Great

What with yesterday being the Fourth of July and all, I’m feeling a little patriotic, and so have a simple question: What, in your opinion, is the (mythical) Great American Novel? At least to date. A “classic,” or a current one–either would be fine. Mark Twain? J.D. Salinger? F. Scott Fitzgerald? Stephen King? Laura Ingalls Wilder? It doesn’t have to be your favorite book, mind you. “Citizen Kane” may be the “best” film, and I concede its merits, but it’s not my favorite. You don’t have to love something to know that it’s good.

Now, I know that not all of you are American–but you can play, too! What I want from you is to know what you consider to the best novel of YOUR country. It might be someone the rest of us haven’t heard of and, frankly, I think we’d all like to get some new authors to read. In fact, while we’re at it–I’m curious about the geographical make-up of this meme. So, while you’re leaving your link to your post, tell us where in the world you are! (For the record, I’m in New Jersey, USA.)

I find this one pretty interesting, actually. (I mean, of course I do, or would I have bothered to ask it?) But, while yes, there are great "classic" novels (like, yes, Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and so on) . . . and while there are some great modern books (like, say, Laurie Colwin, or Jack Finney's "Time after Time") . . . When I think of great, American books, the first thing that springs to mind are the children's books that I grew up adoring. Like these, for example. Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women." Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" series. The Trixie Belden series (and Nancy Drew for that matter). "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Selden. E. L. Konigsberg's "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." Elizabeth George Speare's "Witch of Blackbird Pond." "Understood Betsy" by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Madeline L'Engle's masterful "Wrinkle in Time." Sydney Taylor's "All-of-a-Kind Family" series. Lynne Reid Banks' "Indian in the Cupboard." The "Cheaper by the Dozen" books by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey . . .

Should I go on? I know, of course, that the question was to name ONE book, but you see, the thing is, I dont see how there can be ONE. And besides, I'm picking a GENRE here. Because the books you read as a child stick with you forever, help shape your worldview . . . and by influencing generations of children, what can be more culturally relevant? It's like every American child growing up eating hamburgers, drinking coca cola, eating PB&J at lunch . . . it's part of who you are. And even if you grow to detest soda and give up eating meat, and end up being allergic to peanuts . . . the fact that they are everywhere still affects your worldview. You can detest Louisa May Alcott for being overly sentimental, or find the Nancy Drew stories incredibly trite, but still. They're there. Read and loved by thousands upon thousands of your fellow citizens. And helping to shape how you view the world and your country.

As I say, I seriously thought hard to find one book to name. (And, ironically, I could think of several, specific English books that I could have listed immediately, were I British.) But ultimately, the books that kept cropping up were these--children's books. Really good children's books. Some in that stack might not be as well-written as others (yes, Trixie Belden was a sentimental favorite), but some of them really are masterpieces. With some great life-lessons built in, and that's never a bad thing.

Comments

[minnie]

the book that comes to mind for me was a book i discovered in the 2nd grade. the roanoke family. it set me up with a love for fantasy for the rest of my life. while i did not know where babies came from, i knew they were in mommies' tummies. this book posited that this family got their babies from a plant they called a roanoke. they used it for everything. they ate the roots, and the flowers, and the seed pods that didn't get big. however, if a seed pod got past a certain size, they knew a baby was growing in there. they were a large family (which also may have been the attraction. i was the oldest of 3 kids).

since this was a small country school, i was allowed to check the book out from the 1st & 2nd grade room until 4th grade. i've never been able to find it since. (i need to look again, lol, now that i've got the internet to help me)

[Sharon]

This is impossible. Simply impossible. I have always been partial to the writings of John Steinbeck, and James Michener. East of Eden, Of Mice and Men, Hawaii, Centennial, etc. But Hemingway, whom I personally dislike, is probably even more quintessentially American. And let's not leave out Gone With the Wind. Mitchell had a one-trick pony, but it's as American as it gets. So yeah, okay, I nominate GWTW. (Chiming in from Lansing, Michigan)

[CJHill]

Wow.

I didn't even consider children's books but you're right. They're the backbone of our lives, aren't they? For me, it was The Black Stallion books, along with Trixie Belden, The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and too many others, really.

