One of my favorite writers for this type of work that also falls into the world of Classic American Literature is John Steinbeck. His books are firmly rooted in time and place, and his characters are so real you almost feel like they were your ancestors.
My favorite Steinbeck book is one I was introduced to in junior high school: "The Grapes of Wrath." I imagine most people who were educated in American schools have read this tale of a family from Oklahoma that moves to California in the hope of making a living during the Great Depression.
It is as much a history as it is a novel, and that's why teachers love it. That's why I like it, too, because I think it's great when literature also gives us lessons about our lives and where we came from as people.
I didn't really appreciate this book when I read it in school. It was long, for one thing, and the ending kind of grossed me out. But I read it again last year and I must say I gained a new appreciation for the novel, and for Steinbeck himself.
By now, most of you probably know that Oprah has restarted her book club, now as a classics club. The first selection was Steinbeck's "East of Eden." According to Oprah's Web site, Steinbeck wrote the book to tell his sons the history of California.
I wouldn't know, as I've never read it. I'd venture to say that a lot of people haven't read it (though certainly a lot more have read it now that it has the Oprah seal of approval.) I've read some critics saying that this was a poor choice. They said this was not one of his best works but was probably the one of his works that would be the most palatable to today's readers.
I'm going to have to go on a rant here. I know Oprah has done great things for the book industry by introducing people to literature that they wouldn't normally have read (and making several people who wrote books about women's issues very rich indeed.) But I have a problem with the idea that she's choosing books that will appeal to the common denominator.
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