Most essential American literature
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- These six books are some of the most essential works of American literature. Reading them will give you an excellent perspective on everything else that’s considered classic American lit
I made a slightly longer version of this video,l as well:
Most Essential American Literature
• Video
You forgot diary of a wimpy kid
That and captain underpants
Based
@@williampdozierlmao I read those as a kid, I can’t believe I forgot about Captain Underpants. But seriously, Grapes of Wrath or another Steinbeck should be included
This is Fuckin awesome and hilarious lmao
Don't leave out the perennial Dork Diaries.
Honestly I think Grapes of Wrath needs to be included. It's not my favorite, but it's important in order to understand a key part of American history.
I agree. Boring book, but seriously encapsulates the concept of "being American" and the general themes of our culture
I think east of eden would probably be a better pick for Steinbeck
That book is so boring I don’t care if it’s considered a classic.
I'd say possibly The Pearl since it captures America's cut throat capitalist nature and colonial past
Grapes of Wrath is not boring. Most who say it is are still children. Read it when you have lived and know the fear and struggle first hand of abject desperation, when you’ve developed a better sense of your own mortality then you can feel the characters more and you’ll understand it’s greatness.
Mine would be
-Moby-Dick
-Huckleberry Finn
-The Sound and The Fury
-Beloved
-The Great Gatsby
-Invisible Man (Ralph Ellison)
-The Grapes of Wrath
You could argue The Wasteland by T.S. Eliot but he’s always far more lumped in with the Brits and he was very active abroad so it’s much more of a joint effort, he’s one of those cosmopolitan writers in my mind like Henry James.
I also feel like a criteria for this is that these books have to be quintessentially American
I like this list, and I really like your reasoning
Criminal to not have Huck Finn as a classic American novel! Good list
Good picks but imo you have to include Kurt Vonnegut and John Steinbeck. I’d probably go with Slaughterhouse Five and Of Mice and Men
To Kill A Mockingbird was what we read for our american literature module in my sixthh form (UK here!). Its a very essential read i believe.
it’s a white savior narrative par excellence. it’s a fine coming of age story but as far as being “essential” maybe read something by an actual black person?
I was shocked this wasn't on the list as well. Same with animal farm, catcher in the rye, and ether brave new world or 1984. But how to kill a mocking bird was the most shocking.
For soone reason my comment disappeared.
I was shocked about this as well. I also think animal farm, catcher in the rye, and ether 1984 or brave new world should have been on that list as well. To kill a mocking bird was the most surprising. I wish I knew why he specifically went with that list.
@@ZER0punk animal farm is not an american novel lol. it was written by a british guy abt the russian revolution. also its a terrible book where orwell really showcases his disdain for the working class, as he has for much of his literary career
@@ZER0punk 1984 and brave new world are also not american novels. they are also both not that good.
Nice list but I also agree with the Steinbeck suggestions
Personally I’d add Huck finn and the Call of the Wild but i vibe with this list
Yeah Huckleberry Finn is just a classic
An essential reading list would need to be at least 30 titles to be representative. You can't exclude Twain, Poe, Faulkner, McCullers, Steinbeck and so many others.
u wanna include any non white people in ur “great works of american fiction” list?
@@ererererd9497 skin color doesnt matter
@@BluishNomad then why are u only mentioning white people?
@@ererererd9497OP simply included a few more essential authors to a list that already has authors such as Toni Morrison. Historically, it makes sense why there are less POC authors of classic literature in America.
@@ererererd9497No.
Sprinkle some William Faulkner in there too
Without a doubt. 👍
That’s what Cormac mcarthy is for
As I Lay Dying probably needs to be on there
I started listening to blood meridian a few months back but couldn't get into it. So glad I picked it up again. Now I've read it twice in two weeks. Thanks Wendigoon
I’d add The Stories and Poemsof Edgar Allan Poe, The Scarlet Letter, Leaves of Grass, and The Grapes of Wrath.
East of Eden or Grapes of Wrath are a must
Can’t believe Catcher In The Rye didn’t make it
That, the old man and the sea, and to kill a mockingbird seem pretty essential imo
Naw fuck that book
Death of a Salesman ?
lol. lmao.
