Stateside Stories

As a book lover, I have consumed many different types of literature; from romance to crime, poetry and prose, light-hearted stories to tough, factual reads. I have read books written by authors from many different nations: Britain, Algeria, Ukraine and India. I have also read plenty of fiction and non-fiction books written by Americans. Some were read for academic purposes and some were read for fun. Many were very impactful, and gave me an understanding of what was happening in America socially, politically and economically when they were written. Others informed me about how those in the present perceive the past. All of them have proved that America has a rich collection of literature that cannot be ignored.

Truman Capote, In Cold Blood (1966)

A classic (and controversial) true crime novel, In Cold Blood explores the 1959 murder of the wealthy Clutter family in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas and the two criminals, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, who committed the ghastly act. The book jumps between the perspectives of the Clutters and those who mourned their passing, and the criminals as they travelled around the country trying to evade authorities. The novel provides readers with a glimpse into small-town life, and the issues that old-fashioned policing faced. At times, it is difficult to remember that everything in the novel really happened, as it is written in the same way that a fictional novel is, thrusting readers into the lives of everyone involved in the murder case. Even if you are not a fan of true crime, this book is still worth reading as it provides a perfect insight into what the 1950’s was really like and how it was not as perfect as some like to remember.

Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House (1959)

A classic gothic novel, The Haunting of Hill House is an excellent novel to read as an introduction into the horror genre. Even if you do get scared easily, this novel is worth reading. If follows 32-year-old Eleanor, a young women who has had to spend the last 11 years caring for her sick mother, as she receives an invitation to take part in a study surrounding Hill House, which is supposedly haunted. As the novel progresses, we see how the House has consumed Eleanor, making her deteriorate mentally and physically. It is an exceptionally fast-paced novel, with incredibly written female characters taking centre stage. Those who have watched the TV show need to be aware, the novel is nothing like it! In fact, the novel is much better as it does not rely on cliched jump-scares to make it scary. The visible alteration of Eleanor’s psyche is enough to keep readers on edge.

David Grann, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI (2017)

Many might know Killers of the Flower Moon as a 2023 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Even if you have seen the film, the book is still thoroughly worth reading. This true crime novel focused on the suspicious deaths of several Native Americans in the gilded age of the 1920’s, and the lengthy investigation that followed. The novel does an excellent job of exploring the racial inequalities of the era, and how much of America’s wealth during that period was built on the oil industry. The 1920’s was a decade of much change, as cars replaced horse-drawn carriages, short skirts replaced long dresses, and extravagance replaced simplicity. However, the decade was not all glitz and glamour, as this book demonstrates. Many people still faced hardship, and equality both under the law and in the eyes of society was an impossibility for many. This book highlights the struggles that Native American women faced in particular, and just how long it took for justice to prevail for all those who were brutally murdered.

Anne Rice, Interview with the Vampire (1976)

Whilst seen as an inherently European genre, many American vampire novels have been written. One noteworthy example is Interview with the Vampire, which follows Lestat and Louis and their rather dysfunctional relationship. Rice’s vampires are rather different from European vampires. They are extravagant, flamboyant and charming, and spend just as much time going to operas and buying expensive art than they do hunting victims. Admittedly, there are some parts of the novel which have not aged well. The fact that Louis was a slave owner was only briefly mentioned and not seen as a very big deal. However, there are many ways that the book is quite progressive. The book is often praised for its depictions of homosexuality in an era when it was still viewed as socially unacceptable. Whilst the book does have its flaws, it still tells a very captivating story and is difficult to put down once you start reading.