Iowa in Film and Literature (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids: sales, university, bill)

[Lovethem]

Mod note: I moved this post from the immigration forum here for better discussion on books and film about culture and customs in Iowa. We were discussing the book "Postville". - El Rhino

After reading that book my eyes were opened so I agree with what you mean. Bloom's account of traveling from Iowa City through the rolling hills up to Postville makes me want to visit there. ;-)

Btw, does anyone have any other good books I could read regarding Iowa ways of life . . . I'd love to read some more bc I learned some tidbits from the Postville book about customs in Iowa that really helped understand community loyalty there.

[El Rhino]

I would suggest the movie "The Fighting Sullivans". It was made during WWII. It's a true story about a group of five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who enlisted in the Navy together and served together on the same ship where they all died together. It's not really so much as a war film (only ten minutes or so of the movie portray them at sea), but a great drama about a large blue collar Iowa family growing up during the depression. The last ten minutes of the movie are very good and the father's reaction to finding about that all of his sons died is a true "Iowa moment"...and from what I've read, pretty accurate.


As far as books go, I would recommend "So I'm Talking To This Guy..." by Rob Borsellino. Borsellino was a columnist for the Des Moines Register (he died a few years ago of Lou Gehrig's disease) who moved here from New York City. He spent a lot of time talking to various kinds of people from throughout the Des Moines area and I think he did a great job describing the place and the people, for better or for worse. I didn't always agree with the guy politically and sometimes I think he tried to make heroes/victims out of people who I don't think he should've, but he was a great story teller and I miss reading his columns. Highly recommended. Actually, at times Bloom's style of writing in Postville reminded me of this guy.

[metro223]

Two books by Peter Hedges, an Iowa author I would recommend are: "What's eating Gilbert Grape?" and "An Ocean in Iowa."

Gilbert Grape is the better one if you ask me - but both are very good and take place in Iowa.

[WoodwardGirl]

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley.

The Sam McCain novels by Ed Gorman (mystery novels set in the 50s.)

Anything by Donald Harstad (mystery/suspense novels set in the present)

Many things by WP Kinsella, including "Shoeless Joe Jackson," the book that the movie "Field of Dreams" was based upon. I have always loved "The Alligator Report" best of all his books, although not all the short stories in it are about Iowa. The title story is about Florida and is absolutely hilarious.

And I have to throw in a plug here for the new, self-published book by my mother-in-law: "Footprints of Our Ancestors," Ione Murdock's Storefront - Lulu.com It contains journal and diary entries and letters detailing day-to-day life on a family farm during the early part of the last century. Not just trying to plump up sales -- many libraries have it, too.

[Lovethem]

Oooo, thanks so much! Keep the list going please! I have already been able to find most of these so far at the library, yipee.

I am also looking for a book a friend told me about that I can't remember the title. She said it was about growing up in Iowa and how being self-sustaining on a farm during the Depression years protected their family from being affected by it; they never needed for anything. Could this be the same as the book "Footprints of Our Ancestors?"

I read Bridges over Madison County thinking I would learn about town history LOL but that wasn't the main theme there ;-)

El Rhino, I wonder if Steve Bloom has others works on Iowa? You're the Mod, invite him!

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Lovethem

El Rhino, I wonder if Steve Bloom has others works on Iowa? You're the Mod, invite him!

An internet search yields this result: THE OXFORD PROJECT - Peter Feldstein & Stephen G. Bloom Looks interesting.

Haha, if I could invite him, I would. I'm sure if you do have questions about Postville, he can be reached through the University of Iowa. I'm sure he's a little busy right now due to the recent spike in interest in his book though, but it wouldn't hurt to drop him an email.

Oh, another book: "Lost Continent" by Bill Bryson. He's originally from Des Moines, but moved to the UK many years ago. He came back to go on a road trip throughout the country and he wrote about it. There's a lot of material about Des Moines and Pella and Iowa in general. The parts not about Iowa are interesting as well.... It's kind of like "On The Road" if it were written by Clark Griswold. I'd definitely recommend picking this one up as well.

[WoodwardGirl]

Originally Posted by Lovethem

I am also looking for a book a friend told me about that I can't remember the title. She said it was about growing up in Iowa and how being self-sustaining on a farm during the Depression years protected their family from being affected by it; they never needed for anything. Could this be the same as the book "Footprints of Our Ancestors?"

I don't think so, although the two books are similar in many ways. "Footprints" is a better-kept secret <grin>. The one you're looking for is "Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression" by Mildred Armstrong Kalish. Mrs. Kalish grew up on a farm near Garrison, not far from Cedar Rapids. It's a very good book!

[Lovethem]

Is there anyone who cares to join me in reading any of these books? Hmmmm?

I've already checked out "Lost Continent" by Bill Bryson only bc it was the first one that my library had available.

Now, I emailed Steve Bloom about his book and invited him here. He was gracious to respond and recommend "A Thousand Acres" by Jane Smiley, the film Music Man and movie Field of Dreams.

Here is a link to a Q & A he did recently on the Postville raid Nieman Watchdog

Now, if any of these authors (are you there, Mr. Bloom?) would care to join us here to read and discuss their books (or to discuss Postville) that would be so great!

[Lovethem]

I'm half-way through "Lost Continent" and can't yet decide if the author is a small town-basher or if he'll come around and acknowledge the great contribution small towns make. He is very funny, though, so we shall see.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Lovethem

I'm half-way through "Lost Continent" and can't yet decide if the author is a small town-basher or if he'll come around and acknowledge the great contribution small towns make. He is very funny, though, so we shall see.

I didn't really see him as a "basher", but I think he does "poke fun" a little bit, which is harmless....and amusing.