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sewfrench's review against another edition
4.0
The author being a professor of English, becomes obvious as he gives us a quick overview of each book, pointing out things I never noticed about the books I had previously read. Each essay was enough of a "CliffsNotes" review for me to not need to read a few of them (The Last of the Mohicans, The Scarlet Letter), a few I will never read the same (The Cat in the Hat, The Great Gatsby) and a couple I have already added to my reading list (The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and the Wonderful Wizard of Oz).
Though he never actually linked how the books forged our national identity as the title promised, but like most professors he leaves that up to you to figure out, it was still an enjoyable, thought provoking read.
Though he never actually linked how the books forged our national identity as the title promised, but like most professors he leaves that up to you to figure out, it was still an enjoyable, thought provoking read.
diannel_04's review against another edition
I'm too old to read textbooks and this is what this one felt like. I only read a couple of chapters but other than rehash the plot of the book, including spoilers there was very little of interest in them.
Skip this book and read the talks about instead.
Skip this book and read the talks about instead.
shaunnow38's review against another edition
4.0
American literature is an often fraught subject. It is a literature of as much problems as promise, though sometimes even our worst impulses are written of as bolstering the national character. From the beginnings of our literary republic to 19th century classics to mid-20th century novels of difference, Thomas C. Foster traces the legacy, and more importantly the character, of that American literary canon. Foster is not claiming a comprehensive view of American literary culture. He states outright that this discussion of 25(ish) books will not provide a full picture of American literature, nor are these the only books to read if one wishes to understand American literature. With an eye to the multiplicity and layered nature of American literature, Foster lights out to explore how these works of literature shaped the American national consciousness, and what these books have to say about the American spirit. Amazingly, the book doesn't come off as a propping up of the notion of "American excellence," at least not remotely. Foster does not take the opening to disparage the faults of these novels, and the faults they represent in the American character either, preferring an involved analysis that looks at how these books exist in dialogue with one another.
Indeed, that dialogue is at the heart of Foster's book, as he insists that not only do these authors and books learn from one another, but that they speak back to one another and influence the reception of previous works. From Walt Whitman spreads a web of answers that sing "I, Too" speak for America. Though the book is linear, the referentiality of the book forms more of a web of American experiences. One can find as much Whitman in Langston Hughes as in Thoreau sometimes. The insistence on dialogue shows how we continue to respond, and continue to deal with major issues of our times. Race relations, national sovereignty, democracy, experiencing the wilderness, disregard or suspicion of external authority, the mythic in the everyday; all of these pervade these texts in one version or another, sometimes to a greater or lesser extent. Foster never quite covers any one in detail, as the study is more general, but he provides an excellent overview of the ways in which these questions are broached by some of America's finest authors.
My major criticism of Foster's work is its middle of the road approach. There are very commendable parts of American literature, but I feel he fails to sufficiently convey how often American literature fails to live up to the national ideals it espouses. Books like The Scarlet Letter show American's ugly tendency to ostracize based on a petty morality, especially women rather than men, and Foster acknowledges this, but overall paints a rosier picture of these texts. The brutality of American life can be left on the wayside in favor of praising famous men. I don't wish to be misunderstood, these books are on the whole excellent, Foster has carefully chosen them for this purpose, but they are also texts filled with problems and contradictions for the American ideals they embody. I felt these problems were only addressed occasionally, and not with enough force to provide a full understanding of the history of literature in American. The romanticism of this book is not to be underestimated, even as Foster seems to be playing it neutral.
The upside of the book is it provides an accessible, often very fun look at American literature and its quirks, questions, and overall trajectory. I really think this is a great way to get into American literature, especially if you find some of the more difficult works to be incomprehensible. Foster is a good guide to the various themes of each text, and the book proves insightful for both beginners and long-time enthusiasts like myself.
Overall, I think this book is worth a shot, especially for those just getting into American literature. It gives you a new reading list to explore for yourself, and offers a bit of humor along the way.
Indeed, that dialogue is at the heart of Foster's book, as he insists that not only do these authors and books learn from one another, but that they speak back to one another and influence the reception of previous works. From Walt Whitman spreads a web of answers that sing "I, Too" speak for America. Though the book is linear, the referentiality of the book forms more of a web of American experiences. One can find as much Whitman in Langston Hughes as in Thoreau sometimes. The insistence on dialogue shows how we continue to respond, and continue to deal with major issues of our times. Race relations, national sovereignty, democracy, experiencing the wilderness, disregard or suspicion of external authority, the mythic in the everyday; all of these pervade these texts in one version or another, sometimes to a greater or lesser extent. Foster never quite covers any one in detail, as the study is more general, but he provides an excellent overview of the ways in which these questions are broached by some of America's finest authors.
My major criticism of Foster's work is its middle of the road approach. There are very commendable parts of American literature, but I feel he fails to sufficiently convey how often American literature fails to live up to the national ideals it espouses. Books like The Scarlet Letter show American's ugly tendency to ostracize based on a petty morality, especially women rather than men, and Foster acknowledges this, but overall paints a rosier picture of these texts. The brutality of American life can be left on the wayside in favor of praising famous men. I don't wish to be misunderstood, these books are on the whole excellent, Foster has carefully chosen them for this purpose, but they are also texts filled with problems and contradictions for the American ideals they embody. I felt these problems were only addressed occasionally, and not with enough force to provide a full understanding of the history of literature in American. The romanticism of this book is not to be underestimated, even as Foster seems to be playing it neutral.
The upside of the book is it provides an accessible, often very fun look at American literature and its quirks, questions, and overall trajectory. I really think this is a great way to get into American literature, especially if you find some of the more difficult works to be incomprehensible. Foster is a good guide to the various themes of each text, and the book proves insightful for both beginners and long-time enthusiasts like myself.
Overall, I think this book is worth a shot, especially for those just getting into American literature. It gives you a new reading list to explore for yourself, and offers a bit of humor along the way.
opal360's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.75
An informative read but I found some chapters more engaging than others. I began to wish the writer had focused on his personal top 25 instead of tying everything to national identity. Often he would explain that he had chosen Book A by a given author over Book B (which he thought was better) because Book A had contributed more to the American national identity. But the problem for me was that he never sounded as enthusiastic about Book A and that somehow made the chapters go slower - especially when he spent so much of each chapter narrating the plot of the novel. I think when he was fired up about a book it really came across!
I listened to this on audio so that may have influenced my response.
I listened to this on audio so that may have influenced my response.
ateague73's review against another edition
3.0
I love Thomas C. Foster. He could write a book about watching paint dry and I would read it.
saturnserina's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
aloyokon's review against another edition
5.0
A great look at the 25 books that this author believes shaped the country. I've heard of most of these books and even read a few, but I've never been fully aware of the links between these authors' styles. I love Foster's casual mode of writing, and he even gives a list of other good books to look at the end of his list.
avalovarco's review
slow-paced
1.0
mostly boring some parts were interesting but the attempt at humor at wittiness from the author was a drag