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DiskuteraFifty States Fiction (or Nonfiction) Challenge

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1lindapanzo
jul 7, 2009, 6:43 pm

In our first week, it looks like we're at 15 members so far. I am amazed by that number.

I note that one person is from New Zealand but I'm curious...where are the rest of you from?

Except for my years away at college in Wisconsin, I have lived in Illinois (Chicagoland) my whole life. Taking a quick look at the map of the U.S., I think I've physically visited about half of the states.

2lahochstetler
jul 7, 2009, 6:46 pm

I'm from the US- currently living in WA, but have lived in VA, MD, and grew up in MA. I'm off to go start my thread!

3cushlareads
jul 7, 2009, 7:58 pm

I'm the Kiwi but I've lived in NY and CT. Thanks for starting the group Linda!

4cmbohn
jul 7, 2009, 8:08 pm

I was born in TX, went to high school in OK, married a guy from TN, and currently live in UT. Also lived in AZ, OH, PA, ID, IL, and MO.

And I loved living in Chicago! My folks lived there while I was in college and I would go home over the summer. It was a great place to be single - always something to do!

5sjmccreary
jul 7, 2009, 9:47 pm

I currently live in Missouri, but lived in Kansas from birth until my mid-30's. I've travelled some, but not much more than a dozen states - maybe 15. I've lived such a sheltered life! *sigh*

6cbl_tn
jul 7, 2009, 10:15 pm

Hi! I've lived in Tennessee for most of my life. Indiana is sort of a second home because I have many relatives there. I also feel at home in Illinois and Texas since I have relatives there, too. I've been to most of the states east of the Mississippi at least once (except for New England), but I've only visited a handful of states west of the Mississippi.

7clue
jul 7, 2009, 11:17 pm

I live in northern Arkansas on the Arkansas/Oklahoma border.

8susanaudrey
jul 8, 2009, 1:10 am

Hello from Georgia! I've been to 15 states but hope to set foot in all 50 eventually. Looking forward to "visiting" all 50 through this challenge. Thanks for starting this group, Linda - it's a fabulous idea. I will add book titles to each of the state lists that have been started as I have time.

9lindapanzo
jul 8, 2009, 11:45 am

It's great to hear from you all. I'm glad you've joined.

This wasn't just my idea or my doing. I was over at the Reading Globally group and decided that reading 192 countries was too much for me but that maybe 50 states was do-able. I talked to a few other LTers, people I thought might be interested, and we thought about what we'd like to do.

Once I finish my first 999 challenge for the year (almost done!!), I will go full tilt on my second 999 challenge, which includes a 50 states fiction category. For now, I am just compiling book ideas.

10cyderry
jul 8, 2009, 1:36 pm

I have lived my entire life in the state of Maryland but I have visited 32 states and the District of Columbia. I have 21 states done for this challenge and am looking forward to some of the states that I haven't visited either in a book or personally.

11ivyd
jul 8, 2009, 4:27 pm

I've always lived in Oregon.

A quick count gives me 27 states physically visited (but only if I count airports in Salt Lake City, Chicago and St. Louis), mostly on both coasts.

12lindapanzo
jul 8, 2009, 5:09 pm

I didn't count New Mexico, even though, a few years ago, our Chicago to San Diego plane was diverted to Albuquerque due to an on-board medical emergency. We got to see some scenery and then watch ambaulances pull up and paramedics come on board.

Anyway, there are whole swaths of the country I've never personally visited, including pretty much anywhere straight west of Minnesota. I've been to Boston but nowhere else in New England. I have lots of gaps in my travels. The Pacific Northwest is one place I absolutely want to get to.

13cmbohn
jul 8, 2009, 5:18 pm

I've never been to New England either, or most of the deep south. And I'd love to visit Alaska sometime. We are heading for the Grand Canyon next week! I've driven by it several times, but this time we're actually stopping and hiking part of the way down.

14countrylife
jul 9, 2009, 1:17 pm

Born an Okie, then lived in Nebraska, New York, Texas, (NE again), Iowa, Missouri, (NE again), and currently in Texas (again). Having just moved from a huge old Victorian with lots of built in shelves and storage to a tiny little 1980's tract house with rooms the size of closets and closets the size of pockets, we are now trying to jam some book shelves in. I've been addicted to LT for several years and wanted to do a reading challenge at some point. Although the timing isn't great for me, this one really looks interesting, but my progress is bound to be extremely slow. Glad there's no time limit!

15cmbohn
jul 9, 2009, 8:05 pm

Yeah, that open timing thing is great! It seems like NONE of the books I am currently reading are set in the US!

16detailmuse
jul 9, 2009, 9:41 pm

ooh, I like the idea for this challenge! I spent my infancy in Alabama, my toddlerhood until marriage in Michigan, since then in Chicagoland. Traveled for work for awhile so have visited almost all states ... seen lots of some, mostly the hotels of others :)

Was keeping track of my book-related state visits for awhile and got to 28. I may wipe that clean; if I keep any, it'll be only those books that evoked the strongest sense of place.

