Reading cities
Writers and Guardian readers collate the perfect literary companions for cities around the world
Quiz: can you guess the city from the literary quote?
Which city did Margaret Atwood describe as ‘New York without the garbage and muggings’? Which writer called one London area ‘ungentrified, ungentrifiable’? Pit your wits against our quiz
Reading cities: books about Montreal
Heather O’Neill takes us on a literary tour of the Quebecois city – from Mordecai Richler’s sandwich shop to the superior streets of Leonard Cohen’s early novels
Reading cities: books about Vancouver
As a relatively young global city, Vancouver can play up to its brash, breezy image. But some of its most celebrated books are rooted in harder times, as it struggled to find its place in the world, and to deal with racial tensions. Tyler Stiem takes a closer look
Reading cities: books about Toronto
Built by immigrants, overshadowed by New York and a bit self-obsessed, Toronto shines in fiction. Chris Michael introduces us to the Canadian city’s literature – from Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje to the best non-fiction
Reading American cities: books about Miami
Miami’s heady optimism has always been matched by dangerous reality, a fissure that runs through its literature. P Scott Cunningham takes us on a journey through city in fiction, theatre and poetry
Books about Austin: readers' picks
There’s much more to Austin than SXSW. If you’re planning a trip to the music capital of Texas, or want to be transported there by literature, check out our readers’ book recommendations. Tell us what we’ve missed in the comments below
Reading American cities: books about Austin
A bastion for liberals in Texas, Austin’s literary roots run deep. From stories about gentrification to books that explore its bohemian side, the dotcom era and crime, Michael Barrett examines the city’s literature in all its glory
Reading American cities: books about the Twin Cities
The twin cities of the midwest have a compelling and distinctive literature. Kathryn Savage runs us through the books that will transport you to this rich landscape of contrasts, from F Scott Fitzgerald to Louise Erdrich
Reading American cities: books about Cincinnati
From the origins of Uncle Tom to the stories of revolutionary, radical women, Michael Griffith takes us on a tour of literary Cincinnati – including Toni Morrison, Edmund White and a drive to attract America’s best poets
Reading American cities: books about Atlanta
The literature of Atlanta reflects a history steeped in violence and racial tension. From Gone with the Wind to The Walking Dead, Anna Schachner explores the essential literary companions for the Georgian capital
Books about Las Vegas: readers' picks
Winning in Las Vegas makes a good story, but losing sometimes makes an even better one. Here are our readers’ favourite books about Sin City
Reading American cities: books about Las Vegas
The ‘neon oasis’ known as Sin City has spawned many a tale of gangsters and gambling, but its literature also reveals that there is more to Las Vegas than the Strip. Maile Chapman offers a guided tour
Books about Honolulu: readers' picks
The Hawaiian state capital offers literary gems galore. Whether you’re heading there or just want to add some tropical flair to your library, here are our readers’ recommendations
Reading American cities: books about Honolulu
The most un-American of all American cities is bathed in literary culture. Anisse Gross investigates Hawaiian detective novels and alerts us to stories of Pearl Harbor, examines Hawaii’s oral tradition and sifts through the many writers who spent time on its sands – from marathon correspondent Hunter S Thompson to novice surfer Mark Twain
Books about Detroit: readers' picks
If you’re planning a trip to Michigan, or feel attracted by the contradictions of the ever-changing Motor City, here are our readers’ book suggestions
Reading American cities: books about Detroit
The Motor City has inspired impassioned poetry, meticulous realism, tales of the supernatural, riveting non-fiction dramas and more. Anna Clark sorts through a great city’s stories
Books about Portland: readers' picks
The Pacific Northwestern city offers a range of reads, from jazz era tales to bleak portrayals of modern American life. Here are some of our readers’ favourites
Reading American cities: books about Portland
Known as a vegan-friendly, coffee-obsessed, bike-riding haven, the Oregon city has only recently entered popular consciousness – mostly thanks to parodies of its hipsters. Jon Raymond explores the books that cast light on the best-kept secret of the Pacific Northwest
Books about Seattle: readers’ picks
Technology, wilderness and counterculture coexist in Seattle – our readers suggested their favourite books about the northwestern American city, and here are some of the best
Reading American cities: books about Seattle
The north-western American city of entrepreneurs, where nature coexists with a tech-obsessed culture, has a rich cultural life despite its small size. Ryan Boudinot looks out its literary highlights, from poetry to speculative fiction
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