Look. I know you. I know you are sick of reading thick tomes of Mormon history and detailed 19th century mission journals and the latest on Book of Mormon apologetics. I know that you want something a little more literary, a little more narrative-y, a little more … fun. But still, you know, high-minded and serious and all that.<\/p>\n
And, yes, I know that you were scarred for life by that Weyland novel you read as a teenager, or the Work and the Glory novel your father-in-law insisted you had to read, or that wacky novel by Nephi Anderson that you found on your grandmother’s shelf the summer after your sophomore year at BYU. <\/p>\n
Luckily, I’m here to hold your hand and help you wade in a bit or even just dip a toe in. And really — it’s not as scary as you might think. <\/p>\n
The following suggestions of title and authors are limited to works that deal explicitly with the Mormon experience and fit solidly into the ‘literary’ tradition. I haven’t included works from any of the genres — specualtive fiction (nope, not even any Orson Scott Card), romance, historical fiction, thriller\/action, and young adult — that are a very important part of the field of Mormon letters. The bias is also towards short stories and novels (although some poetry and plays are represented). <\/p>\n
And it is by no means an exhaustive list. I’m sure I’ve left out works or authors (in some cases on purpose) that will be part of the Mormon literary canon someday. And, no, I haven’t ready *everything* below (although I’ve read much of it). This is a combination of the results of my reading and what I’ve absorbed over the years as I’ve interacted with the world of Mormon letters. <\/p>\n
Resources:<\/strong> Individual Works:<\/strong> Authors (read everything by these authors):<\/strong>
\nAssociation for Mormon Letters<\/a>
\nMormon Literature Website<\/a>
\nMormon Literature Database<\/a> [hey, even my paltry contributions<\/a> are represented.]<\/p>\n
\nAngel of the Danube<\/em> by Alan Rex Mitchell
\nFalling Toward Heaven<\/em> and Breeding Leah<\/em> by John Bennion
\nNothing very important and other stories<\/em> by Bela Petsco
\nBenediction<\/em> by Neal Chandler
\nThe Giant Joshua<\/em> by Maureen Whipple<\/p>\n
\nDoug Thayer<\/a>
\nMargaret Young<\/a>
\nLevi Peterson<\/a>
\nEugene England<\/a>
\nMarilyn M. Brown<\/a>
\nEric Samuelsen<\/a>
\nClinton F. Larson <\/a>
\nEmma Lou Thayne
\n<\/a>
\nAnthologies\/periodicals:<\/strong>
\nHarvest: Contemporary Mormon Poetry<\/em> [anthology]
\nIrreantum<\/em> [the literary magazine of the Association for Mormon Letters]
\nSunstone<\/em> [still the most consistent publisher of quality Mormon fiction — although Irreantum<\/em> is catching up and provides more diverse voices]
\nTending the Garden: Essays on Mormon Literature<\/em> [the only anthology of Mormon criticism — although as a whole it disappoints]
\nGreening Wheat: Fifteen Mormon Short Stories<\/em>
\nBright Angels & Familiars: Contemporary Mormon Stories<\/em><\/p>\n