Some Americans would say The Bible is THE American book
They actually would
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Some Americans would say The Bible is THE American book
They actually would
Huck Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird I think are too narrow to be called THE American Novel and On the Road I don't think is of sufficient quality. The Great Gatsby seems to me the most appropriate choice. F451 is an interesting choice thematically I think it is very appropriate but when actually comparing the quality of the prose to something like the Great Gatsby I think it falls woefully short. I'm kicking around the idea of whether or not I might consider Blood Meridian to be THE American Novel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsuyoiko
Moby Dick, The Great Gatsby, or Huckleberry Finn
.
The Grapes of Wrath
The Great Gatsby
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
.
Naked Lunch
My Antonia -- it directly deals with immigrant experiences, with the idea of an "open" land, with gender, with the function of stories in culture. . . .I could go on.
Look Homeward Angel is the great American novel
I propose that we start a new thread for each decade of American literary publications: "What do you think is THE American novel of the ____s?"
:-)
Grapes of Wrath is a good nomination too...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilliatt Gurgle
There's always "The Great American Novel" by Phillip Roth. It begins with a long discussion between Earnest Hemmingway and the (fictional) sports reporter writing the novel on this very subject, in which Hemmingway trashes all the potential contenders.
By the way, for any baseball fans who have not read "The Great American Novel", it's highly recommended (although it probably isn't the ONE).
I have to cast my vote for the Great Gatsby, it deals with the quintessential keystone of America, the american dream. Now if it was only that and a compelling plot and characters, It would be hardly worth to mention it, but what seals it's place as with all great novels - beautiful prose, which is borderline with no longer being prose, but the novel being a mesh of prose passages and free verse passages, and no american novel I have read has been able to stand next to Fitzgerald in this quality.
I should however mention that I have not read Moby Dick yet, so Dick may very well outdo Gatsby.
I should also mention, in regards to On The Road, that the plot and characters and theme are definitely worthy, but the prose just lacks, and thus the novel falls short. In no way am I saying that Kerouac had bad prose, I think he was capable of producing beautiful prose, unfortunately in On The Road this didn't happen, he himself considered it to be one of his minor works. I only Kerouac had combined the prose of Visions Of Cody and Maggie Cassidy, with the characters and plot of On The Road, then we would have a good contender.
I'm actually surprised to see Moby Dick so much. It is an excellent novel but I don't think thematically it is the appropriate choice for THE American Novel.... maybe for "One of the best novels ever written by an American"Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexander III
Also I found the plot and characters of The Great Gatsby to be very compelling... well the characters anyway... but I was definitely never bored with the plot
I think there is something quite American about Moby Dick. The manly need to conquer nature...I never finished it but there was definitely something American about it. I don't think a Brit could have written it.
Yes I think the theme of Moby Dick, could only have been writ by an American. A man who rejects fate and any higher power, who will kneel to no man, a man who treats men equally, and a man driven crazy by his pursuit of an unattainable goal ? It is the essence of America. Or at least the country which was created by the founding fathers. Im quite sure if they were to look at America now, they would not be smiling.
I'll go for The Great Gatsby. I think that covers all the themes I'd associate with American literature: the Dream, 'Lost Generation', masculinity, money...