Alabama independent book shop owners list their favorite books with Alabama ties - AL.com

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Alabama is as much a birthplace of Southern literary greatness as Mississippi and we have a list of amazing authors to prove it. We have so many talented writers, in fact, that it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with them all.

To help find the perfect gift for the booklover on your list, we asked some independent booksellers statewide to give us their recommendations of books that were written by Alabama authors or are set in Alabama.

We didn’t specify any other parameters, such as genre or publishing date, so the list includes a variety of books, from in-depth histories to romance to young adult.

Brandi Atchison with Shades of Pemberley in Albertville, a store selling new and used books, said she loves to recommend books by Alabama authors.

“There’s nothing I love more than talking books, but especially local author books. We have so many good ones here in Alabama,” she said.

Check out the following recommendations from six booksellers statewide. (Note: Be sure to check for updated store hours and COVID policies before visiting any store in person).

Alabama Booksmith

Alabama Booksmith at 2626 19th Place South in Homewood specializes in signed copies of books, particularly ones with Alabama ties. Here are the recommendations from owner Jake Reiss:

All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg. “Our No. 1 best-selling title for more than 20 years,” Reiss says. Explains the lives of a poor but proud Alabama family. Named Memoir of the Year.

Alabama: The History of a Deep South State Bicentennial Edition by Wayne Flynt. The complete history of Alabama prior to statehood up to the present. Includes politics, race and football!

Mattie C’s Boy: The Shelley Stewart Story by Shelley Stewart and Don Keith. The remarkable story of a homeless Black boy in the 1940s who became the CEO of a major marketing firm with clients like Coca-Cola and Honda.

Forrest Gump by Winston Groom. “Possibly the best-known book ever to come out of the state,” Reiss says. “It’s better than the movie.”

Thank You Bookshop

Kristen Iskandrian with Thank You Bookshop in Crestwood Shopping Center in Birmingham gave these recommendations:

Magic City Gospel by Ashley Jones. Jone is an Alabama native who teaches at Alabama School of Fine Arts. “Magic City Gospel, her much-lauded first book, is an intimate exploration of place and race, the many ways in which the author has been shaped by Birmingham, and the fraught intersections between perception and reality, personal and political,” Iskandrian said. Signed copies available.

Transcendant Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. Gyasi was born in Ghana and raised in Huntsville from the age of 10 until she graduated from high school. “In flashbacks, Transcendent Kingdom delves into the upbringing and complex family dynamic of the narrator, Gifty, who is 28 and pursuing a PhD in neuroscience from Stanford University,” Iskandrian says. The novel, an instant bestseller and Gyasi’s second book, draws on various autobiographical elements from the author’s life.

Alabama Noir by various, edited by Don Noble. “This is a delightful collection of short, noir fiction, all either based in and around Alabama or written by authors who claim Alabama as their home,” Iskandrian said. “Dark, mysterious, and unexpectedly funny, this is a must-have for lovers of regional writing and the noir genre.”

Treeborne by Caleb Johnson. “An eighty-year small town saga by an Arley native, Treeborne is a little bit kidnap thriller, a pinch ars poetica, and a whole buncha walk in Alabama woods holding hands with family historian. With lyrical prose and unforgettable characters, Johnson’s debut does his home state proud,” Iskandrian says.

Iskandrian also recommends:

Five-Star Trails: Birmingham by Thomas Spencer.
Back to Nature: A History of Ruffner Mountain by Mark Kelly.

Little Professor

Mary Laura Carlson, manager of The Little Professor in Homewood, gave these recommendations from her store.

Furious Hours by Casey Cep

Carlson says this is “A jaw-dropping true crime story that takes place near Lake Martin and is the topic of the last book Harper Lee tried to write.”

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi.

“Born in Ghana but raised in Huntsville, author Yaa Gyasi continues to show her immense talent with this second novel after her stunning debut, ‘Homegoing,’” Carlson says.

Where I Come From: Stories from the Deep South by Rick Bragg

The newest book from one of the South’s best storytellers.

Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl

“Beautifully written essays from the author who was born in Andalusia and raised in Birmingham,” Carlson says.

Read Herring Books

Mike Breen, manager of Read Herring at 105 South Court Street in Montgomery, sent a list of books published by the store’s parent company, NewSouth Books. “They were all written by local authors and present the history of our beloved state. These are all recent titles and we highly recommend each and every one for their quality,” he said.

The Annotated Pickett’s History of Alabama, edited by James Pate. (aka. The Annotated Pickett’s History of Alabama, And Incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the Earliest Period). The book “is updated, annotated, and completely indexed for the first time and carries an introduction by Dr. Pate that speaks about Albert Pickett’s work process and more. The publication of this book— the first non-facsimile edition available in decades — makes a ground-breaking work available to a new generation of scholars, lay historians, and general readers,” Breen says.

Fourteenth Colony by Mike Bunn. Bunn introduces readers to the British colony of West Florida, which incorporated portions of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana during America’s Revolutionary era. “The eventful years of the colony are an important and compelling interlude in Gulf Coast history that has been long overlooked,” Breen said.