Thanks for starting this group!

17detailmuse
jul 10, 2009, 9:32 am

I saw a message elsewhere on LT this morning about Sporcle, a site of “mentally stimulating diversions” -- and thought this game would be fun for folks here.

18sjmccreary
jul 10, 2009, 12:24 pm

#17 Ack! You have to spell it right! It took me more than 3 minutes to find out the correct spelling of Massachusetts - but still finished with nearly 5-1/2 minutes remaining.

19arubabookwoman
jul 10, 2009, 8:17 pm

I was born and raised in Aruba, spent a year in London, then went to college and lived for 18 years in New Orleans. Now living in the Seattle area. Looking forward to this challenge.

20mariesansone
jul 10, 2009, 11:49 pm

What a neat idea for a challenge. I've visited 36 states, and lived in Alaska, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, New York, and Virginia, but not in alphabetical order.

21sweetbug
jul 11, 2009, 9:10 am

I was born and raised in Colorado, moved to Illinois for college and ended up staying in Chicagoland. I have seen 36 states and need to do tours of the South and Northwest to pick up the rest. This is my first LT challenge.

22thornton37814
jul 11, 2009, 9:10 am

Hi. I live in Tennessee at the present. I've also lived in Mississippi and Ohio. I've lived in all three grand divisions of Tennessee. I've visited 38 of our 50 states plus the District of Columbia! I hope to one day visit those other 12 in person. I've often wondered if I've read books set in all 50 states. I'm sure that over the years I must have. I will be counting only 2009 forward for this challenge.

23RidgewayGirl
jul 11, 2009, 12:59 pm

I was born in Washington and have lived in Colorado, Arizona and South Carolina, but have spent more than half my life elsewhere. I am realizing that most of the books I read are not written by Americans and/or not set in the United States, so this will be a fun way to remedy that hole in my reading.

24MusicMom41
jul 11, 2009, 2:37 pm

I was born in San Francisco, and while growing up lived in the Philippine Islands, Guam, Miami, Philadelphia, Long Beach, CA and went 4 years to HS in Astoria, Oregon. College was in Los Angeles (Occidental) and hubby's graduate school was Riverside, CA (UCR). His first job took us to Savannah where we lived nearly 25 years and that's what feels like "home" to me because it was the first time I put down "roots." We are now back in California--and I don't plan to move again!

I've been to every state except Vermont, Michigan, Minnesota, (I added Wisconsin to my list when we visited our son in Chicago and went to a Cubs/ Brewers in Milwaukee a couple of years ago) and Alaska.

I think this is a great idea--I will learn about so many states that I've only driven through!

25lindapanzo
jul 15, 2009, 5:26 pm

Poor Nevada...no one has anything to say about books set there? It's the only unloved state (in terms of books mentioned) that we have left.

26MusicMom41
jul 15, 2009, 7:16 pm

We may have to put out a plea on other threads for suggestions for books about Nevada. I can't think of any, but surely someone has written about that large, flat, lonely state (it boasts the "loneliest road in the world" which I've driven) that Californians must drive through to reach points East. ;-) Our first night was usually spent in Winnemucca, NV.

Now I'm really interested in finding a good book about Nevada. I'm sure there are plenty of mysteries out there but are there any good novels or history books?

27cbl_tn
jul 15, 2009, 8:25 pm

>25 lindapanzo:, 26. I found one and posted in to the Nevada thread!

28MusicMom41
jul 15, 2009, 9:02 pm

Good job, cbl! Also it looks like a great choice. That one is going on my list.

29kiwiflowa
jul 16, 2009, 2:09 am

Yay I am so excited I found this group!

I had just started this as a project last weekend and didn't even know there was a group doing this too :)

Last weekend I found a map of the USA with states outlined online to print and I have coloured in Texas for Vernon God Little and Utah for The 19th Wife. I'm not sure whether to start this as a new challenge or include books I've already read?

Sadly I have never been to America and not even really been out of New Zealand so I live vicariously through books!

30lindapanzo
jul 16, 2009, 12:01 pm

Welcome, kiwiflowa. I hope you find lots of great book ideas here.

Wow, we are up to 26 members now!!

When the five or so of us were kicking around the idea of doing this, we weren't sure many others would want to join. I'm glad so many people are finding this interesting.

31sjmccreary
jul 16, 2009, 9:34 pm

#30 I don't know why EVERYONE hasn't signed up - I think this is a great challenge!

I've been reading the "state" threads with everyone's suggestions and recommendations. Almost every day I see someone's suggestion for a book that looks too good to miss. I feel like a kid in a toy story - "I want that one. And that one. And those two over there." I think the real challenge will be to only read one per state!

32miseLAINIous
jul 16, 2009, 11:32 pm

Born in TN (AF dad), moved to VA for a very short time, and then to Texas. I lived there almost my entire life (Austin, Dallas, SA, Rio Grande Valley, Denton, Dallas suburbs), then 2 years ago, wanted a change, and headed for Wisconsin. I love it here.

