Rate this book

Twenty-five Books That Shaped America: How White Whales, Green Lights, And Restless Spirits Forged Our National Identity (2011)

by Thomas C. Foster(Favorite Author)
3.62 of 5 Votes: 2
ISBN
0061834408 (ISBN13: 9780061834400)
languge
English
publisher
Harper Perennial
review 1: I wish this book had contained more history and less of the author's opinions, but I enjoyed reading what I did and truly learned a lot.I didn't read the whole book--just chapters from those books I have read because I didn't want to spoil the endings for books I haven't yet read. So the embarrassingly short list of those I read about in Foster's book is as follows: The Scarlett Letter, Walden, Leaves of Grass, The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, On the Road, Cat in the Hat, and To Kill a Mockingbird. I have the rest of my life to read the other 17, right?The chapter I found least informative was The Great Gatsby but only because none of the information was new for me, it being my most studied and favored book ever. I absolutely LOVED learning about The Grapes of Wrath ... moreand Cat in the Hat. Seuss is my hero. And Steinbeck is climbing the charts...
review 2: I've read 11 of these titles, and was familiar with most of the other titles or authors. Foster was persuasive, analytical, and witty in his observations--so much so, that I would be willing to reread "The Scarlet Letter." The only title I had a slight issue was "Song of Solomon" (which I admittedly have not read)--the Morrison book I believe has shaped America is "Beloved," which exposed to the world the horrors of slavery in a new way. Overall, an interesting read. less
Reviews (see all)
szczypta86
Foster provides an entertaining and insightful survey of American literature.
ddirkse
I'm sure there is value in this to someone, but I just wasn't into it.
Vannie
I should read more. That's what I think.
MrsDStoddard
Watch for my review on Technorati.com
Write review
Review will shown on site after approval.
(Review will shown on site after approval)