Nevada’s Silver Pen

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cc Nevadas Silver Pen photo credit: mandj98

So, I am down to six remaining states… whew! I would love a bit of help on the remaining states, by the way: New Mexico (maybe Julia Glass? Tony Hillerman?), Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, and Washington. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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cc Nevadas Silver Pen photo credit: mandj98

This week, I am highlighting a writer I found on the Silver Pen Award website – Sally Denton — who I have yet to read! The Silver Pen is awarded to Nevada writers who are mid-career, but have already distinguished themselves in writing.  Denton has been inducted into the Nevada Writers’ Hall of Fame, too.

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cc Nevadas Silver Pen photo credit: RickC

Here an excerpt from a biographical page:

Her 2001 book, The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and Its Hold on America, 1947-2000, co-authored with her husband, was described as “… one of the most important nonfiction books published in the United States …” by a Los Angeles Times reviewer.

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cc Nevadas Silver Pen photo credit: NU Husky 91

Sounds interesting!  My husband and I are hoping to go to Las Vegas this spring (I’ve never been as an adult…), so I may check this out!

Curious about what states we’ve done so far and which ones are on deck?

us map by marxchivist Nevadas Silver Pen
Photo by marxchivist

First, from Melanie Jones:

  • Alabama: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (check out my To Kill A Mockingbird Sample Kit!)
  • Michigan: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides
  • Alaska: The Man Who Swam With Beavers by Nancy Lord
  • Arizona: The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
  • North Dakota: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
  • Vermont: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
  • Hawaii: Heads by Harry by Lois-ann Yamanaka
  • Georgia: Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones
  • Massachusettes: Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
  • Oregon: Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
  • Wyoming: At Close Range by E. Annie Proulx
  • And I happily borrowed the collective wisdom of Omnivoracious for

    And I went out on my own for…

  • Florida: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Nora Zeale Hurston
  • Minnesota: In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’Brien
  • Wisconsin: When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton
  • Louisiana: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells (Jones’ pick) and The Awakening by Kate Chopin (my pick)
  • Colorado: Plainsong by Kent Haruf
  • Maryland: Anything by Anne Tyler
  • Georgia: Awakening by Kate Chopin
  • Ohio: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • Arkansas: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • Virginia: John Grisham
  • Idaho: Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
  • North Carolina: Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
  • Tennesee: Run by Ann Patchett
  • New Jersey: Anything by Janet Ivanovich
  • Texas: Anything by Elmer Kelton
  • Connecticut: The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx
  • Montana: The Big Sky by A.B. Guthrie
  • Utah: Edward Abbey
  • South Carolina: Pat Conroy
  • Iowa: Wallace Stegner
  • Pennsylvania: John Updike and James Michener
  • Missouri: Mark Twain
  • New Hampshire: Robert Frost
  • Kentucky: Robert Penn Warren
  • California: John Steinbeck
  • Wondering where your state is? Coming soon… In the meantime, weigh in on future picks!

    You may like these posts, too!

    About Kristen

    I have been a high school teacher for 15 years and am ready to embark on a new project! I hope to promote classic literature and help book clubs rediscover these gems.
    This entry was posted in 50 States 50 Books and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

    2 Responses to Nevada’s Silver Pen

    1. Lisa says:

      Oh, it must be Hillerman for New Mexico. Has any novelist more deftly conveyed a sense of the culture, geography and landscape of that beautiful state?

    2. Pingback: 50 States 50 Books List | BOOK CLUB CLASSICS!

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