@@fmt0htmthat’s a play, the video is just talking about novels
Some could argue that Song of Myself by Walt Whitman needs to be on there as it's the American Epic. I personally think Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison belongs on the list.
I fucking love your content bro it’s so laid back please never stop
The great Gatsby 👍👍
Solid list, mt only complaint is it needs to be expanded. No latino americans on it.
Also consider The Thin Red Line, and For Whom The Bell Tolls. Both are set in wartime, and are both anti-war.
I have read 3 of those adding the other two to my book list now!!!
Awesome!
If your inclined, check out Thomas C. Stuhr. A heap of low cost print books
‘On the Road’ ~ Jack Kerouac
🙏🏼✌🏼🇺🇸
I would replace Beloved with Grapes of Wrath
Good idea, many thanks ❤
The Sea Wolf and East of Eden!
Steinbeck and London are classics.
What about the grapes of wrath??
No mention of Faulkner?
Listen I understand the language used is a major turn off but huck finn is classic American literature- it really is a great book. Walden is fantastic!!! I'm glad you have that on your list!
and Faulkner?
lonesome dove must be included
Beloved is a hard one to read. My first time reading it was definitely an eye opener and gave me a new perspective on what I would call the “origins of America”
I just read Down Here in the Warmth by Euel Arden. Its pretty current. I'd put it right up there with any American classic.
1. Blood Meridian
2. Underworld
3. Invisible Man
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
5. Moby Dick
6. The Great Gatsby
7. Gravity’s Rainbow
8.The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
9. Grapes of Wrath
10. American Psycho
u cannot seriously be putting blood meridian and tkam and american psycho in this list… those books are fine at best and american psycho is just trash and very poorly written (don’t u dare say he did that shit on purpose bc that is not an excuse)
Pretty decent list, but I would certainly add Huck Fill (Twain), East of Eden (Steinbeck), and Uncle Toms Cabin (Stowe)
I have already read all of them❤
Liked:
Herman Wouk
William Styron
Louis L'Amour
Ayn Rand
Louisa May Alcott
Dislike:
Cheever.Updike.Salinger
I think you need a dash of Faulkner or Steinback in there
R.W. Emerson, H.D.Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Sherwood Anderson.
Sound and the fury and grapes of wrath
No Steinbeck is criminal
Adventures of huckleberry fin too could be included.
To kill a mockingbird and Hemingway’s Nick stories give crucial views of American history
The Grapes of wrath, the sound and the fury and to kill a mockingbird all deserve spots on that list.
Ah no steinbeck? East of Eden of Grapes of Wrath should be on the list!
the bell jar too
Great reading list. Thank you. Have you started a online bookclub
in the middle of blood meridian right now, just finished Butchers Crossing. quite a ride
Blood Meridian-- one of the most challenging books I've ever read. Worth it though.
Most essential authors:
1. Whitman
2. Melville
3. Dickinson
4. Emerson
5. Twain
6. Henry James
7. Hawthorne
8. Hart Crane
Forgot McCarthy. His ability to describe scenery is incredible. And his dialogue is scarily accurate to how southerners like myself talk.
Faulkner Hemingway Fitzgerald belong above Hart Crane
Henry James 😂
@@ElonMuskrat-my8jy What’s wrong with James? :(
@@oakus8503 Just reading the synopsis is enough to put one to sleep.
You are well read, young man!
I think Huck Finn should be on this list way before Blood Meridian
What do you think of Elizabeth Bishop and Marianne Moore, I pay close attention to them, but I don't know what foreigners know about them, especially since I am a Chinese of cultural exoticism
I don’t know much about either of them
Twain, Steinbeck, and Cather are conspicuous in their absence.
I would replace Blood Meridian with Suttree, and add Warlock by Oakley Hall.
I would like to see ur russian list. Am trying to read all the main works by Fyodor right now!
The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Tolstoy) is essential and a short read too. I'd also say for Dostoyevsky try a shorter book like The Gambler first before committing to something longer, just to see if you like his style.
@@morgjones13 I have The Death of Ivan Ilyich. I finished C&P, Notes, The Idiot. Am trying to reread Brother K because I gave it up during highschool. Ty for the suggestion tho!
