Posted on 10/23/2018 9:35:48 PM PDT by BlackAdderess
America’s favorite novel ever has been named: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
More than four million votes were cast for PBS’s The Great American Read program, in which the public was given a list of 100 popular fiction contenders to choose their most-loved book. The contest was introduced in May with the long list, and voting has taken place through the fall, with PBS airing eight episodes spotlighting the novels according to theme: “Heroes,” What We Do for Love,” and on. Celebrities and famous authors were featured in the episodes, providing commentary on their personal favorite books and why they’ve resonated.
(Excerpt) Read more at ew.com ...
When a book is assigned to every 15 year old in the country, it is certainly the LAST novel many of those people ever will read.
It is no wonder it is mentioned. A decent enough novel.
Speaking of the great American novel, how Moby Dick has fallen!
Longer than the entire reading list for the average modern college degree I reckon. The question used to be whether you had made it through the chapter on cetology. Now the question is whether you have made it through at all. Or even more, have you begun to attempt it?
Not considering how many are read via school assignment.
Not only PBS viewers, but to participate in the poll you had to cough up your email addy to PBS. I refused to do it so I wasn’t allowed to vote.
My favorite was “Little Women” for years, then “Wuthering Heights”. All my dolls had names from “Little Women”.
As far as just sitting down and reading something cover-to-cover and doing nothing else, I love true crime books, especially by Ann Rule.
“To Kill A Mockingbird” was OK. A little PC before PC was cool.
Yeah, those readers must have overlooked Asimov.
I’ve never read it nor seen the movie. I understand it is about a trial and that’s about it.
I watched that show last night and Harry Potter was in the top 5 I believe. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) and Narnia (C.S. Lewis) was in the top rankings too. I found it interesting there were so many classics in the top twenty. But the program was so unbelievably left leaning with some of the guests it was almost impossible to watch.
“To Kill a Mockingbird “ really does not have much on bird hunting.
I read TKAM at about 12 under the covers with a flashlight. I didn’t understand it all but I loved the humor and the three children. I voted in this - my first pick was Gone with the Wind followed by TKAM. Look Homeward Angel, unfortunately, was not on the list.
I watched the show last night. PBS used the show to promote a leftist agenda, identity politics and, sadly, homosexual adoption. Guests speaking about books ranged from Cynthia Nixon and Chelsea Clinton to the wife of George Stephanopoulos. Awful. This despite the fact that so many of America’s choices were Christian and western-culture centered.
Huck Finn was not among the top 100. Tom Sawyer was, however.
TKAM has been required reading in public schools since the proggie teachers union was formed. Every year come the fall it suddenly appears on NYT, WAPO, etc best sellers lists for a few weeks. Some one with better research skills could do a graph over time...peak...flatline for 10 months...peak...flatline....same with “The Catcher in The Rye”. Both mandated reading by the NEA...both made millions for basically one trick ponies.
Then add that when polled across the last few generation, few could could answer what they were currently reading...and on the follow up, “What’s your favorite book?” would pull TKAM from deep school memories.
“Huckleberry Finn” is my #1 pick.
I also enjoyed the following novels (I first read them as a kid), but not in any particular order:
Cannery Row
Gone With the Wind
Call of the Wild
Murders of the Rue Morgue
Beau Geste
My God, there are so many others.
Too many to mention. My favorite is Art Vandelay. Obscure writer. Beatnik, in the Village. Wrote "Venetian Blinds."
It wasn’t something by James Patterson?
That guy has written a bazillion books.
I need to find the video before my book club meets.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.