While there are plenty of travel guides and biographical books about Bloomington, there are also a number of novels and fiction set in this Midwestern college town. If you’re looking for some exciting reading where Bloomington is the main plot, check out these five books.
Karen Kingsbury is a popular Christian author and New York Times bestselling author from Fairfax, Virginia. She has written over 60 books and eight movies have been made based on her books. In addition to the many books Kingsbury has published, she has also created five major book series, all set in Bloomington. These include the Redemption series, the Firstborn series, the Sunrise series, the Above the Line series, and the Bailey Flanigan series.
Each series includes four to five books centered around the Baxter family. In each series, the family faces life-changing decisions that affect their Christian faith and family dynamics. Each series forces the Baxters to confront tragedy, past mistakes, and relationship issues.
With around 400 pages per book, each series is a quick read that will keep you hooked. These books can be purchased on Kingsbury’s website and further Amazon.
Temptation University by Mark A. Roeder
Mark A. Roeder is a Southern Indiana author of novels, short stories, and nonfiction, focusing on queer youth and their experiences in Southern Indiana.
Roeder’s 2011 book, Temptation University, is about Brendan, who begins his college football career at IU. While in college, his relationship with his friend Casper is strained when he finds himself attracted to the IU football team’s quarterback, Gabrial. When Gabrial begins to show interest in Brendan, he must decide whether to maintain his relationship with Casper or pursue something new with Gabrial.
“Temptation University” has 316 pages and is a thrilling LGBTQ+ romance novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book can be purchased on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble as an eBook.
“The Inner Circle” by TC Boyle
American novelist TC Boyle hails from Peekskill, New York, and has established himself as a well-known fiction author since the publication of his debut novel, Water Music, in 1981.
The Inner Circle is a 2004 historical novel that revolves around the life of Dr. Alfred Kinsey, the pioneering sex researcher who conducted groundbreaking research on human sexuality, and his time at IU. The story is told from the perspective of John Milk, who becomes part of Kinsey’s inner circle of researchers and explores the complex ethical implications of Kinsey’s research. Milk describes Kinsey’s work and the efforts he and his team make to collect data, including participating in sexual activities, to document the full range of human sexual expressions.
Although this book is historical fiction, it is important to note that it is misleading and contains many inaccuracies. The Kinsey Institute has published its research on its websiteHe emphasized that the researchers never participated in sexual activities, that experiments were never conducted on children, and that Kinsey himself did not approve of sexual contact between children and adults.
In 433 pages, Boyle strategically weaves historical fact with fiction to create a story that sheds light on the importance of Kinsey’s research. “The Inner Circle” is available on Amazon and from Penguin Random House.
“We are all totally beside ourselves” by Karen Joy Fowler
Karen Joy Fowler is a science fiction and fantasy author from Bloomington. Fowler has been on the New York Times bestseller list and has received awards including a World Fantasy Award, the 2014 Man Booker Prize, and the 2022 Booker Prize.
Fowler’s “We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves,” published in 2013, is about Rosemary, a student at UC Davis, reflecting on her life in Indiana. Her family lived with a bonobo, a species of primate named Fern, who disappeared one day. Rosemary’s brother Lowell runs away to look for Fern. In the present, Rosemary discovers that her university is hiding a secret that is connected to her past.
“We are all beside ourselves” contains 310 pages of stories about growing up and exciting suspense. This book can be purchased at Amazon and at Goal.
“Dreams of being a rock star unfulfilled” by FW Hoffmann
FW Hoffmann, Professor of Library and Information Science, has written over 50 books and has won Choice Magazine’s “Best Academic Books” award.
Published in 2016, Dreams of Rock Stardom Unfulfilled is 154 pages long and tells the story of a Bloomington rock band, The Space Cadets. As they work toward fame and fortune, they realize that the decision to sign a record label deal can set an artist back rather than help them. This book can be purchased at Amazon.
