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.

[Physicist]

Neuromancer by William Gibson.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Mobey Dick.

[bleudevil]

I think Xena's mom is right, but some runners-up are "The Great Gatsby" and for modern times, Tom Wolfe's "The Bonfire of the Vanities." There are so many out there to choose from!

[bleudevil]

It's not as well-written as some of the others on the list, but "Atlas Shrugged" shows the spirit that makes America great.

[rdww]

To use the proper academic term, bite me... I vote for Gravity's Rainbow.

[Chabert]

Water Music perhaps, by T.C. Boyle.

[lovecraft]

The Stand - By Steven King

I could also nominate The Gunslinger: Part 1 if The Dark Tower series....

[Xenalyte]

Aaaargh . . . you'd be audi if I could get away from my desk!

Seriously, that's one of about five books I've started many times and have NEVER gotten through more than ten pages.

Harold Bloom's Modern Classical Interpretations on GR is an easier read, and my opinion of Mr. Bloom's critical skills places him in the same category as Callisto. (But he doesn't scream as much, or kill so many people.)

[KellyAdmirer]

The Caine Mutiny for those over 50.

American Psycho for those under.

[KC_Conspirator]

Huck Finn by all acounts is the greatest America novel.

As far as Gen Xer's go, there is no great book of our generation. Our peers are too busy complaning, pulling bong hits, and talking about their latest body piercing.

What the hell is Gravity's Rainbow?

[Cogadh na Sith]

As far as Gen Xer's go, there is no great book of our generation. Our peers are too busy complaning, pulling bong hits, and talking about their latest body piercing.

No way.

Hands down: Fight Club by Chuck Pahlaniuk

The movie wasn't bad either.

[bleudevil]

Oh, yes, to "Confederacy"! That's a great one.

[Petronski]

< /humility off >

I'm writing it now, it's called Wounds, Our Hearts, and I expect it to be published by 2003.

< /humility on >

[Xenalyte]

One of my top choices, actually. I'd never even heard of it until maybe 1994, when my then-boss told me about it. I went out and bought it at lunch, and laughed until my sides hurt. It is one fabulous book. (And it makes you imagine what other wonderfulness Toole would have produced had he not offed himself.)

[dagny taggert]

I nominate Chesapeake by James Michener.

[Dr. Frank fan]

I don't see why Huck Finn won't work for all generations. That includes "Gen-X". (Of which I am a member.)

I'm not even sure what a "Gen-X" novel would be. There is of course always the novel which coined the phrase. There is also hugely long crap like the Gravity's Rainbow which you mentioned, which seems to be popular among certain circles, for reasons I do not understand. A similar one in this category would be Infinite Jest, which I could only get about 10-15% of the way through.

I guess I'd have to say the best "Gen-X novel" I've read - if you can call it that - would have to be Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.

Not that it holds a candle to Huck Finn of course.