Great ____ Novel

By --Deb on

btt button

What with yesterday being the Fourth of July and all, I’m feeling a little patriotic, and so have a simple question:

What, in your opinion, is the (mythical) Great American Novel? At least to date. A “classic,” or a current one–either would be fine. Mark Twain? J.D. Salinger? F. Scott Fitzgerald? Stephen King? Laura Ingalls Wilder?

It doesn’t have to be your favorite book, mind you. “Citizen Kane” may be the “best” film, and I concede its merits, but it’s not my favorite. You don’t have to love something to know that it’s good.

Now, I know that not all of you are American–but you can play, too! What I want from you is to know what you consider to the best novel of YOUR country. It might be someone the rest of us haven’t heard of and, frankly, I think we’d all like to get some new authors to read.

In fact, while we’re at it–I’m curious about the geographical make-up of this meme. So, while you’re leaving your link to your post, tell us where in the world you are! (For the record, I’m in New Jersey, USA.)

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Posted in: Wordpress

51 responses

  1. --Deb

    Okay. Mine’s up here. (Any minute now.)

  2. CJHill

    Another great question!

    Here’s my answer:

    http://cjreading.blogspot.com/2007/07/booking-through-thursday.html

  3. ennavic

    Wonderful question this week! Mine’s up here:

    BTT – Great NZ Novel

  4. Marianne

    My answers are here. But you might also want to check out the rest of the blog — because it’s Buy A Friend A Book Week!

  5. Marg

    Mine can be found here:

    http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/2007/07/great-australian-novel.html

    I have posted about great Australian novels…because that’s where I am from!

  6. Mei

    Mine’s up: http://meiflower.blogspot.com/2007/07/great-american-novel.html

    I live in Tennessee.

  7. Laura

    Mine’s up here: http://laura0218.livejournal.com/17665.html

    I live in southeastern Pennsyvlania, about an hour from both Philadelphia and Baltimore.

  8. Susan Higginbotham

    Here’s mine (from North Carolina):

    http://susandhigginbotham.blogspot.com/2007/07/from-booking-through-thursday-what-in.html

  9. melanie

    Great question- my answer is here.

  10. Kristy

    Mine’s up. Happy BTT!

  11. chauceriangirl

    Here’s mine:

    Booking Through Thursday

    And I live in Texas, very close to Fort Worth.

  12. Athena

    Novels and countries. I’m in Canada by the by.

  13. sya

    I’m up.

    http://www.gamalei.net/syaffolee/2007/07/memes-booking-through-thursday-great.html

  14. Stephanie

    I’m up. My answer is here: http://stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/2007/07/great-american-novel.html

    And oh yeah…I live in Peoria, Illinois, USA!

  15. Jane

    Answer posted here from Michigan.

  16. Kristy

    Oops. I don’t read instructions well. I’m in Dallas, Texas, USA

  17. islandeditions

    My answer is at http://www.islandeditions.wordpress.com

    I’m Canadian, but live fulltime in the Caribbean. Couldn’t think of a favourite Caribbean novel though.

  18. Lightheaded

    i’m from the Philippines. here’s my answer.

  19. Erin

    I left a horrid basically non-response this week. Sorry guys:

    http://thepaperbackstash.blogspot.com/2007/07/booking-through-thursdays-june-5-2007.html

  20. Diane

    Here’s my response:

    http://bookinhand.blogspot.com/2007/07/great-american-novel-booking-through.html

    I’m from Michigan, USA.

  21. angela

    mine’s up! (this is just my second week)

    http://theknittingdiva.com and I live in California

  22. gina

    My second week!

  23. gina

    Sorry. Forgot the link: http://gullybrookpress.blogspot.com/2007/07/booking-through-thursday-great-novel.html

  24. Mel

    Here’s mine.

