Need a book for English...

[Mystic]

I've been given a project that involves the reading of a book of my choice. Normally, I'd have no problem, however, there are a few guidelines:


there may be no movie adaptation
it must be an American author
at least 300 pages


The three hundred page thing is no problem. Unfortunately, I cannot find a book that I'd want to read that matches the first two. I'm not versed in the amount of literature, however, so I've decided to ask here. I've found a few books that I wanted to read, but could not because they are generally not American authors.

What am I looking for? I like Sci-fi a lot, however, I in general do not use them for school projects, but am open to suggestions. My favorite book ever has been Nineteen Eighty-Four, and consequently, I also enjoyed Animal Farm. Catch-22 was another classic that I absolutely loved. Recently in World Lit we read Siddhartha, which I also adored. Basically, I want a book with a lot of thinking involved that may not be directly in the actual story.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[EAP]

Maybe Sameul Delany's Dhalgren?

[Redzeppelin]

Song of Solomon - Toni Morrison
Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison
For Whom the Bell Tolls - E. Hemingway

I'm pretty sure the first two haven't been adapted to screen - the third, maybe.

[Arania]

Huh, the no movie thing is pretty lame. I would say something Steinbeck, but most are movies.

[B-Mental]

yeah, for whom the bell tolls is out, I was trying to think of a good one but the movie adaptation is tough... Maybe some Vonnegut, but they are difficult to understand and aye caramba an assignment. Maybe 'A Gathering of Old Men' by Gaines. Sorry not much help.

[byquist]

Edward Abbey "The Monkey Wrench Gang" which has a movie now in pre-production or coming out soon. Never read it but he has another "Hayduke Lives" and some others. His writing is brisk, controversial, humorous as well as serious, appreciative of the natural landscape, occasionally R-rated.

[JaneEyre1986]

Well, my first thought was 1984, but you've already mentioned that.

Narrowing it down to American authors makes it a lot harder...

[bouquin]

You might want to check out:

1) Independence Day by Richard Ford. There are several movies entitled "Independence Day" but I don't think any one of them is an adaptation of the book.

2) American Pastoral by Philip Roth.

3) The Wapshot Chronicle by John Cheever

[Whifflingpin]

Foxfire by Joyce Carol Oates - a sort of coming-of-age thing, but darker than most. Oates is a must-have-read American author, and 'Foxfire' or 'Mysteries of Winterthur' would be good novels to start with.

John Barth is another must-have-read author. Try 'The Last Voyage of Somebody the Sailor' or 'The Sotweed Factor.' If you dare, try 'Giles Goat-Boy'

'The Raven' by Peter Landesman is a book that blew my mind when I read it - although that may say more about my mind than about the book.

If you liked Catch-22, then there are other Joseph Heller books - try 'God Knows.'

Richard Powell is a good, but (if availability of his books is anything to go by) very under-rated author. My favourites of his are 'Tickets to the Devil,' 'Don Quixote, USA' and 'Whom the Gods would Destroy.' I think Woody Allen's film "Bananas" is loosely based on 'Don Quixote, USA,' but the book is much, much better than the film.

A somewhat lighter read (but with plenty to think about) from an author known for her sci-fi - would your tutor allow the le Guin's Earthsea quintet as one book? The first might count as a children's book, but the later ones are pretty serious. There is a thesis or two in the developments that occur through the series, quite apart from any themes that may be present. Maybe just the last two, 'Tehanu' and 'The Other Wind.'

[Mystic]

I might look into God Knows, is it written in a similar style as Catch-22? Catch-22 was one of the few books that I have read in which I actually laughed out loud quite a few times during reading. Are there any other good Joseph Heller books that I should check out?

I'll also check out some of the other suggestions. I just want to have some sort of idea of what I'm getting into before I start reading the book, as I don't want something too difficult, as this project will be a large percent of my final English grade.

[Whifflingpin]

"Are there any other good Joseph Heller books that I should check out?"

I don't think Heller has written any bad books, and you'd probably enjoy anything by him. For me though "God Knows" is the most outstanding, and, yes, it is laugh out loud funny in places.

So are Powell's "Tickets to the Devil" and "Don Quixote, USA." "Tickets to the devil" is set in the whist tournament circuit, which, on the face of it, would be pretty dull for most people, but it is hilarious. "Don Quixote, USA" tells of a Peace Corps volunteer in a South American republic, who becomes involved in a guerilla movement and .... It too is extremely funny, but also has various themes that might make the basis for essays.

I think Oates' "Foxfire" beats the pants off "Catcher in the Rye," but I don't suppose I'm allowed to say that.

[SnámhDáÉan]

How about "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac?

[genoveva]

Well, my first thought was 1984, but you've already mentioned that.


It's also been made into a movie.

[Mystic]

I've decided upon "Something Happened" by Joseph Heller. I'm about 200 pages in (started last night) and I am absolutely loving it.

Thanks for all the suggestions though, I think I have a lot of books to read after this.

[mtpspur]

Retief by Keith Laumer--sci-fi with a satiric edge with something to say to the wise on interactions with cultures. No movies here. Laumer may not be in the big leagues but he does have something to say about the human condition.