5 best novels set in Oklahoma
Experience the Great Plains like never before through the eyes of riveting characters, steeped in the unique culture and rugged charm of Oklahoma. As each story unfolds, share their trials, tribulations, and triumphs against the backdrop of the sprawling prairies, bustling cities, and endearing small towns that define the Sooner State.
The Grapes of Wrath
By John Steinbeck
How it fits the "novels set in Oklahoma" vibe: This Pulitzer prize-winning novel is set in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. It narrates the story of the Joads, a poor family of tenant farmers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, agricultural industry changes, and bank foreclosures forcing tenant farmers out of work. The depiction of Oklahoma evokes its harsh and unforgiving landscape.
5 / 5 Stars on Google Books
Publisher: Penguin
Page Count: 532
Published Date: 2006-03-28
Where the Crawdads Sing (Movie Tie-In)
By Delia Owens
How it fits the "novels set in Oklahoma" vibe: Although this book is primarily set in the marshlands of North Carolina, significant parts of the story take place in Oklahoma. In the story, a potential lover of the protagonist originates from Oklahoma, which broadens the novel's scope.
Publisher: Penguin
Page Count: 401
Published Date: 2022-06-28
Paradise
By Toni Morrison
How it fits the "novels set in Oklahoma" vibe: Paradise traces the lives and interactions of several families and individuals, predominantly focusing on the town of Ruby, Oklahoma, a fictional farming community. The novel provides the reader an insight into a tightly knit community and its inevitable downfall.
Publisher: Vintage
Page Count: 338
Published Date: 2014-03-11
Fire in Beulah
By Rilla Askew
How it fits the "novels set in Oklahoma" vibe: This novel is set against the backdrop of the infamous Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, Oklahoma. It is an exploration of racial tension and violent uprisings, particularly focusing on the devastating event that brutally shattered the peace of the city.
Publisher: Penguin
Page Count: 384
Published Date: 2001-12-31
True Grit
By Charles Portis
How it fits the "novels set in Oklahoma" vibe: True Grit is a western novel that partly takes place in 'Indian Territory', a historical region that became Oklahoma. The depiction of the region is unique for its historical and geographical perspective bringing the land its own character in the novel.
5 / 5 Stars on Google Books
Publisher: A&C Black
Page Count: 224
Published Date: 2011-01-14