long time ago but had no idea it was published so recently. It definitely has the classic noir feel – so much so that I thought it was one! This is a great topic and I see several books that need to be added to my TBR. Particularly Disneywar, the Wine Country Mystery series, and how can I resist anything by Wil Wheaton?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are all great choices! I need to read more by James Elroy. I think Dahlia is the first of three books?
LikeLike
I love your noir inclusions! I would be remiss not to suggest the Veronica Mars novels. Modern noir in the seedy California underbelly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How could I forget Veronica! She’s a marshmallow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Grapes of Wrath is on my classics club list. Looking forward to reading it! After reading your list, I want to go to California! The beach is calling my name 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful beaches there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sunny California. Lovely setting. I have only been once but would love to get back. Landline is the only one I have read but LOVED it!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! What a great book!
LikeLike
I know what you mean about freebie topic being hard. I need structure! It took me forever to come up with a topic haha. The only book I’ve read of these is Landline. I’ve been thinking I need a re-read of it because I haven’t read it since it first came out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s such a great book! I need tired more from Rainbow Rowell.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry, auto correct. I need to try more from Rainbow Rowell. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know what, despite living in California as well, I don’t think I’ve picked up too many books that take place here. The only one that comes to mind is Susan Ee’s World After.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t know if you read YA contemporary, but Everything, Everything is an adorable read that is set in LA!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I will check that book out!
LikeLike
I’ve really go to read Landline soon. I even OWN it!
LikeLike
For the life of me right now I can’t think of a single book set in California lol…. My TTT
LikeLike
I haven’t read any of these! I have a copy of Landline though and really want to read it.
LikeLike
Fun topic! I’m sure I’ve read plenty of books that take place in California but at the moment I can’t think of any! It’s so fun to read books set in places you’ve been. One of my friends at work always checks out an audiobook set in her vacation destination (i.e. “The Devil in the White City” for Chicago) to listen to on the drive. I think that’s such a great idea! Usually I work in the reverse — I want to visit the settings in all my books after reading about them! 🙂
LikeLike
Landline is such a cute book. I love how it’s a contemporary with a little bit of magic. I hope you enjoy it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved Landline! Read it earlier this year, it was so great. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Pingback: TTT: Favorite Quotes I Read in 2016 (ish) | Hidden Staircase