With the Texas State Fair in full swing, I’ve found myself hankering for all things Texan. Whether you’re a thrill seeker, a foodie, a cultural attaché or just a good ol’ fashioned cowboy, you’re sure to find something to love at the fair.
Celebrate the Lone Star State with me in this collection of books as vast and varied as Texas itself — from the smoky backyards where family and culinary tradition collide, to the vibrant cities and iconic landscapes bursting with local folklore and rich history.
THE FOOD
If you’re like me, one of the biggest appeals of the fair is the food. On top of the oddest deep-fried delicacies you can think of — anyone remember when they came out with fried beer? — somehow, they boast something newer and crazier each year. And oh. My. GOD! It’s all so good you couldn’t possibly try it all in one day and have to keep coming back.
But every Texan knows two foods lie at the heart of Texas: Tex-Mex and Barbecue. Brandon Hurtado effortlessly combines both aspects in Barbacoa, the newest essential for every Texas kitchen. Hurtado takes readers deep into the Texas culinary scene, where family and tradition simmer alongside the smoke of open pits, seamlessly shifting between kitchens, festivals and backyards to show how food shapes identity and memory.
And if anyone knows anything about food shaping identity, it’s Lisa Fain, author of the classic Homesick Texan Cookbook. As a seventh-generation Texan, when Fain moved to New York City, she missed one thing more than anything else: the food. More than the big sky, the bluebonnets in spring and Friday night football. So she created this cookbook to share with fellow expatriates — those who know chili never has beans — and ended up connecting with readers worldwide, Texan and non-Texan alike. This is more than a cookbook; it’s a love letter to all things Texas.
THE RIDES
It’s been years since I’ve been on a fair ride, yet every year they attract thrill seekers almost as much as Six Flags (almost). Whether you enjoy the grand heights of the Ferris wheel or Texas Tower, or something a little wilder (be sure not to eat too much fried food first! We’ve all been there…), you might want your reads to be more thrilling too.
The Devil’s Promise by Celso Hurtado perfectly combines the thrill you crave with one of the most historically rich parts of Texas: San Antonio. The story follows teenage Erasmo Cruz after surviving the city’s legendary Ghost Tracks and going on to investigate some of the area’s strangest — and most dangerous — supernatural phenomena. But nothing prepares him for the cults and bargains he faces when a rancher claims to be hunted by the Devil.
Almost three decades before Hurtado’s teenage sleuth began uncovering the shadowy secrets of San Antonio, bestselling author Rick Riordan strolled in with his own tequila-drinking P.I. investigator … and his enchilada-eating cat. Big Red Tequila follows Tres Navarre after he gets drawn into a Texas-size pile of trouble and has to save his girlfriend, nail his father’s murderer and get the hell out of Dodge before mob-style Texas justice catches up to him. The chances of staying alive looked better for the defenders of the Alamo.
THE HISTORY
For those who like to take things slow and meander around, enjoying spaces such as the creative arts exhibit, the African American museum or the historic music hall, you’re likely to enjoy these lighthearted glimpses into the rich history and culture that have shaped Texas.
For the kiddos (and kids at heart), check out Heather Alexander’s delightfully illustrated guide to all things Texas in Only in Texas: Weird and Wonderful Facts About The Lone Star State. This whirlwind tour takes readers on a ride through every corner of the great state — from the skylines of Dallas and the weirdness of Austin to the grandeur of the open deserts and the Rio Grande.
For those looking to dig a little deeper into the heart of Texas, check out Native Texan: Stories from Deep in the Heart, in which nationally acclaimed columnist Joe Holley takes readers on a lively and personal tour through small towns and big cities in search of what makes the state unique. Pulling 30 short stories from the Houston Chronicle’s popular “Native Texan” column — from interviews on the “weird” streets of Austin to Joe’s search for ghosts in Bigfoot and hikes on the back trails of the Big Bend — Native Texan examines the state with the eyes of a journalist and the heart of a Texan.
