# The most widely read classic American novel **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789 "2006-04-07T23:11:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/1 "2006-04-07T23:11:42Z")
I’m making the claim in a proposal that XXXX is (perhaps) the most widely read classic American novel. The “perhaps” gives me some wiggle room (perhaps) but I’d like to verify that I’m not overstating just because I’m proposing a book about XXXX. What I’d like to do is run some nominees past you. If you’ve read it or not read it is all I want to know. If you have any nominees of your own (I’m including XXX on the list, and throwing in some others that living Americans have read pretty widely) you can add them, but I’d guess that between school assignments, pleasure reading, book clubs and other recreational reading, these would make a good starting point. (Remember I’m including novels assigned for school reading, which even non-readers supposedly have read over a long period of time, so this is heavily biased away from bestselling novels that are popular for a decade or so --like the Godfather, say,-- but have tended not to persist in high school or college assignments). The ones below are, I think widely assigned over a period of years from middle grade through college classes, plus they’re also read outside of school) : The Sun Also Rises Catcher in the Rye The Great Gatsby The Color Purple Catch-22 To Kill a Mockingbird The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Slaughterhouse-5 Just a “Yes/No/ No/ Yes” etc. response is fine, but if you want to argue with me, go right ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/2 "2006-04-07T23:17:55Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > The Sun Also Rises - NO > Catcher in the Rye - YES > The Great Gatsby - YES > The Color Purple - NO (Huh?) > Catch-22 - YES > To Kill a Mockingbird - NO > The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - YES > Slaughterhouse-5 - NO > > Just a “Yes/No/ No/ Yes” etc. response is fine, but if you want to argue with me, go right ahead. … ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/3 "2006-04-07T23:22:22Z")
Yes: The Great Gatsby To Kill a Mockingbird ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/4 "2006-04-07T23:23:34Z")
The Sun Also Rises- No Catcher in the Rye- Yes The Great Gatsby- Yes The Color Purple- No Catch-22- No. I didn’t feel like reading the first 21 volumes. To Kill a Mockingbird- Yes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Yes Slaughterhouse-5- No. Same joke here as Catch-22. I’d say Huck Finn is #1. Also possible additions: Scarlett Letter Moby Dick The Turn of the Screw Grapes of Wrath ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/5 "2006-04-07T23:24:39Z")
The Sun Also Rises - No Catcher in the Rye - Yes The Great Gatsby - Yes The Color Purple - No Catch-22 - Yes To Kill a Mockingbird - Yes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Yes Slaughterhouse-5 - No ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/6 "2006-04-07T23:25:22Z")
Yes: The Great Gatsby The Color Purple To Kill a Mockingbird The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I think Huck Finn is probably the winner if you include all ages although Tom Sawyer is up there to and should be on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/7 "2006-04-07T23:26:17Z")
The Sun Also Rises - No Catcher in the Rye - No The Great Gatsby - No The Color Purple - No Catch-22 - Yes To Kill a Mockingbird - Yes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Yes Slaughterhouse-5 - Yes I’m Canadian, though. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/8 "2006-04-07T23:45:17Z")
The Sun Also Rises - No Catcher in the Rye - Yes The Great Gatsby - Yes The Color Purple - No Catch-22 - No To Kill a Mockingbird - No The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Yes, in German Slaughterhouse-5 - No ---
**Author:** ![straykat23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@straykat23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straykat23)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/9 "2006-04-07T23:52:35Z")
Yes, I’ve read all of them. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/10 "2006-04-07T23:55:40Z")
The Sun Also Rises - No Catcher in the Rye - Yes The Great Gatsby - Yes The Color Purple - No Catch-22 - Yes To Kill a Mockingbird - Yes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - No Slaughterhouse 5 - Yes Some other “yes’s” The Grapes of Wrath Of Mice and Men Tom Sawyer Breakfast of Champions ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/11 "2006-04-08T00:09:43Z")
The Sun Also Rises - No Catcher in the Rye - No The Great Gatsby - Yes The Color Purple - No Catch-22 - No To Kill a Mockingbird - Yes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - No Slaughterhouse-5 - No To those I would add : Tom Sawyer The Old Man and the Sea Of Mice and Man And I’m another Canadian ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/12 "2006-04-08T00:12:01Z")
Yes to all but Catch 22 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/13 "2006-04-08T00:12:17Z")
The Sun Also Rises – yes Catcher in the Rye – yes The Great Gatsby – yes (would get my vote, BTW) The Color Purple – yes Catch-22 – no To Kill a Mockingbird – yes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – no, believe it or not Slaughterhouse-5 – yes **hits reply so she can read the other answers** ---
**Author:** ![everyone\_loves\_monkeys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9e5f3/32.png) [@everyone\_loves\_monkeys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everyone_loves_monkeys)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/14 "2006-04-08T00:18:47Z")
hoping to bring an international flavour… I’ve read To kill a mocking bird, and, embarrassingly i cant remember weather i read Huckleberry Finn or Tom sawyer, but it was a long time ago so please forgive me! Anyway, my point is that I’m surprised John Steinbeck isn’t on the list. i went to school in England and _Of Mice and Men \* was one of the set texts for GCSE_ English literature, and one my class studied- so I’ve read that millions of times. Surely the fact that its tortured thousands of English school children bumps up it’s rating? I’ve also read about half of _the grapes of wrath_. \*in case you don’t know, GCSEs, or ‘General certificate of secondary education’ are the school leaving qualifications you take when you’re 16. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/15 "2006-04-08T00:19:34Z")
Yes: Catch-22 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Slaughterhouse-5 ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/16 "2006-04-08T00:29:32Z")
I read them all but I’m Canadian. I would vote for Great Gatsby because everyone reads the short ones. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/17 "2006-04-08T00:37:12Z")
I think _Huckleberry Finn_ (or _Tom Sawyer_ - less controversy) and \*To Kill a Mockingbird are the best bets. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/18 "2006-04-08T00:42:40Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > The Sun Also Rises - No > Catcher in the Rye - Yes > The Great Gatsby - Yes > The Color Purple - Yes > Catch-22 - No > To Kill a Mockingbird - Yes > The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Yes > Slaughterhouse-5 - No Scarlett Letter Crucible (Play) Tom Sawyer Grapes of Wrath ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/19 "2006-04-08T00:47:27Z")
> [@pokey](#): > > I would vote for Great Gatsby because everyone reads the short ones. Which is why I left MOBY DICK off the list. Hell, I specialize in the prose of the period between the Civil War and the atom bomb, and I’ve taught MOBY DICK but damned if I can honestly say I’ve read every page very carefully. There are passages in there that induce a coma every time. I think most teachers realize that if you assign MOBY DICK, most of your students are going to do a lot of skimming. I thought of adding Steinbeck to the list–GRAPES is a bit on the long side, and I’m not sure which is the shorties is still assigned: I read “The Pearl” in junior high, and “The Red Pony,” I think, but here are other short novels as well. Maybe “Of Mice and Men.” ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789/20 "2006-04-08T00:53:12Z")
The Sun Also Rises - YES Catcher in the Rye - YES The Great Gatsby - YES The Color Purple - NO Catch-22 - YES To Kill a Mockingbird - YES The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - YES Slaughterhouse-5 - YES Canadian here though, To Kill a Mockingbird was the only one I was assigned to read in school. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-widely-read-classic-american-novel/351789.md?page=2)