Subject
Wisconsin -- Fiction Books
Best books
Edna Ferber
Fanny Herself
"Fanny Herself" by Edna Ferber is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Fanny Brandeis, a young Jewish girl, and her mother, Molly Brandeis, as they navigate life in a small Wisconsin town named Winnebago. The narrative delves into themes of personal growth, gender roles, and the challenges faced by women trying to establish themselves in a male-dominated society. The opening of the book introduces us to the strong character of Molly Brandeis, the owner of Brandeis’ Bazaar, who is depicted as an intelligent and determined woman managing her business as a single mother after the death of her husband. The town's dynamics and its characters come alive through vivid descriptions, emphasizing the societal expectations and the pivotal role of mothers in shaping their children's futures. The story hints at the adventurous spirit of Fanny, who is both imaginative and full of energy, while also foreshadowing the challenges she will face as she grows up in a world shaped by tradition and the changing tides of social norms. The mother-daughter relationship, marked by strength and resilience, sets the tone for Fanny's journey into adulthood.
Sterling North
Plowing On Sunday
"Plowing On Sunday" by Sterling North is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in southern Wisconsin and revolves around the Brailsford family, particularly focusing on the lives of Stud Brailsford, his wife Sarah, and their son Peter, against the backdrop of rural farming life in the spring of 1913. The book delves into themes of family dynamics, love, and the challenges of agriculture, while also weaving in the intriguing arrival of a young girl named Early Ann Sherman. At the start of the narrative, the reader meets Sarah Brailsford as she searches for her husband during a storm. The scene captures her growing concern until she discovers Stud returning home with Early Ann, a young woman who has come to stay with them. The first chapter unfolds with pastoral descriptions that set the tone of life on the Brailsford farm, interlaced with hints of tension and curiosity regarding Early Ann’s presence and backstory. Sarah's kindness towards Early Ann contrasts with the whispers of suspicion from the townsfolk, hinting at future conflicts within the family dynamic. The opening establishes a rich landscape and complex character interactions that invite readers to explore the relationships and challenges that lie ahead for the Brailsfords.
Hamlin Garland
Rose of Dutcher's Coolly
"Rose of Dutcher's Coolly" by Hamlin Garland is a novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative follows the life of Rose, a unique and precocious child growing up in the rural Midwest, dealing with themes of childhood, loss, and the search for identity as she transitions into adolescence and contemplates her future. The story intricately examines her relationship with her father, John Dutcher, and explores her early experiences that shape her character. The opening of the book introduces Rose as an odd and curious child who shows an early aptitude for language and a strong desire for knowledge. After the death of her mother, she becomes even more attached to her father, who struggles to adapt to his daughter’s inquisitive nature and the impending challenges of her growing womanhood. Rose engages in imaginative play while grappling with her understanding of life, death, and the complex realities of her rural surroundings, ultimately leading to her aspirations for education and a broader life in Madison. This rich beginning sets the stage for her journey, emphasizing both her innocence and the weight of expectations placed upon her as she navigates the tender, often tumultuous, path of growing up.
Sherwood Anderson
Many Marriages
Many Marriages by Sherwood Anderson is a novel written in the early 20th century. It follows John Webster, a Midwestern washing-machine manufacturer whose sudden inner awakening disrupts his settled marriage and draws him toward his secretary, Natalie Swartz. Through sensuous imagery and introspective monologue, the book probes love, desire, conscience, and the constraints of modern respectability as Webster questions his roles as husband, father, and businessman. The opening of the novel frames an “Explanation” to magazine readers and a foreword meditating on the terror of direct actions in love, then plunges into Webster’s day of upheaval. At work and in town, he experiences a torrent of heightened perceptions and symbols—the body-as-house, black laborers singing, a green stone—while testing his world against these revelations. He studies his wife Mary’s heaviness, his daughter Jane’s unread face, and the quiet dignity of their servant Katherine; he wanders parks and streets, considers escaping to Chicago for anonymous indulgence, then returns to find Natalie freshly bathed and dressed, wordlessly affirming their bond as he kneels with his head in her lap. Town employees notice; the bookkeeper frets and gossips, while Webster spends evenings with Natalie, imagines leaving his business and family, walks into the countryside speaking of love and openness, and, back at home, lies awake sensing the community’s judgment and the stark exposure of private lives—like rooms revealed after a fire.
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