THE GAMES
Who doesn’t love the fun and whimsy of fair games? Sure, they can be frustrating, but when you finally win, it makes it all the more worth it! These books have a similar playful atmosphere that’s sure to connect with the fair-time game-seekers.
The Donut Legion by Joe R. Lansdale is a wildly funny romp through East Texas that beams a light on a QAnon-style evangelist cult that believes their compound is the site of an extraterrestrial Second Coming. Lansdale infuses the story with his signature dark humor as a man searches for his missing ex-wife, but the story’s dark undercurrents also sometimes hit a little too close to reality.
Meanwhile, H. Beam Piper has Texans already in the sky in his space-age tale, A Planet for Texans. In the rough-and-tumble world of New Texas, where rugged and independent space pioneers swagger around like rancheros of old, trouble comes a knockin’ when they become targeted by aliens and have to turn to old allies for aid. The story may be a bit outdated to some readers (originally published in 1957), but still offers a whimsical look at the Texan caricature. And I will say this: If any state populace were ornery enough to pack up their things and colonize a new planet, it would be Texas!
THE SHOWS
Last year, one of my favorite parts of the fair was the Majesty of the Horse show, with their multicultural showcase of equine beauty and grace. It was mesmerizing to watch! These performances have a flair for the dramatic that draws us in and doesn’t let go — whether you’re going to watch the Diaz family and their show-stopping act, or chomping at the bit to see the rodeo, or revving up to watch some good ol’ fashion pig races.
If you’re looking for that same enthralling drama, with the added bonus of major cowboy vibes, then you’ll probably enjoy The Pride of Texas by Dusty Richards. This coming-of-age story is set against Civil War-era South Texas, where a young widow steps in to care for her oprhaned twin cousins on their hardscrabble ranch. On the cusp of manhood, the twins dream of becoming Texas legends; they just got to fight for it.
Meanwhile, The Last Karankawas by Kimberly Garza is a culturally rich, emotionally charged protrait of life for a tight-knit community of Mexican and Filipino American families in modern Galveston, Texas. Carly Castillo is tied to the land, both through her indigenous Texan ancestors and her sea-loving boyfriend. But with Hurricane Ike sweeping in, residents will have to decide whether to hunker down or flee inland.
THE PEOPLE
No matter what brings you to the fair, be sure to take a break from the heat — whether you snag a seat at one of the many picnic tables, catch some shade under the watchful eye of Big Tex or cool down indoors at the auto show. No matter where you find yourself relaxing on the fairgrounds, you’ll find people of all walks of life.
You’d be surprised at the amount of people from Texas, like Matthew McConaughey (who just came out with a book of Poems & Prayers) and Sissy Spacek, star of Carrie, whose memoir My Extraordinary Ordinary Life explores her idyllic, barefoot childhood in a small East Texas town. Spacek recalls her upbringing and later career with the clarity and wisdom that comes from never losing sight of her roots.
But not everyone experienced such picturesque childhoods in Texas history. Tina Knowles, mother of iconic singer-songwriter Beyoncé, recently released her memoir, Matriarch, in which she shares the often harsh realities of a black woman growing up in segregated 1950s Galveston. Her remarkable journey takes her beyond the Gulf shores, but her story evokes the dark parts of Texas history — while reminding us that our pasts don’t define our future.
While not quite the household name as Beyoncé and her familial dynasty, Ruth J. Simmons’s journey from Jim Crow Texas to the presidency of Brown University is just as inspiring. Up Home: One Girl’s Journey is an emotional portrait of the power of family — of a tireless mother who managed to feed her large family with an often empty pantry, of a man who refused to let racial and economic injustice crush his youngest daughter’s dreams. Simmons takes readers from the farmlands of East Texas to Houston’s Fifth Ward to New Orleans at the dawn of the civil rights movement, depicting an era long gone but whose legacies of inequality we still live with today.
I hope this collection provides a varied view of the highs and lows of Texas history, reminding us we can maintain our Texas Pride while acknowledging that it’s far from perfect. One thing is true: Everyone’s welcome at the state fair.