Upvote Upvoted 6 Downvote Downvoted
1 2 3
book recommendations
posted in Off Topic
31
#31
3 Frags +

Have you tried Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller?

Have you tried [i]Death of a Salesman[/i], by Arthur Miller?
32
#32
-6 Frags +

Great Gatsby is trash I don't know why it's still in the curriculum.

The Crucible and GG are the only two readings I did in school that added literally nothing to my educational experience.

Great Gatsby is trash I don't know why it's still in the curriculum.

The Crucible and GG are the only two readings I did in school that added literally nothing to my educational experience.
33
#33
0 Frags +
Mr_OwlGreat Gatsby is trash I don't know why it's still in the curriculum.

The Crucible and GG are the only two readings I did in school that added literally nothing to my educational experience.

funny you mention that... the crucible is supposed to be the last book we collectively as a class read

[quote=Mr_Owl]Great Gatsby is trash I don't know why it's still in the curriculum.

The Crucible and GG are the only two readings I did in school that added literally nothing to my educational experience.[/quote]
funny you mention that... the crucible is supposed to be the last book we collectively as a class read
34
#34
-2 Frags +
marketMr_OwlGreat Gatsby is trash I don't know why it's still in the curriculum.

The Crucible and GG are the only two readings I did in school that added literally nothing to my educational experience.
funny you mention that... the crucible is supposed to be the last book we collectively as a class read

It's a waste of time just skim by enough to get the grade

[quote=market][quote=Mr_Owl]Great Gatsby is trash I don't know why it's still in the curriculum.

The Crucible and GG are the only two readings I did in school that added literally nothing to my educational experience.[/quote]
funny you mention that... the crucible is supposed to be the last book we collectively as a class read[/quote]

It's a waste of time just skim by enough to get the grade
35
#35
4 Frags +

Depending on how old you are, you could go with Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. The American dream as filtered through gnosticism, mythology, and a whole lot of fucking gore.

It's a very challenging book, though.

Depending on how old you are, you could go with Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. The American dream as filtered through gnosticism, mythology, and a whole lot of fucking gore.

It's a very challenging book, though.
36
#36
1 Frags +

Blood Meridian is probably overkill.

Also Great Gatsby is pop lit but that doesn't mean it's bad. Just simple and accessible as far as literature goes. Personally it didn't make much of an impact on me but I read a lot so it changes my perspective a bit.

Blood Meridian is probably overkill.

Also Great Gatsby is pop lit but that doesn't mean it's bad. Just simple and accessible as far as literature goes. Personally it didn't make much of an impact on me but I read a lot so it changes my perspective a bit.
37
#37
0 Frags +

Since you're a 16 year old, I'm not sure how many of these books suggested would be appropriate considering your interest or lack thereof in literature. I highly suggest you read something short and something you want/wouldn't mind reading. After you've read it you can deconstruct the ideas and "interpret it" to match your image of the American dream. For example, in the The Hunger Games: The social structure represented in the book is extrapolated from the current state of American Capitalism and the economic class divides. The objective of this paper (most likely) is to test your ability to deconstruct (The American Dream) and interpret ideas (The Book you choose to read) both of which are essential to being a critical thinker.

Since you're a 16 year old, I'm not sure how many of these books suggested would be appropriate considering your interest or lack thereof in literature. I highly suggest you read something short and something you want/wouldn't mind reading. After you've read it you can deconstruct the ideas and "interpret it" to match your image of the American dream. For example, in the The Hunger Games: The social structure represented in the book is extrapolated from the current state of American Capitalism and the economic class divides. The objective of this paper (most likely) is to test your ability to deconstruct (The American Dream) and interpret ideas (The Book you choose to read) both of which are essential to being a critical thinker.
38
#38
0 Frags +

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn might also be a good one to try. I mean I read that when I was 12 or 13 and found it interesting then and you could probably make something about the American Dream out of that. Though again I would highly suggest anything from the early twentieth century.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn might also be a good one to try. I mean I read that when I was 12 or 13 and found it interesting then and you could probably make something about the American Dream out of that. Though again I would highly suggest anything from the early twentieth century.
39
#39
0 Frags +

A lot of Henry James' work provides an interesting perspective about American society and how it differs from European nations.
Vonnegut is always a fairly simple and easy read and talks a lot about the American dream. Pretty popular in high school.
Death of a Salesman, Moby Dick, and Blood Meridian are all good options that have already been mentioned, but if you have a hard time staying focused and don't read much the last two might be a stretch.
Vineland by Thomas Pynchon is an excellent choice, talks about American society in the 60s vs. the Reagan years, has a lot of implications for the American Dream as well. I'd also recommend Against the Day by Pynchon, save for it's 1,000 pages and that might be a little much for you. Still an excellent book though. His writing is incredibly deep, but still survives at a surface level if you haven't read too terribly much.
Empire or Hollywood, both by Gore Vidal, are historical fiction novels that could apply as well. Vidal's an amazing author and there's plenty to work with when analyzing those from the perspective of the American Dream.
Steinbeck is a quintessentially American author, Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, or In Dubious Battle are all good options, even more so if you have a basic understanding of the Bible.