So far, let's see...I think I've hit about 19 states. A few more when you count airports.

33rolandperkins
jul 17, 2009, 11:20 am

Born in Woburn, MA and lived in Eastern Massachusetts through age 43.

Lived on Oʻahu 1974 -- Jan. 1981

Lived in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
Jan. 1981 -- Dec. 1986

Back on Oʻahu, Dec. 1986 -- present

Most famous writers of my home town:

Benjamin Thompson (aka Count Rumford); dont know if there is anythng book length by him. There are books and articles about him. He is now regarded as a scientist/technologist, rather than a writer.

and George Perkins, my great-grandfather, of East Woburn, MA, author of the recently published, Three Years a Soldier edited by Richard N.Griffin.

34countrylife
jul 17, 2009, 2:56 pm

rolandperkins (33) - Can we get you to put a description of your great-grandfather's book on its page? And maybe fill in the CK? It sounds like a fascinating book! Would threatening to descend en-masse to your island home in mid-winter provide the impetus needed? ;-)

PS: You might be interested in the American Civil War group as well: http://www.librarything.com/groups/americancivilwar

35cmbohn
jul 18, 2009, 7:51 pm

I'm planning on tracking all of the books I read from now on with a strong state setting. I'm not sure I'll review them all, but I do want to keep track.

36RosyLibrarian
jul 21, 2009, 2:08 pm

Born in a tiny town in Nevada, lived there until I graduated high school and have since lived in NM, OR, AZ and about a year abroad in England. :)

37countrylife
nov 22, 2009, 10:07 am

Cool! Fifty States Fiction has 50 members today!

38cmbohn
nov 22, 2009, 1:24 pm

That is cool! I don't think I've added any new books in a while.

39AHS-Wolfy
nov 22, 2009, 2:45 pm

I started my travels a few months ago but never noticed this thread before. Must've been too busy looking at the scenery ;)

I hope you don't mind having a limey exploring the new world. I was born, bred and have lived all my 43 years in Manchester, England. In my defence I did do quite a bit of travelling in my youth mainly to North America. I once did a 3 week round trip from Los Angeles all the way up to into the Canadian Rockies. Didn't stop more than 2 nights in any one place but it was a great tour taking in most of the big national parks and canyons. Also took a coach tour on the east side taking in New York, Washington, Boston etc. and have visited Alaska on a trek tour and have really fond memories of that vacation. Been to Disney World and a couple of other Florida destinations. Last trip over the pond was in 2007 to go to an anime convention in Chicago which was mainly to meet up with people I've know for years in another online community.

One state that I would like to get to but haven't so far managed would be Texas.

40RidgewayGirl
nov 22, 2009, 4:14 pm

Hi Wolfy. I think it's a better group if we're international. No one's tried to kick me out of the Canadian or European groups, so your chances are good. It will be interesting to see how your reaction to a title differs from an American reader's.

41SqueakyChu
nov 26, 2009, 10:48 am

Late joiner here. :)

I live in Maryland, but have visited well over half of the U.S. States over the years. I'm trying to do too many book challenges now but figured I could do this one, too, if I could break it down into blocks of ten (which I did!).

Looking forward to some fun reads...

42RidgewayGirl
nov 26, 2009, 9:20 pm

Remember, there's no time limits here, SqueakyChu. I plan on making mine a very leisurely trip around the U.S.

43GingerbreadMan
nov 29, 2009, 9:01 am

An fairly frequent visitor to the literaty states of America, I took on this challenge a couple of months ago. Since then I've to my surprise found nothing I read is set in the USA anymore...

I live in Stockholm, Sweden, and have never been to the USA in real life. I might have crossed a little bit of American airspace on my way to Cuba, but that's all.

44SqueakyChu
Redigerat: nov 29, 2009, 10:05 am

Well, you could always do a Global Author Challenge or a variation thereof.

I always find it most fun to read about places I've already seen, but I do like to learn about new places from reading.

One thing that enhances my reading about places unfamiliar to me is the ability to pull up pictures of these places online. Talk about transporting a reader into another world. That sure fills the bill for me!

45EMS_24
Redigerat: dec 6, 2014, 11:41 am

I am from The Hague, Holland, ( The residence, near the North Sea), grew up in a village in the flat country with polders and dykes.
Because I've family in a city in New Hampshire I've been there a couple of times.
From there we made some holidays in the USA. (North East Coast, around Yellow Stone).

I have a wide range of interest > wide range of books.
When the environment in a book plays an important role, I like look in an atlas, for Northern America I use the Road Atlas 2004 (Langenscheidt).
I agree with the middle sentence of SqeakyChu #44 !

To 'explore' more of the states by reading I now can use experiences in this group, and maybe some day shall have been 'in' all the 50 (52?).
And when I read a book that's not mentioned here yet, I like to expand the list.

And sorry for that I am the 151st, 150 fits better here ...

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