What book would you put on the Great American Read List that was not on it?
What book would you put on the Great American Read List that was not on it?
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What book would you put on the Great American Read List that was not on it?
I was surprised not to see Stranger in a Strange Land by Heilein
The human stain or some other book of Philip Roth.
The World According To Garp by John Irving.
(I see that Owen Meany is listed, and wonder whether the list is restricted to one book per author?)
Did you read Cidar House Rules?
I have (and have read) all his books (I buy paperback) ever since Garp. Cider House Rules is a great story as well.
It is restricted to one book per author.
Grapes of Wrath
It’s there.
@Fran My apologies
My Antonia by Willa Cather or anything by Willa Cather, can’t believe they forgot her.
Agreed!
Nobody “forgot” her. The list is a “popularity” contest voted on by the public.
@Susan Then the public forgot her. ?
I have to admit, I’ve never read anything by her.
@Susan My Antonia is my favorite. ?
@Fran maybe I’ll try it.
She is brilliant!!
@Susan, I don’t know how else you would do it. Popularity is pretty subjective.
Robbie Moore yes it is. Just trying to explain why some “great” books aren’t on the list, and some not so great are. People are having trouble understanding what this list is about.
Me either – she is one of my favorite authors. My Antonia, O Pioneers, and Death Comes for the Archbishop are American masterpieces.
Martin Eden – or at least one by Jack London
Call of the Wild is on the list.
@Fran Not his best book though – his political writings were very important outside of the USA as well as within. Iron Heel was a pivotal book for many non-Americans and shaped politics in the 20th century.
The list is not about “best” books, it’s popularity.
Innocents Abroad – or at least one by Mark Twain
Tom Sawyer is on the list.
@Leslie ah, I didn’t see that – still Innocents Abroad and his other biographical writings I think should get a mention.
Following.
Nancy Drew — led a lot of young girls to love reading
In what way “great” though? Popular and entertaining to be sure.
@David the fact that Fifty Shades is on the list makes that argument almost null.
@Kris Ah perhaps, dare I say the inevitable, it shouldn’t be on the list?
Exactly.
@Kris I remember when 50 Shades came out. The French reviews said it just copied what their writers did 70 years ago, the German reviews said it was so predicable and should have had the woman as the dominatrix and the Spanish reviews merely said how badly written it was.
@David, it was my understanding that the list reflects the favorite books of those Americans who were surveyed, although perhaps the final choice will reflect the greatest of that list
@Kris I couldn’t believe that was on the list. I lost some faith in the reading public. Who was doing the nominating anyway? So many fine books left off.
I loved Nancy Drew and Little House. I agree that they should be on the list rather than Fifty Shades. Couldn’t read it but heard the writing was abysmal.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Love Ann Patchett!
Did you know that it was based on a true story? I didn’t until recently. Also, they just have made a movie of it.
@Kathy I have heard about the movie, but I am almost afraid to see it because it is already perfect in my head. But I did not know it was based on fact. I need to look into this.
Yes, I’m going to read up on it too. Unfortunately, the movie isn’t getting good reviews although it has Julianne Moore as the opera singer. I think the actual event took place in Peru.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn
My first thought was why not? It’s a classic. My second thought is to understand that it has language offensive to many Americans.
@Karen Great art often works by making people uncomfortable. Great artists work from a place of intention. Twain’s choices had a specific intention.
@Elizabeth yes, I know. Still I can respect people many people wouldn’t want their children to have to read the n word in school and they choose not to as well.
Tuck
Everlasting…
Cidar House Rules..
Boys in the Boat..
Unbroken….
Once We Were Brothers..
Refugee…
All But My life…
Into the Wild…
Dont recall seeing on the list but didn’t memorize it.
Great list!
The Shipping News
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
East of Eden
The Good Earth
Death Comes to the Archbishop
The Moviegoer
The Mine and the Well
I have never seen anyone like that book before besides me. I was really looking forward to her next book thinking it would also be set in the south along the same vein. But it wasn’t, I am from a county in Alabama not far from where the book’s setting is.
@Anita brokenhearted. American lit. is very hard to source this side of the Atlantic.
I adored this book and would put it in my top 10 of books EVER!
@Collette I love several different genres but books by authors from the southeast are my favorite. I have an ongoing list of them. The books aren’t necessarily written in the same style or subject, but they still have a southern flavor to them. Have you read Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier? There is also Sharyn McCrumb whose books are set in the Appalachian Mountains *the Smokies” of North Carolina and Tennessee. Bastard Out Of Carolina by Dorothy Allison.
@Anita You are my new best friend
@Collette I sent you a message, or PM.
@Collette Just downloaded a sample to my Kindle from your chat!
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Persuasion by Jane Austen…..a book about love lost & love found again!
Good question!
I do not understand how Fahrenheit 451 didn’t make the cut.
BLACK BOY by Richard Wright. I’m now re-reading it for the first time in almost 40 years. I feel as if I’m rediscovering the profundity and poignancy of this book.
not exactly answering your questions but I a was really excited that John Green’s Looking for Alaska was on it. One of my all time favorite books!
How was the list comprised? Did a board of people read all the books on the list or did a board of people each read some and nominate them? Curious.
I think there was an original vote (of whom I don’t know) that the list was made from.
East of Eden. I can’t believe that was left off. It almost ruined the whole thing for me?
Many books should have been on the list rather than some that were. I think the list should have been limited to adult books. Half the list is children’s and young adult. Shades of Gray did not belong on it and many great American authors left off like Faulkner. The list does not represent the dedicated adult readers choices. As someone said it was a popularity contest. Who was asked??
All reading is good and the children of today will be the adults of tomorrow?
East of Eden. This was my favorite book of all time and was very sad to not see it on the list.
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute.
Cutting for Stone
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
East of @Eden
Fahrenheit 451
The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt.
https://goo.gl/search/The+Goldfinch&hl=en
The Goldfinch, Novel by Donna Tartt
This book is literally lying on top of my to-be-read pile. I’ve taken it with me on holiday for three years in a row, and have still not opened it. ?
I found it very overrated. I finished it but then wondered why.
Because there were so many YA/kids’ book titles, I felt “A Wrinkle in Time” and the Little House series should have been on the list.
Lolita by Nabokov (I didn’t go back & check but I don’t believe it’s on the list)
I think it is.
The Goldfinch or The Secret History
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.
A Gentleman in Moscow
The Cider House Rules
King of the Wind
Ahab’s Wife
The War That Saved My Life.