  25. merrimerri

    Here’s mine..and I am Canadian(from BC)
    http://merrimerri.wordpress.com/

  26. Daphne

    Here’s mine (and I live near Indianapolis Indiana USA):
    http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/2007/07/btt-great-american-novel.html

  27. raidergirl3

    From PEI, Canada, I present my answer:http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/2007/07/meme-booking-through-thursday.html

    You have to come to see if I picked Anne or not!

  28. raidergirl3

    http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/2007/07/meme-booking-through-thursday.html

    It didn’t link for me. I’ll try this instead

  29. 3M

    I live near Cinci now but will be moving near Omaha soon.

    http://3mbooklist.blogspot.com/2007/07/booking-through-thursday-great-american.html

  30. Kathrin

    My answer’s here:
    http://cozymurders.blogspot.com/2007/07/great-novel-btt.html

    My answer in short: Harper Lee & John Steinbeck.
    Plus I’m in Germany…

  31. saundejm

    I’m in Southern California, but my heart’s not here.

    The Great American Novel

  32. Bridget

    Mine is at http://www.the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com.

    As for me, I’m in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  33. Janiejane

    This was a tough one, but mine is up! Incidentally, I am in Arizona!

  34. Erica

    My lame answer’s up. I’m in South San Francisco, CA, BTW. (That’s NOT the same thing as San Francisco; I’m 15 or 20 minutes south of The City.)

  35. NotSkinny

    Coming to you from Dallas, my answer is now up over here.

  36. First things first » Blog Archive » Great ___ Novel

    […] Booking through Thursday: What, in your opinion, is the (mythical) Great American Novel? At least to date. A “classic,” […]

  37. Marsha

    This Pennsylvanian (Philly suburbs) had a hard time choosing just one. So I chose two. I could have put tons more on my list–different works have different strengths, right?–but managed to exercise (some) self-restraint.

    Happy Thursday, everyone!

  38. Joana

    It’s late in the day but here is my my BTT entry.

    Happy BTT everyone!

  39. sprite

    I’m feeling lazy, so I thought I’d post my response here instead of on my blog. Being an all-American, left-leaning girl, I’d say that To Kill a Mockingbird is a perfect nominee for Great American Novel.

  40. Callista

    Cutting it really close here (I offically made the post at 2 minutes to 12) but here’s my post: http://smsbookreviews.blogspot.com/2007/07/booking-through-thursday.html

    Oh and I’m Canadian although I talk about American books too.

  41. pussreboots

    I know the day is almost over but I’ve finally got my answer up.

  42. kat

    Mine’s here!

  43. rhinoa

    Mine is up at Rhinoa’s Ramblings and I am from the UK.

  44. Susan Helene Gottfried

    Possibly not what you guys have in mind, but when have I ever done that for you?

    http://westofmars.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html#9038542311512472370

  45. Thomas Otto

    Here is my choice

  46. Karen

    Hi,

    I am from Scotland and have listed an answer for both UK and Scotland.

    http://karensthoughts-karen.blogspot.com/2007/07/pirate-and-his-wench-and-booking.html

  47. Ritta

    Here’s my reply:
    http://dorito2000.livejournal.com/64390.html

  48. Sarah

    I’m in Sydney, Australia and my nominee for the Great Australian Novel is Voss by Patrick White.

  49. Gracie

    This is my first week – glad to have found you.
    I’m living in Montgomery AL but I remain a San Franciscan by nature and nurture

  50. Christine

    Away last week, catching up.

    http://xinef.livejournal.com/140305.html

    Canada.

    Darned if I know!! Either US or Canada. I don’t read books for their “literary” value. I read books for the entertainment or educational value.

    Some Canadian authors I really enjoy reading (off the top of my head): Robertson Davies, some Farley Mowat, James Alan Gardner (SF), Robert Sawyer (SF), L. R. Wright (mystery). I’m sure there are others.

  51. conspiracy-girl

    Mine is up:
    http://www.conspiracy-girl.com/2007/07/great-novel-booking-through-thrusday.html