Also the Passenger by McCarthy is the best fiction I have ever read, he’s the one author that overshadows even Shakespeare.
Of mice and men is a staple.
No Steinbeck?
I have tried to read moby dick three separate times and I just can’t get through it. Blood meridian is my favorite book though. I read it at least once a year
Moby Dick has aged very poorly. I hate reading it but I do like thinking/talking about it. If you can't get through it, don't feel like you need to. Just put it away and read it again in a few years
Maybe give the audiobook a try- it helped me a lot!
You will find it free on almost every "Classic Audiobooks" channel
It really helped me see the overall picture/story and to stick with it when i found i was a little overwhelmed by its size etc..
I think people fear it will be wordy, dry and boring but whaling is quite an adventure! It really is far more fun than I ever thought it would be!
Dont give up on it.
I personally love were the red fern grows. I thought it was gonna be just another boring book they assign in school, but it became my favorite.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by HB Stowe.
Definitely essential
For your consideration: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and of Augie March. Walden: obvi /not/ a novel.
Obvi not. A slip of the tongue! Huck Finn is right up there. For sure one of the most essential works of American lit
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. C'mon, man.
Definitely a better option than Beloved.
Yall are gonna wanna buckle up for Blood Meridian
East of Eden is beautiful
Faulkner and Steinbeck???
Leaving Huckleberry Finn off of any list about American Literature is insane
Beloved is amazing. Mind blowing
I’ve read of mice and men but not much else in the American literature topic
Grapes of wrath?
A Faulkner book should be on that list.
@phoebecaulfield4062glad someone pointed this out. mccarthy is so derivative. his language is the definition of purple prose though, and he’s never actually lived up to faulkner (nor could anyone, he shouldn’t have even tried)
@phoebecaulfield4062 i’m actually reading that rn!! i just finished as i lay dying. devastating tbh.
Faulkner belongs but so does McCarthy. Doesn’t matter if McCarthy is derivative of Faulkner Melville and Milton his voice is uniquely American
I've read all of these, this is a pretty well rounded list hard to argue.
Also, one of these things is not like the others and you will hate Cormac McCarthy for a little while afterwards.
forgot captain underpants
Steinbeck East of Eden i include in here
Scooter’s Jungle is a CLASSIC!!!
Huck Finn never fails to lose its relevancy.
Walt whiman leaves of grass should be on this list. It’s is the epitome of literature from the American psyche
A few important ones missing: Steinbeck and Whitman
Blood Meridian is my favorite book. Is that concerning? 😂
Yes
I’m so happy to see Beloved on this list
Yeah, these ones are hard to argue. I might replace Scarlett Letter with Grapes of Wrath though
not including Steinbeck is incredibly weird
No Huckleberry Finn?????
no Faulkner? no Steinbeck? and i know it's kinda a hot take but I think stoner should be here
I love Walden ❤️❤️ one of my favorite books
It’s high on my favs list too
infinite jest ?
lol be serious
No Huckleberry Finn?
These are known as the great amrican novels
Solid selections!
What about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn?
lol no
What about Mark Twain?
The Bell Jar--Sylvia Plath
no!!
🤣🤣🤣
To Kill a Mockingbird is wayyy more important and significant than the Great Gatsby
East of Eden or anything Steinbeck ❤
Thanks for these
You bet!
Not having East of Eden on here is so sad
good list but id like to see u talk about hp lovecraft in a video
No Mark Twain?!?! Take Moby Dick out and put in Huckleberry Finn
u cannot be serious. say you’ve never read moby dick without saying you’ve never read moby dick
You can’t take Moby Dick out haha but yeah Huck Finn belongs
🤡
lol, lmao even
The great gatsby is so good that I didn’t mind being forced to read it in high school lit class
I am bulgarian try our literature!
You will be amazed! You will laugh and cry!
Give me your top two recs! I’m intrigued
Sinners in the hands of an angry god by Johnathan Edwards.
Scarlet letter? No vietnam? No ww2? No 60s poetry? Blood meridian is a masterpiece, but how can it be essential to literature when nothing has come after it yet? Sylvia Plath needs to be in there. And Uptan Sinclair. To kill a mockingbird please and thank you.