Robert Harling’s play Steel Magnolias, along with the 1989 movie adaptation, gifted us some of the most memorable quips and turns of phrase in modern Southern literature. (See: “I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair.”) So it’s only fitting that his beloved cast of characters would inspire some reading of our own. With the cozy season of fall upon us, we decided to concoct our own Steel Magnolias-inspired reading lists, imagining what Clairee, Truvy, M’Lynn, Annelle, Ouiser, and Shelby might have on their shelves today.
Truvy-Inspired Picks
With her upbeat outlook and core belief that “There is no such thing as natural beauty,” it’s only right that the beauty shop owner would spend her time breezing through beach reads and feel-good yarns.
Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones by Dolly Parton
This one may be a bit on the nose given that Dolly is Truvy, but even if she weren’t, don’t you think that Truvy would appreciate a collection of the icon’s flashiest, glittery-est, bell-bottom-iest costumes?
Summers at The Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
In the latest volume from one of the undisputed queens of beach reads, a widowed proprietor tries to save her once-renowned hotel from the brink of ruin, amidst ugly past truths coming to light, the strike of unexpected tragedy, and, naturally, a little romance.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley
A college dropout and her octogenarian charge hit the highway—on the run from the law—in this hilariously heartwarming road-trip romp.
Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits by Reese Witherspoon
Inspired by the women who raised her, the actress and producer spills only-in-the-South traditions, Steel Magnolias-worthy wisdom, and treasured recipes in this coffee table book—plus, a tutorial for hot rollers of which Truvy would certainly approve.
Ouiser-Inspired Picks
While she swears she doesn’t read (“’cause if they’re any good, they’re gonna make ’em into a miniseries”), we still had to dream up the shelves of someone who’s “been in a very bad mood for 40 years.” No rom coms here.
The Grumpy Gardener: An A to Z Guide from the Galaxy’s Most Irritable Green Thumb by Steve Bender
If our own Grumpy Gardener is the galaxy’s most irritable green thumb, then Ouiser, with all her tomatoes, likely comes in second.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
An epic that captures the hardships of an American family during the Great Depression, Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel needs no introduction. Ouiser may have selected it for its thoughtful perspective and dynamic characters, but there’s also a good chance she saw “Wrath” in the title and ran with it.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
In this heartwarming tale (which inspired a movie adaptation, A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks), a curmudgeon’s world is turned upside down—for the better—when a lively young family moves into the neighborhood. Gruff exterior with a heart of gold? Sounds like someone else we know…
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
This modern, Appalachia-based retelling of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield gives us (and Ouiser) a hero worth rooting for: a boy born to a single teenage mom, thrust into a fractured foster care system, and surrounded by addiction, who somehow holds onto hope—and a love for the broken place he calls home—despite it all.
Clairee-Inspired Picks
Her late husband was the mayor, so this woman-about-town is involved in everything and knows everybody. She’s a fountain of one-liners, clever quips, and good stories—so her preferred reading includes much of the same.
Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight by Julia Sweig
Clairee knows a thing or two about playing First Lady, so we imagine she’d appreciate this thoughtful biography on the beloved Texas visionary.
