Top 10 Books about Wisconsin
Set in northern Wisconsin mainly from January-August 1972. Tragedy with touches of Hamlet. Gar and Trudy Sawtelle raise a particular type of dog known for its perceptiveness. Son Edgar was born mute in 1958. His dog Almondine has been his lifelong companion. Gar’s brother, Claude, returns to the farm and their sibling rivalry returns. Then Gar dies suddenly, and Edgar has reason to believe that Claude had something to do with it. Trudy becomes ill, so Claude steps in to help with the dogs. A tragedy forces Edgar to flee into the countryside with three of the year-old dogs. After a couple months on the lam, Edgar decides to come back, but the situation ends badly. A long book with lyrical descriptions. Wroblewski was born and raised in Wisconsin.
Matt and Marissa live near Milwaukee in 1997 and are expecting their first child. Marissa wants Matt to get the antique cradle that her mother took when she left the family. Matt’s quest takes him from Sturgeon Bay to Green Bay to Walton, Minn., to Rensselaer, Ind. A second story in the book is set in 2003 and concerns Renee Owen as her son Adam leaves Chicago for the military. The two stories connect. The book includes interesting aspects of family relations, especially because Matt lived his childhood in foster homes. Somerville grew up in Green Bay and received a degree from UW-Madison.
Set in Wisconsin’s southwestern Driftless Area, the book follows several characters. July Montgomery is a drifter who ended up staying and owning a farm. Violet Brasso, in her 60s, who takes care of her invalid sister, Olivia, who has her own ideas and wants. Rusty Smith, retired farmer coming to terms with his impoverished, harsh childhood and who finds a cougar living in his barn. Grahm and Cora Shotwell, farmers with two children who have evidence that their milk cooperative is corrupt. Gail Shotwell, Grahm’s sister, an aspiring musician who has been in trouble with the law but at heart is a decent person. Jacob Helm, a widower who lives in a log cabin and runs a repair shop. Winnefred Smith, the excitable young pastor who is dealing with her own difficult childhood. Rhodes wrote a critically acclaimed novel in 1976 and then was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. This book is his first since 1976. The author lives in Wonewoc, Wisconsin.
The author of Population 485 continues with his heartfelt and humorous stories of rural Wisconsin life. Perry and his wife, Anneliese, moved to a small farm where they are raising daughter, Amy, along with assorted poultry and pigs. The family gets bigger with the addition of baby Jane. Perry reminisces about his childhood and tells about his adventures in farming. The writing meanders from humorous to nostalgic to tender to thoughtful.
Set in 2001-02. Tassie Keltjin is a 20-year-old student at the university in Troy (i.e. Madison). Tassie’s family grows gourmet vegetables at their farm in south central Wisconsin. Her brother is struggling in high school and wants to join the military. Tassie takes a job babysitting for Sarah Brink, who owns a restaurant in Madison, and her husband Edward, a researcher at the university. The couple is adopting a biracial girl, Mary-Emma. Sarah and Edward have a tragedy in their past that is revealed. Tassie narrates with a wry satirical tone as she navigates life. The book is funny in some ways but also sad. Moore is a professor at the UW-Madison.
In short but literary passages, Leopold describes nature in Wisconsin month by month. Some editions of this book are beautifully illustrated. Leopold worked as a forester and became a professor at UW. This is a classic that started the environmental movement.
Set in 1955 in Mill Town, which is supposed to be in the Milwaukee area. Isabella “Teaspoon” Marlene is 10 years old and for the past five years has been living with her mother Catty’s old boyfriend Teddy while Catty chases her dreams in Hollywood. Teddy takes good care of Teaspoon and wants her to be respectable. Their neighborhood is working class, poor and urban. Teaspoon, unwillingly, is included in the Sunshine Girls, where she is matched up with a “Big Sister,” Brenda Bloom, from the richest family in town. The two eventually become friends and the story comes to a climax when Brenda is in charge of a show at the Starlight Theater, and Teaspoon’s mother comes back. This enjoyable, character-driven story is a heartwarming book with a sprinkling of rough language and situations. Teaspoon is endearing and sometimes annoying. She blurts out what she thinks and is always singing. Kring was born in and lives in Wisconsin.
Lake sturgeon are ancient fish that can grow to be 6 feet long and live as long or longer than humans. This book contains wonderful pictures and information about the sturgeon in Lake Winnebago, the people who manage them and those who try to spear them. This book received an Outstanding Achievement award from the Wisconsin Library Association. Kline is a science writer at the UW Sea Grant Institute, Bruch is a sturgeon biologist with the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, Binkowski is a scientist at the Wisconsin Great Lakes Water Institute and Rashid (deceased) was a photographer and writer.
Set in northern Wisconsin in 1907. Ralph Truitt is a wealthy businessman living in northern Wisconsin who advertises for a wife. Catherine Land answers the ad, but she is not the missionary’s daughter that she claims. Truitt is complicated as well. He has seen the world. This is a dark tale of desperation, despair and remorse. It reminded me of the old movies The Postman Always Rings Twice or Double Indemnity. There is tension in the book. Catherine plans on poisoning Truitt. She has a lover already, and she wants Truitt’s money. Yet starting on their first night together, Catherine develops feelings for Truitt. More is revealed about Truitt’s first unfaithful Italian wife, his deceased daughter and runaway son. The author says he was influenced by the book Wisconsin Death Trip.
Set in Fond du Lac. This is the story of 17-year-old Angie Morrow, who falls in love with Jack Daly, a boy from her hometown. Angie narrates the story, and her three sisters are modeled after Daly’s own sisters. Because of this novel, Daly has been credited with establishing young adult literature as a separate category of fiction. Daly grew up in Fond du Lac, and the book contains references to local places.