Mudbound Laura is 30, still living at home in 1940s Memphis, when she meets Henry MacAllan. Henry is nobody's idea of a Prince Charming, but Laura feels like a spinster and sees Henry as her way out. At first they are happy, but one day Henry decides to buy a farm in southern Missisippi and take his family to live there. Jordan does a good . . . more »

Little Century Fans of Willa Cather may be intrigued by the much more grown-up Little Century, by Anna Keesey. Advertised as a western, this novel may be overlooked by fiction readers. Yes, it is set in the West, Oregon to be specific, but it's no horse opera. The action takes place around the turn of the 20th century 18 year old Esther Chambers is suddenly . . . more »