Small-town America stories?

[atpeace]

I need recommendations for books about small-town America...which authors are known for their books set in small towns in the midwest? I like family sagas especially...
Thanks!

[kaliki_kila]

What about the Mitford series by Jan Karon? Can't tell you much about them since I read them at least 5 years ago, but I do remember they were about a group of quirky townspeople and the series centered around the pastor who got involved in all their business.

[Samm]

Michael Perry - "Population 485", "Truck, a Love Story".

[reece19]

Billie Letts has several books with small town, middle America plots.

[zinemama]

Old Home Town by Rose Wilder Lane (daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder) is absolutely delightful.

[lorijds]

The Center of Everything, by Laura Moriarty. Holy Cow, if you grew up in smallish town america in the late 70s and 80s, you will totally recognize this!

This author is from a smallish town in Kansas, and lives in the same town as me. Her settings are similar to what I grew up in, and I really do love her books. She has another one out (came out last year, I can't remember the name of it) that is darker but very good.

[vbactivist]

cold sassy tree

[Pinoikoi]

Barbara Kingsolver.. and so many titles

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle I think is one good one (i might be slightly off on the title of that), and Prodigal Summer I finished last summer and is VERY good.. quite woodsy/farmy actually..

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...solver&x=0&y=0

Oh, I see you want midwest.. I think the first two I recommended are more Kentucky/Tennessee area..

although Bean Trees (also by her) starts out in Kentucky, the main character travels about west as you can get.. still a small town girl kinda thing, though. Pigs in Heaven is its sequel..

[Rosehip]

From a different angle than that which you're probably coming, The Lost Continent, by Bill Bryson. One of my all time favorite books.

[BookGoddess]

I also like The Mitford Series by Jan Karon and Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns.

Other possibilities:
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Aunt Dimity Series by Nancy Atherton
Crazy Ladies by Michael Lee West
Mad Girls In Love by Michael Lee West

If you want nonfiction try Passing Gas: And Other Towns on the American Highway.

[mammastar2]

What about To Kill a Mockingbird?

Or something by Willa Cather.

Edited to add: whoops, sorry, didn't see the 'midwest' requirement...