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The American Novel
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
This book was written after slavery had technically been abolished. However, the newly united country was far from perfect. While living in a time period where the country was still dealing with the aftermath of slavery, Twain focused his book largely on the hypocrisy of slavery as we follow Huck (a young boy) on many adventures as he tries to save Jim (an escaped slave). Through out this whole voyage, Huck ultimately grows morally beyond his cruel, restrictive society. -
The Awakening - Kate Chopin
This book focuses on the life of Edna Pontellier as she gradually "awakens" to the pleasure of individuality. Chopin brings attention to the society's view of women during the 19th century who were thought of as mere beings who submitted to the needs of their husbands and children instead of focusing on their personal needs. The main controversy is when Edna has the realization that she is not willing to give up herself, ultimately breaking the status quo of the time. -
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald's novel depicts an era of greed and cynicism while the characters are on a mindless quest to fulfill their desires. The novel largely focuses on Gatsby, the romantic idealist, Nick Carraway, the moral compass, and Tom and Daisy, a married couple who come from old money. Gatsby views Daisy as an image of perfection and therefore spends his life becoming wealthy in the hope of winning her unattainable love. This novel demonstrates the destroyed values of Americans after WWI. -
The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Himingway
This book deals with "the lost generation" which is basically the people living after World War I. Due to the tremendous amount of impact the war had on people, Hemingway focused his novel around characters who were dealing with shattered traditions of faith, justice and morality due to WWI's violence. The two main characters, Jake and Brett, deal with physical and psychological pain due to the impacts of the war while spending their days in Paris and Spain. -
The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
In this book readers will follow 16 year old Holden Caufield, who is cynical and prone to depression, as he ventures to his hometown in New York City after being kicked out of his exclusive private school in Pennsylvania. In an attempt to avoid his parents, Holden spends his money on two eventful days which signifies his "coming of age". Readers will venture on a journey like no other with Holden; the journey towards coming of age which is inevitable for everyone. -
White Noise - Don DeLillo
This novel mainly deals with two large post modern ideas which consist of the pervasiveness of technology and the fear of death. Readers follow a year of Jack Gladney's life, the main character, as well as his family's life. As the story proceeds, the attention is focused on the "white noise" that fills up the world in order to avoid having to deal with the idea of death. -
Beloved - Toni Morrison
This novel examines the African American experience after the close of the Civil War. A ghost is haunting the hosue that former escaped slave, Sethe, is living in with her mother-in-law and 18 year old daughter. The ghost is the spirit of Beloved, the baby Sethe killed 18 years ago to protect the child from slavery. She is forced to confront and reclaim her history as she faces the angry spirit of her deceased child.
