On CBS Sunday Morning, (last week), the interviewer asked Anne Tyler why so many of her books take place in Baltimore (where she has lived most of her adult life)--to which she replied (I'm paraphrasing here)--I know Baltimore--if I had a book set in New York--I'd have to go learn about New York--subtext there being that otherwise, it wouldn't quite ring true.
One historical novel that popped into my head was Colson Whitehead's Harlem Shuffle, which I loved. Two contemporary ones that really struck me were Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips and Long Bright River by Liz Moore!
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan, Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, Terra Nova by Henriette Lazaridis.
On CBS Sunday Morning, (last week), the interviewer asked Anne Tyler why so many of her books take place in Baltimore (where she has lived most of her adult life)--to which she replied (I'm paraphrasing here)--I know Baltimore--if I had a book set in New York--I'd have to go learn about New York--subtext there being that otherwise, it wouldn't quite ring true.
One historical novel that popped into my head was Colson Whitehead's Harlem Shuffle, which I loved. Two contemporary ones that really struck me were Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips and Long Bright River by Liz Moore!
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai