There’s a reason why people all over the country are flocking to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Teeming with Southern coastal charm, myriad outdoor activities, mouth-watering seafood, and so much more, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is the ultimate relaxation destination. Here at Mandal Preferred, our mission is to provide home buyers like you with the opportunities you need to make your beach house dreams a reality. From luxury condos to coastal cottages, finding the perfect oceanfront escape on the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast has never been easier than with real estate broker Beth Mandal and her Mandal Preferred team.
In this blog post, we discuss eleven books about the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Whether you’re new to our oceanside oasis or you’ve lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for years, you’re sure to discover exciting new facts about the region. Read on to discover your next favorite book, then get in touch with the Mandal Preferred team to discover your dream beach house.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast by Timothy T. Isbell
This colorful coffee table compendium contains more than 200 stunning photographs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Subjects include breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, traditional coastal gumbo, charming waterfront towns, local art, and so much more. As one of the Magnolia State’s finest visual storytellers, Timothy T. Isbell brings the Mississippi Gulf Coast to life with this love letter to the region, including photographs of the St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, D’Iberville, Ocean Springs, Gautier, Pascagoula, and Moss Point.
Haunted Mississippi Gulf Coast by Bud Steed
This installment in the popular Haunted America series explores some of the most famous ghost stories from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including haunted lighthouses, spectral canneries, and so much more. Discover apparitions of all shapes and sizes in Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and the other sandy shores of the region in this bestselling take on the region’s legends and lore.
The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea by Jack E. Davis
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction, the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, and a Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction, The Gulf tells the epic history of the Mississippi Gulf Coast through a combination of vivid, untold stories on topics as diverse as the Spanish conquistadors who first came to the region to Hollywood’s role in the offshore oil wells. Although this book comes in at a formidable 608 pages, we promise that you won’t be able to put it down. The perfect pick for those who love history told in compelling, unique narratives, The Gulf is a book that you’ll find yourself recommending to friends again and again.
Cat Island: The History of a Mississippi Gulf Coast Barrier Island by John Cuevas
As one of the most isolated islands off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Cat Island has long been a source of intrigue for the region’s inhabitants. Rumors say that the island is the hiding place for Jean Lafitte’s pirate treasure and was once an encampment for the Seminoles during the Trail of Tears. In this slim yet captivating volume, John Cuevas explores his family’s own relationship with the island, chronicling the historic events that took place over the three generations during which his family called Cat Island home.
Last Barriers: Photographs of Wilderness in the Gulf Islands National Seashore by Donald Muir Bradburn
This poignant book of photography and reflections on the Gulf Islands National Seashore captures the area with a fascination that could only come from someone born in the region. In Last Barriers, Gulf Coast native Donald Muir Bradburn shares the dark forests, high dunes, deserted beaches, and other unforgettable features of the National Seashore in stunning color. A conservationist through and through, Bradburn also speaks to the environmental status of the Coast’s islands today, creating a moving appeal to readers to work together to save the remaining wilderness.
On the Coast: Mississippi Tales and Recipes by Troy Gilbert, Matthew Mayfield, et al.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is known just as much for its traditional cuisine as it is for its breathtaking beachscapes. In On the Coast, a variety of Gulf Coast writers and chefs share how they feel about this dynamic region through recipes, essays, and more. Beyond mouth-watering recipes such as “jalapeno cornbread with spicy cracklins” and “atomic pelican beaks,” On the Coast also features colorful art by local painters and powerful essays on topics as diverse as the environment, industry, and more. No Mississippi Gulf Coast beach house is complete without this charming, insightful volume.
The Seafood Capital of the World: Biloxi’s Maritime History by Edmond Boudreaux
As one of the biggest cities in all of Mississippi, Biloxi is a source of intrigue and pride for many who live along its sandswept shore. The Seafood Capital of the World explores how Biloxi became a historic maritime hub of trade and travel that predated colonial America, with the seafood industry turning the small coastal community into a vibrant hub of culinary innovation. As a local historian from Saucier, Boudreaux has devoted his life to uncovering the fascinating, food-fueled past of this Gulf Coast gem. Join him through the Civil War, Roaring Twenties, and beyond as he brings Biloxi to life.
Biloxi: A Novel by Mary Miller
Not a big nonfiction reader? Thankfully, countless novels and short stories have been written about life along the iconic Mississippi Gulf Coast. One of the most recent additions is Mary Miller’s Biloxi, which first hit bookstore shelves in May 2019. Biloxi transports readers to the Southern-fried city of its namesake, home to 63-year-old Louis Mcondald, Jr. who is trying to cope with his recent divorce, impulsive retirement, and the death of his father. Along the way, Louis finds himself adopting an overweight, mixed breed dog, who unexpectedly becomes his new best friend. An unapologetic and heartwarming look at loneliness, masculinity, and the singular character of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Biloxi is one summer read that’s not to be missed.
Beachcomber’s Guide to Gulf Coast Marine Life: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida by Susan B. Rothschild and Nick Fotheringham
This updated guide to the fauna of the Gulf of Mexico features the latest findings in biology and ecology, paired with hundreds of detailed drawings and profiles of more than 300 marine creatures frequently found along Mississippi’s shores. Beachcombing is a fun, free activity for Gulf Coast homeowners that many of our clients enjoy, and this guide will provide you with all the information you need to learn about critters both rare and common, from bioluminescent comb-jellies to crabs and other crustaceans.
The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
John Grisham is known for his novels’ Southern settings, and The Runaway Jury is no exception, with most of the action taking place in the beautiful city of Biloxi. This legal thriller was turned into a popular movie starring Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack, and Rachel Weisz, but if you want to experience The Runaway Jury the way it was meant to, then we recommend checking out the 1996 book for yourself. Featuring Grisham’s trademark indictment of corporate corruption, The Runaway Jury will have you staying up all night just to see how the nail-biting plot concludes.
The Gulf Coast: A Literary Field Guide by Paul Mirocha Sara St. Antoine
Part of the Stories from Where We Live series for kids, this collection of stories, poems, and essays for children ages nine and up explores what makes the Gulf Coast region unique. Although not specifically focused on Mississippi, this resource will still introduce young readers to Gulf ecology, industries, indigenous legends, and more. Featuring literature, history, geography, ecology, recipes, and other resources, this book makes a great gift for children whose families are about to purchase a Gulf Coast home.
Find Your Dream Beach Home With Mandal Preferred
Whether you’re a retiree looking for the perfect winter getaway or a young family in search of a great place to raise kids, Beth Mandal and Mandal Preferred have the knowledge, experience, and resources you need to find the oceanfront property of your dreams. From high-rise condos to quaint coastal cottages, our listings are sure to include a property that you can’t wait to call your own. To get started with our Mississippi Gulf Coast real estate brokerage, simply get in touch. We look forward to helping you make your coastal living dreams a reality.