Any recommendations for a good book of modern American literature?

Question

Thanks for all the answers

Answer 1

What genre do you like? There is so much to choose from.

Here's something that may or may not tickle your fancy - Gregory Maguire. He has written some fabulous fiction, which is also intelligent social commentary. I love his style and his storylines.

I have read from him: Wicked, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Mirror, Mirror.

Answer 2

I wanted to respond to your question, for it's my favorite kind of question. But then I ran into trouble.

I'm not sure whether you want an anthology representing all kinds of modern American literature, or are you interested in individual titles? Do you mean fiction? Or would you include poetry? Or drama? Or nonfiction?

And by "modern" do you mean anything in the 20th century. That's stretching things a bit, isn't it? We would hardly call an automobile or a woman's dress or a popular song from 1910 a modern auto or dress or song, would we?

Do you mean for the study of American literature, or for personal satisfaction--what some folks call "pleasure reading"?

So, how can I respond to your question in a way that might be helpful? You can hardly beat that Norton Anthology, but omigod it's heavy and not exactly satisfying for pleasure reading.

I've decided to cheat. Instead of naming "a" book--just one--to represent "modern American literature," I will list several.

To represent fiction, spreading out over most of the 20th century, I would recommend William Faulkner, Light in August (or Sound and Fury, if you're ambitious); Eudora Welty, Losing Battles; J. D. Salinger, Nine Stories [short stories]; maybe John Irving, Prayer for Owen Meany; Toni Morrison, Beloved; and Geoff Ramp, Was [my favorite sorta ultra modern--post-modern, if you will].

For poetry, I'll go with anthologies: The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry, ed. J.D. McClatchy (1990). Then for sheer pleasure, I'd pick up Billy Collins, 180 Poems and 180 More Poems. Then you can always go all the way: Paul Hoover, Post-Modern American Poetry [another Norton Anthology, believe it or not!].

Answer 3

All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren

Read a synopsis here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0156004801/sr=8-1/qid=1155006025/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-1722710-8657759?ie=UTF8

Answer 4

Don DeLillo - White Noise or Underworld
Phillip Roth - American Pastoral
Richard Ford - The Sportswriter
Jonathon Franzen - The Corrections
T.C. Boyle - Tortilla Flats

To name a few...

Answer 5

A Confederacy of Dunces -- John Kennedy Toole. (the funniest book ever written)

Answer 6

Yes--use the one that they recommend or require in college--the Norton Anthology of American Literature.

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/titles/english/naal6/

The last two volumes should help you out. These are expensive, but easy to find in the library or second hand.

Answer 7

"Memoirs of a Geisha" - Arthur Golden (I couldnt put this one down)
"We were the Mulvaneys" by Joyce Carol Oates, she's fantastic, very prolific and if that doesnt interest you she's written a ton of others, I'm sure you can find something by her you'd like
I am picky about what I read!!

Answer 8

Catcher in the Rye. J.D. Salinger

Answer 9

Eragon and King Fortis the Brave if you like fantasy!

Answer 10

return of the soldier- rebecca west
rebecca-daphne dumaurier
catch-22 by joseph heller
anything by jack kerouac or steinbeck