Great American Novel

[Xenalyte]

The Great American novel - voice of a generation.

Xena's Mom says Huck Finn is the definitive GAN, and no one'll ever top it. (What a reactionary that broad is.) I say there's a new novel for each generation.

I'm 32 (which I guess makes me a Gen-Xer), so what's the Great American Gen-X Novel? Or any other generation's? I'm an ex-English teacher, so bring it all on - I'm bound to a) have read it, b) have taught it or c) own it.

And if any of you says Gravity's Rainbow, I'll personally come over there and whomp you with a well-placed chakram to the back of the skull. That goes for Catcher in the Rye and Song of Solomon too. Blech.

[7thson]

Yes, that and War and Rememberance was also excellent. I did not like the mini-series that much. I thought that Glenn Ford should have played Pug Henry - when I read the two books, that is the actor that immediately came to mind.

[7thson]

Back in 1976, I borrowed Moby Dick from a shipmate and started to trudge through it. The first hundred pages or so was so boring but then it started to pick up and I was just getting into it when the shipmate wanted the book back. Years later, I purchased it in hardback but it has lanquished on my bookcase for years. I think, after this semester of Spanish, I will pick it up and read it. That will be in December.

[7thson]

Technically speaking, you are correct in that it is not a novel, but it reads like one and thus I believe falls into this category.

I disagree with you regarding Perry Smith and Hickcock - forget his name right now.

1. serial killer, serial murderer -- (someone who murders more than three victims one at a time in a relatively short interval)

Check out this web site - Wordnet 1.7 Vocabulary Helper

Smith and Hickcock were two loser drifters who committed murder, though technically speaking it was Smith who pulled the trigger. They killed four people, and were ready to murder an old man who gave them a ride. So yes, they were sociopathic serial killers.

[MHT]

The two great themes of American art reflect the impact of its vast space (the "land") and the collective psyche of her people, usually exemplified by small towns, unique to this country.

Musicals which best illustrate these elements of our national identity include THE MUSIC MAN,which best reflects the psyche of our people (that can-do, midwestern spirit) and OKLAHOMA, which reflects the primal connection with the land.

As a single work of great American fiction, HUCK FINN captures both the land, the spirit of our many people, and our inherent spiritually (through the symbolism and importance of the river, our freshwater source of life). However, anything by Sinclair Lewis involving the town of Zenith or the collective works of Faulkner would rival the Twain as Great American "Novels".

[babble-on]

I'm surprised by the number of votes for Bonfire of the Vanities, and I agree 100%. It is truly a 'novel', in the tradition of Thackeray, and it's truly great. It perfectly captured the time and place in which it was set, and captured something essential about us as a nation as well. Bonfire of the Vanities is the only GAN in the past 50 years. ( 'A man in full' is almost as good, but less believable.)

[Lee'sGhost]

Are you published? I've written a pretty good historical fiction but can hardly get an agent to give me the time of day. It's in the vein of "Legends of the Fall." At this point I've speculated any number of reasons why agents aren't interested in checking out something that's a little different, but I have an observation. Seems as though the business is dominated by females. Being a male who has written a story that involves death and war and a strong male character, I think my work is being prejudged and slighted without being given a chance because it doesn't fit the lib-publishing females template. I don't know that, it's just a gut feeling based on a hundred queries. Be interested in knowing your experience and "luck" thus far.

[akorahil]

I would have to say Catcher in the Rye.

[akorahil]

Oh, and "Happy Birthday" to the thread, as per your request.

[Xenalyte]

I just looked at the last post before we resurrected it . . . I've always thought this thread would have gotten far more play except for what happened the next day.

[luckystarmom]

To Kill a Mockingbird

Gone with the Wind

[akorahil]

Indeed.

[YaYa123]

I'm torn between Bill Clinton's MY LIFE, and Douglas Brinkley's TOUR OF DUTY.

[MattinNJ]

Cryptonomicon BTTT. The first page was the best.

The "Point of Impact" series by Stephen Hunter absolutely rocked but I don't think it would qualify as a GAN.

[akorahil]

OK, that qualified for keyboard replacement....

[KC_Conspirator]

"Huck Finn" is the grandaddy of them all. Its literally the novel that is both a comment on America, but it finally opened the doors for American novelists and writers to be accepted into the elite of literary society/circles.

[Conservative4Ever]

Ahhhhh yes...Bonfire of the Vanities gets a vote. Didn't Wolfe also write The Two Mrs. Grenvilles? Another great read.

Red

[Conservative4Ever]

I have two more. Please don't laugh. I'm feeling vulnerable today. :)
The Scarlet Letter
Little Women

[TXBSAFH]

The moon is a harsh mistress, by Robert Heinlein

[luckystarmom]

I love Little Women! It's certainly should be a must read for any American girl.

[creepycrawly]

Ditto to "Confederacy". A previous novel of his was published after Confederacy, can't recall the name, but it was not nearly at that level.