2006-10-11 06:13:23 · 15 answers · asked by Matthew I 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Good question. The jury is still out if anyone has written the Great American novel.
Come to mind:
The Sun Also Rises- *winner*
Grapes of Wrath- Kind of whiny.
A Prayer for Owen Meany- A little too simple. Too much of a simpleton agenda
Great Gatsby- Too Meandering
This Side of Paradise- No final resolution. Contrived in places.
Tom Sawyer- Pretty good throughout, but ignores the hard parts to resolving the plot
Fountainhead- Ayn Rand wasn't born an American
Also look at Cooper, Hawthorne,
2006-10-11 06:26:05 · answer #1 · answered by Iridium190 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard all of the following posited...my fave is
1) BLOOD MERIDIAN by Cormac McCarthy
but you may wish to consider
2) HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain
3) MOBY DICK by Herman Melville
4) THE SOUND AND THE FURY by William Faulkner
5) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
I taught American Lit in college for years...any of the above are valid considerations for the acolade you propose, though consenus will prove impossible.
I chose BLOOD MERIDIAN for it's neo-Biblical rhetoric and it's alternative, though no less plausible, depiction of the founding of the American West. I re-read this book several times a year, yet it is always new. Cormac McCarthy is widely considered America's greatest living writer. More at
2006-10-11 08:21:21 · answer #2 · answered by john w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my humble opinion it will never be written. However, 'Outline of History' by H. G. Wells is a good one. And the 'Grapes of Wrath' is another. There are so many great books out now it is almost impossible to figure out what the greates of all time could be. I know this doesn't answer the question, but to me, I don't think this question can truthfully be answered.
2006-10-11 12:15:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne.
2006-10-11 08:51:46 · answer #4 · answered by aahamed24 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Good Earth by Pearl Buck
2006-10-11 20:48:09 · answer #5 · answered by phoenixheat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gone With the Wind
2006-10-11 10:30:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anashuya 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lots of contenders come to mind
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (Even though she wasn't born american, great writer)
Moby dick
The catcher in the rye by JD Salinger
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Cheers!!
2006-10-11 06:34:15 · answer #7 · answered by vick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Grapes of Wrath
2006-10-11 06:21:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Friend....I am not American....but still would like to pick just one gem from the american treasure of literature : GRAPES OF WRATH.....John Steinbeck is not only an american writer, but he had been echo of millions....throughout the world.
2006-10-11 06:35:02 · answer #9 · answered by indraraj22 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catcher in the Rye or the Colour Purple
2006-10-11 06:21:16 · answer #10 · answered by Jez 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