And Minnie, GWTW is a close second.

cjh

[EnnaVic]

I guess in some ways I was lucky in that I had a smaller selection of books to choose from, but it was still hard. I had some children's books in my "nearly" list, but they were really just as deserving as the one I chose.

A very difficult but interesting question.

[Marianne]

That's funny... because the books I mention are all from my childhood as well. I wonder what others will have to say?

And, you've reminded my of some old faves I've forgotten about. Thanks!

My answers are up, but I can't use HTML. Oh well.

[Mei]

I have spent a lot of time and money rebuilding my childhood library (as a military brat, I didn't get to keep everything as we moved from post to post). You've named some great books; as I was reading your list, I was thinking, "Oh yeah ..." and remembering the first time I read them.

[Carole]

You're asking a librarian to pick ONE? I'm leaning towards Grapes of Wrath but then I think East of Eden. Or maybe Gone With the Wind. Or even Little Women. I can't decide!

[Susan Higginbotham]

I was a big Trixie Belden fan growing up. Also loved the All-of-a-Kind-Family series.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I was a big Trixie Belden fan growing up. Also loved the All-of-a-Kind-Family series.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I was a big Trixie Belden fan growing up. Also loved the All-of-a-Kind-Family series.

[chris]

EEEEEEEE! I had totally forgotten about "My Side of the Mountain" . . . that was one of my VERY favorite books growing up, and very few people I've met have even heard of it. I remember reading it and seriously thinking, "Oh, yeah! I can go out and live in a tree and live off the land and survive. Fun!". I think I was in about third grade. :D

[melanie]

I didn't even think of children's books -- Little Women, of course, and (this is really strange) The Little Lame Prince...

[Paige]

My two faves: Philip Roth's The Plot Against America and Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy. I wish my favorite book of all time (Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy) was American, because then that'd be my top vote.

Kid's books that get my vote include: Misty of Chincoteague, My Friend Flicka, and anything by EB White, but especially Trumpet of the Swans.

Paige

Paige

[sprite]

I'd probably go with To Kill a Mockingbird, which bridges the span between kiddie lit and adult literature. It features a child narrator and children as the main characters, but it tackles adult themes so well.

[Chris]

Hmm, my first thought was DeLillo's White Noise. :) I can definitely see the importance of children's books in shaping who I am and how I see the world, but no specific books are jumping to mind.

[Amy]

Holy moley, what a question. Gets the old brain whirring. I agree with your kid's picks...those are all great and were all part of my formative reading growing up. In adult land...hmmm...I would have to say Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose, because it's such an epic yet personal story, covering the pioneering move west as well as the 1970s. But more recently, A.M. Homes' Music for Torching really captures life in suburbia in all its ridiculous glory (and I do live in the 'burbs, so I can comment!). I'm sure more will pop into my head today...

[Kristy]

It's hard to pick just one, isn't it? Happy BTT!

[Carol]

Yikes! One? To Kill a Mocking Bird is the 1st that flies into my little brain, so I'll just stick with that :)

[Faith]

You know, I didn't think about the children's books when I did my list, but the ones you've listed definitely resonate with me. I also remember the dreadfully written Elsie Dinsmore, but even that defined a generation.

[Erin]

Great answer. I couldn't even begin to think of a response.

[Anita]

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Definitely.

[Mel]

Unfortunately, the books I was reading as a kid and young adult aren't worth mentioning (something about a pair of perennially young blond twins?), and then I moved right into sci-fi and fantasy. I didn't read much worth mentioning until I became a Lit major at UW. However, I think your premise is spot on.

[Stephanie]

Such a hard question...to name just one!! Rather impossible, I might even say! I was a HUGE Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden fan when I was young! I think that's probably where my love of the mystery came from.

[Jane]

I didn't think about children's books when I formulated my answer (James Michener's Hawaii), but I loved the original Tom Swift books that were my Dad's from the 1920, the Mother West Wind stories, and Osa Johnson's "I Married Adventure". My grandparents signed me up for a library card and brought home "Black Beauty" when I was 8 and in bed with the mumps, but I thought it was too sad. The Black Stallion books were far better.

[Merri]

Yes again and again, we all mention children's book...interesting!
What fun to do this; better than a reading group(IMHO)
LM Montgomery is perhaps a bit over sentimental BUT for those times, her Anne was considering a shocking example for proper young girls..
Anne would have spoken up for women's rights had she lived in those times!