The South’s Forgotten Fire-Eater by Chris Mcilwain. The story of David Hubbard, who “was an ardent voice for leaving the Union, spreading his increasingly radical view of states’ rights and the need to rebel against what he viewed as an overreaching federal government,” Breen said. It “explores the role Hubbard would play in Alabama’s secession and subsequent involvement in the American Civil War.”

Five Capitals of Alabama by Tom Bailey. The story of Alabama’s five capitals—St. Stephens, Huntsville, Cahawba, Tuscaloosa, and Montgomery—begins in a rough semi-civilized Washington County village and ends at the old cotton town of Montgomery.

Haunted Book Shop

Angela Trigg opened the Haunted Book Shop, located at 109 Dauphin Street in Mobile, in 2018, under the name of a store opened by her great aunt in 1941. Trigg, writing as Angela Quarles, is a bestselling romance author. She recommends:

Alabama Moon by Watt Key. Young Adult Novel.

Written by Point Clear native Watt Key, this book is also set in Alabama. “It tells the story of a boy named Moon who was raised by his survivalist father. Moon’s father dies and he has to learn to manage on his own, and deal with normal society,” Trigg said.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron. Young Adult Fantasy. Barron “grew up in small-town Alabama where stories of magic and adventure sparked her imagination.” Set to be the subject of a 2022 film featuring Michael B. Jordan (“Black Panther”).

Fourteenth Colony: The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South During America’s Revolutionary Era by Mike Bunn. “The British settled the Gulf Coast before the Revolutionary War, as well,” Trigg said. “Because West Florida – as the colony was called – didn’t take part in the fighting, it’s been long overlooked during history lessons, and Mike Bunn sets out to correct that.”

Code by Charlotte Pence. This book “blends science and poetry,” Trigg says. Dr. Pence is the director of the Stokes Center for Creative Writing at University of South Alabama. Signed copies available.

Page and Palette

The staff of the Page and Palette, located at 32 South Section Street in Fairhope, recommends:

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg. Synopsis: “A heartwarming novel that takes readers back to the Whistle Stop, Alabama, the unforgettable setting of “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café.”

Summer House by Lauren Denton. Synopsis: “Filled with Denton’s Southern charm, Summer House is an endearing story of friendship and self discovery set on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.”

Where I Come From by Rick Bragg. Synopsis: “This collection of beloved columns from the incomparable Rick Bragg is a celebration of the stories and history of the Deep South.”

Shades of Pemberley

Shades of Pemberley at 126 North Broad Street in Albertville specializes in new and used books. Shades of Pemberley’s Brandi Atchison recommends these books:

Break the Line by Allison James, writing as Allison Mullinax. Romance. “This book is Allison’s first published work,” Atchison says. “She graduated from Guntersville High School and now lives in Albertville. This book is set in the small but busy town of Guntersville, where large bass fishing tournaments are held every summer. Benson Howell is one of those fishermen. Danni-Rose detests fishermen, stemming from a tragedy in her past she can’t let go of. Can these two get past everything between them for the catch of a lifetime or will they break the line?” James now had three books with a fourth to be released in early 2021.

And Then the Rain by Karina Harris. Christian Romance. “Karina is an Albertville City School teacher and is a self-published author with four books in this series and two others in another series,” Atchison says. “Ella was the girl next door and his sisters’ best friend who has been gone for a while, when she was sent to live with her Aunt. Now she’s back and Alec can’t seem to stay away from her. Is she his destiny or is he reading too much into this?”

The Finish Line by Leslie Scott. Romance. Scott is a Huntsville resident who released three books in this series and several others in various formats. “She has more ideas than a single notebook could ever hope to keep up with,” Atchison says. “Raelynn cut her college career short after a terrible incident that she can’t bring herself to talk about. Being home is bringing up other pains from her past though. The guy she has loved as long as she can remember is still living next door and still her older brother’s best friend. Jordan has always tried to keep his distance from Rae. She’s his best friends’ sister, but he didn’t want to ruin her chances of college and a life outside of this town. Now that’s she back and obviously hiding something is he going to be able to maintain that distance?”

Shadow of Okeaous by Wesley Martin, written as W. M. Martin. YA Fantasy. “Wesley is a self-published author who lives in Huntsville with his wife and four daughters, whom he homeschools,” Atchison says. “Book 2 in this series is out with book 3 coming out this month.” Description: Maggie Bennett has run away from home after the death of her parents to find out some really crazy things about herself … including some pretty amazing powers that have been dormant until now. Now she must face trials to become a Guardian, while an ancient evil haunts her every step.

Atchison also recommends:

Child of Grace: A Death Row Story by Dr. Chris Brown. Christian Nonfiction. “I truly don’t have the words to say how much this book touched my heart,” she said.

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Alabama independent book shop owners list their favorite books with Alabama ties - AL.com

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