Travel Back in Time with North Little Rock Public Library’s April Reading Challenge: 1930s Picks

2023-08-23 03:31:46 by Susie Kirk

Are you ready to take a journey back in time? The North Little Rock Public Library’s Reading Through the Decades Challenge is here, and this April, we’re exploring the 1930s. Whether you’re interested in classic literature or want to discover new authors, we’ve got you covered with our monthly picks.

To participate, simply read a book that was published or set in the 1930s, and fill out this entry form or at one of our locations. By doing so, you’ll be entered into a prize drawing for a Book Lovers Gift Bag, filled with many items to make your reading time spectacular.

Without further ado, here are our top picks for the 1930s:

1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker: This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of Celie, a young African American woman living in rural Georgia in the 1930s. Through her letters to God and later to her sister, Celie shares her struggles with poverty, racism, and domestic violence, as well as her journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, this classic novel follows the trial of a black man accused of raping a white woman, as seen through the eyes of six-year-old Scout Finch. Through her innocent yet insightful perspective, we witness the injustices and prejudices of the time, as well as the courage and compassion of her father, Atticus Finch.
3. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah: In this bestselling historical fiction, we follow the journey of Elsa Martinelli, a young woman from Texas during the Dust Bowl era. Driven by her love for her children and her will to survive, she embarks on a grueling trek to California in search of a better life, facing hardship, discrimination, and hope along the way.
4. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden: This mesmerizing novel takes us to Kyoto, Japan, in the 1930s, where we meet Sayuri, a young girl who is sold into slavery and trained to become a geisha. Through her eyes, we enter a world of beauty, tradition, and sacrifice, as well as the complex relationships and politics of the geisha society.
5. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: This Pulitzer Prize-winning classic follows the Joad family, a group of Oklahoma farmers who are forced to migrate to California during the Great Depression, in search of work and dignity. Through their struggles and resilience, as well as the vivid descriptions of the landscapes and people they encounter, we witness the harsh realities and injustices of the time.
6. Mama Ruby ( #1) by Mary Monroe: This novel takes us to the town of Pineyville, Louisiana in the 1930s, where we meet Ruby Jean Upshaw, a charismatic and ruthless woman who will do anything to protect her family and her power. Through her schemes, secrets, and passions, as well as the vivid descriptions of the Southern culture and history, we enter a world of intrigue and drama.

We hope these picks inspire you to travel through time and discover the 1930s through literature. Find more recommendations on display at both libraries! Happy reading!