# What is your favorite American novel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 5, 2017, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533 "2017-07-05T11:48:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![PAjoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pajoe/32/58_2.png) [@PAjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PAjoe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/81 "2017-07-12T15:12:46Z")
The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac. The part when he is in the wilderness on forest fire watch made me want to do that. I don’t imagine that that job position even exists anymore ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/82 "2017-07-12T15:18:34Z")
\*Middlesex \*by Geoffrey Eugenides. Being a southeast Michigan native, I enjoyed seeing some Detroit history in the story. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/83 "2017-07-12T16:59:54Z")
> [@PAjoe](#): > > The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac. The part when he is in the wilderness on forest fire watch made me want to do that. I don’t imagine that that job position even exists anymore I don’t know if you do video games, but Firewatch is a recent one about it. > **[Firewatch](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewatch)** > > Firewatch is an adventure game developed by Campo Santo and published by the developer in partnership with Panic. The game was released in February 2016 for Linux, OS X, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in September 2016, and for Nintendo Switch in December 2018. The story follows a fire lookout named Henry who works in Shoshone National Forest. Henry interacts with his supervisor Delilah using a walkie-talkie, with the player choosing from dialog options to communicate. His exchanges wit... ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/84 "2017-07-12T17:29:29Z")
David Foster Wallace’s final, unfinished novel, _The Pale King_ (who knew the minutiae of working for the IRS combined with a spooky ghost story could be so compelling?) Damn, I wish he would have finished this book before he exited Earth. _The Corrections_, Jonathan Franzen. He gets a lot of heat for being an egotistical butthole, but this is a brilliant novel. Okay, I’m sneaking in _Angela’s Ashes_ (Frank McCourt; who, technically, was an American citizen). I’m re-reading it for probably the 12th time. And, just about anything by Cormac McCarthy and Annie Proulx. I also have to throw in Mark Danielewski’s _House of Leaves_ – terrifying and wholly unique. ---
**Author:** ![PAjoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pajoe/32/58_2.png) [@PAjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PAjoe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/85 "2017-07-12T18:13:38Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I don’t know if you do video games, but Firewatch is a recent one about it. > > [Firewatch - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewatch) Thanks, it sounds interesting. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/86 "2017-07-12T18:22:16Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > _Gone with the Wind_ > > Yeah I know. Shut-up. Hey, you stole my answer! 😉 I’ll add The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/87 "2017-07-12T19:03:57Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Man, no other Harry Crews fans? I thought there were a couple around here. **Ike**? Anyone? > > His Feast of Snakes is my #2 choice! 😉 I’m here for you, man! FEAST OF SNAKES was really good, but my fave of his was THE KNOCKOUT ARTIST, which is definitely in my top 20. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/88 "2017-07-12T19:10:32Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > _The Maltese Falcon_, by Dashiell Hammett. If I thought about it, I could probably think of ten or twenty more that are as good, but that’s the pick for today. > > Great detective fiction that is also a beautifully crafted novel with philosophical overtones. Along with some beautiful phrases - “(Sam Spade) looked rather pleasantly like a blond Satan”. “He was gone like that - like a fist when you open your hand”. And the story that is the heart of the novel - “Beams fell. And he adjusted himself to them falling. And then no more fell. And he adjusted himself to them not falling.” Also with you. I will take Hammett over Hemingway any day. If Dash had spent the 1920s fruiting around Paris with Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein instead of boozing in Frisco and writing for the pulp magazines, he’d probably have a higher literary reputation than Papa today. The FALCON, RED HARVEST, and THE GLASS KEY outrank any of Ernie’s work other than the early stories and THE SUN ALSO RISES. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/89 "2017-07-12T20:03:13Z")
Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck. It surely isn’t the greatest American novel, nor the best I’ve ever read or even the best by John Steinbeck, but it’s my own favorite (and that is the premise of this thread) because it had to be Steinbeck and this is the first I read by him when I was about twelve. It’s one of the greatest descriptions of the joys of life (the life of useless winos in Monterey, Ca. in the early 20th century), deeply humane and funny. It instantly impressed me, I learned about life and people from this book at that age, and I’ve read it again at maybe at about 25 and then two years ago at 47, and it always moved me deeply. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/90 "2017-07-12T20:26:59Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck. > > It surely isn’t the greatest American novel, nor the best I’ve ever read or even the best by John Steinbeck, but it’s my own favorite (and that is the premise of this thread) because it had to be Steinbeck and this is the first I read by him when I was about twelve. It’s one of the greatest descriptions of the joys of life (the life of useless winos in Monterey, Ca. in the early 20th century), deeply humane and funny. It instantly impressed me, I learned about life and people from this book at that age, and I’ve read it again at maybe at about 25 and then two years ago at 47, and it always moved me deeply. That’s my favorite Steinbeck too. I spend time in Monterey every year and it is so evocative. My dad had a Book Club edition signed by Steinbeck that he sold to fund another purchase - just crushed me. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/91 "2017-07-13T02:14:09Z")
Great book; haven’t read it in many years. You’ve inspired me to go get a copy to read again. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/92 "2017-07-13T02:38:42Z")
Two votes for Canticle For Liebowitz, I’m impressed! Make that three ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/93 "2017-07-13T08:22:49Z")
I find it interesting that my two favorite american **authors** are mentioned here, but my favorite works of each are not listed as their ‘finest’. Cats Cradle A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/94 "2017-07-13T10:56:10Z")
Actually, fd3perfect, there have been four votes for _A Canticle for Leibowitz_ so far, if we include yours. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/95 "2017-07-13T13:51:32Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Actually, fd3perfect, there have been four votes for _A Canticle for Leibowitz_ so far, if we include yours. _puts on glasses_ Ah. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/96 "2017-07-14T01:19:19Z")
And I just managed to misspell your name. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/97 "2017-07-14T01:32:43Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Off the top of my head, East of Eden. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/98 "2017-07-14T01:36:51Z")
Great story about an [Italian]-American family: The Godfather. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/99 "2017-07-14T03:32:11Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > And I just managed to misspell your name. message received, no worries ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533/100 "2017-07-14T05:03:09Z")
The pseudo-wampeter of my best novel granfalloon is _Cat’s Cradle_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-american-novel/790533.md?page=6)