To Kill a Mockingbird named America's favorite novel ever

Entertainment ^ | 10/23/2018 | DAVID CANFIELD

[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.

[BlackAdderess]

I've said it before, I will say it again. There is no way that a book that no child has ever stealthily read under the covers by flashlight, but has instead had inflicted as assigned reading will ever be America's favorite book. This is the favorite of SJW's, not people who genuinely love reading novels, and that becomes clear if you google this book vs any book that doesn't have an astroturf fanbase.

[Kickass Conservative]

Should be required Reading for Senate Democrats.

[NRx]

Agreed. This is BS.

[Fledermaus]

I saw the movie. I liked it.

[Mr Rogers]

I liked the book OK, but no way it is “America’s favorite”! I suspect 99% of those who even know the plot do so only from watching the movie.

[colorado tanker]

Huck Finn is the great American novel on the merits, plus I enjoyed reading it as a schoolboy.

The bonus is, in the last 20 years, it makes SJWs heads explode.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I liked Huck Finn but Jack London’s Seawolf was my all time favourite.

[lee martell]

I like many of the Jack London story.
He was a good story teller, and helped me to travel within my imagination.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Top sales would be a more empirical test.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

FireHunter by Jim Kjelgaard.

In fact, anything by Jim Kjelgaard.

[JennysCool]

I read this as a kid of 11 or 12 and was enthralled. probably read a lot of it under the covers. Then I read it again. I’m no SJW and I cannot fathom why you have such distaste for “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

[Publius]

In terms purely of sales, Peyton Place by Grace Metalious is the Great American Novel. There have been 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th anniversary reissues of the book, and it still sells well.

It's actually a pretty good book.

[ZULU]

Bulls***.
People who habituate PBS are NOT normal Americans.
The story stunk. The movie did too.

[Reno89519]

What a joke. I am sure and vaguely remember being assigned that book back in the 70s but did I read it? No, not completely. NO ONE READ TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD VOLUNTARILY, NOR ENJOYED IT. A favorite novel?! What planet are they on?! Okay, talking about planets, I read science fiction, how about we talk about Heinlein, Anderson, Asimov, Niven, Silverberg, Norton, Haldeman, and so many others?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I would have thought it would be one of the Harry Potter books.

[Publius]

Over time that may well be the case, but Peyton Place has been around for 62 years.

[MtnClimber]

I had to read it back in Junior High School in Central Florida. I did not see the racist theme because I did not live in that world.

[MtnClimber]

I prefer “The Sea Wolf” by Jack London.

[BradyLS]

I was going to say something similar. If you said it best.

[DesertRhino]

It is the favorite book of PBS and it’s audience.