A lot of Henry James' work provides an interesting perspective about American society and how it differs from European nations.
Vonnegut is always a fairly simple and easy read and talks a lot about the American dream. Pretty popular in high school.
Death of a Salesman, Moby Dick, and Blood Meridian are all good options that have already been mentioned, but if you have a hard time staying focused and don't read much the last two might be a stretch.
Vineland by Thomas Pynchon is an excellent choice, talks about American society in the 60s vs. the Reagan years, has a lot of implications for the American Dream as well. I'd also recommend Against the Day by Pynchon, save for it's 1,000 pages and that might be a little much for you. Still an excellent book though. His writing is incredibly deep, but still survives at a surface level if you haven't read too terribly much.
Empire or Hollywood, both by Gore Vidal, are historical fiction novels that could apply as well. Vidal's an amazing author and there's plenty to work with when analyzing those from the perspective of the American Dream.
Steinbeck is a quintessentially American author, Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, or In Dubious Battle are all good options, even more so if you have a basic understanding of the Bible.
40
#40
1 Frags +

if you want something contemporary (1990 - 2014), you're going to have to look a little harder. a lot of good suggestions are here already though. look at Jess Walter's "Beautiful Ruins" for something "easy." But I would HIGHLY recommend Sherman Alexie's "Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" or even Louise Erdrich's "The Bingo Palace." it's good to read novels that arent written by old white men to get a different take on the American Dream from the original Americans that got fucked over by expansionism and capitalist drive for profit

if you want something contemporary (1990 - 2014), you're going to have to look a little harder. a lot of good suggestions are here already though. look at Jess Walter's "Beautiful Ruins" for something "easy." But I would HIGHLY recommend Sherman Alexie's "Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" or even Louise Erdrich's "The Bingo Palace." it's good to read novels that arent written by old white men to get a different take on the American Dream from the original Americans that got fucked over by expansionism and capitalist drive for profit
41
#41
-1 Frags +

The Great Gatsby
1984 by George Orwell

The Great Gatsby
1984 by George Orwell
42
#42
0 Frags +

ded

ded
43
#43
0 Frags +

nvm

nvm
44
#44
0 Frags +

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
45
#45
0 Frags +

Requiem for a Dream. If you like heroin.

Requiem for a Dream. If you like heroin.
46
#46
0 Frags +

If the only criteria is that it has to vaguely relate to the American dream, you could try "A long way gone" by Ishmael Beah and do a contrast essay on how different his experiences are compared to those living "The American Dream".

I think everyone should read that book anyways but w/e.

Other than that you could try "The bell jar" by Sylvia Plath. I'm pretty sure you can definitely get an essay on "The American Dream" out of that, although as a 16 year old boy you may not care about the content.

If the only criteria is that it has to vaguely relate to the American dream, you could try "A long way gone" by Ishmael Beah and do a contrast essay on how different his experiences are compared to those living "The American Dream".

I think everyone should read that book anyways but w/e.

Other than that you could try "The bell jar" by Sylvia Plath. I'm pretty sure you can definitely get an essay on "The American Dream" out of that, although as a 16 year old boy you may not care about the content.
47
#47
2 Frags +

The Road - mad max type stuff, you can cheat and watch the movie too.

Parable of the Sower - more mad max type stuff with an undisclosed religious vein

Oryx and Crake OR The Year of the Flood - more mad max stuff with some science

Snowcrash - really fun cyberpunk type stuff

These are all on the easier side to read or plow through. Shouldn't be too hard to make the American dream connection either.

The Road - mad max type stuff, you can cheat and watch the movie too.

Parable of the Sower - more mad max type stuff with an undisclosed religious vein

Oryx and Crake OR The Year of the Flood - more mad max stuff with some science

Snowcrash - really fun cyberpunk type stuff

These are all on the easier side to read or plow through. Shouldn't be too hard to make the American dream connection either.
48
#48
2 Frags +
Mr_OwlGreat Gatsby is trash I don't know why it's still in the curriculum.

its so fucking pretty tho holy shit
what

most of mccarthy's stuff is fairly approachable and fast paced while being part of the canon or whatever to be able to be discussed through whatever lens u want

[quote=Mr_Owl]Great Gatsby is trash I don't know why it's still in the curriculum.
[/quote]
its so fucking pretty tho holy shit
what

most of mccarthy's stuff is fairly approachable and fast paced while being part of the canon or whatever to be able to be discussed through whatever lens u want
49
#49
0 Frags +

Catch-22 was pretty good. Not exactly "American Dream", but still really good.

Catch-22 was pretty good. Not exactly "American Dream", but still really good.
50
#50
5 Frags +

i know owl has edgy opinions but great gatsby is legitimately awful

i know owl has edgy opinions but great gatsby is legitimately awful
51
#51
0 Frags +

The Fountainhead for a more mainstream paper.

If you want to actually write an interesting paper or whatever your assignment is read Tangled Destinies: Latin America and the United States.

The Fountainhead for a more mainstream paper.

If you want to actually write an interesting paper or whatever your assignment is read Tangled Destinies: Latin America and the United States.
52
#52
0 Frags +

I'm reading a book called In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette,

if you're not really into the classics, this one is pretty accessible, has a pretty driven narrative, and is entirely true! It's very adventurous. Best part: you don't have to even think about the american dream, the protag's Oedipus complex, ominous forshadowing, the symbolism of the colors in the scene, or the thematic narrative motifs!

It goes well with this, too, if listening to music while reading is your thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substrata

edit: didnt read the OP.

But this one could be used for the american dream, anyway. Write about Bennett and De Long's drive to discovery and Manifest Destiny.

I'm reading a book called In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette,

if you're not really into the classics, this one is pretty accessible, has a pretty driven narrative, and is entirely true! It's very adventurous. Best part: you don't have to even think about the american dream, the protag's Oedipus complex, ominous forshadowing, the symbolism of the colors in the scene, or the thematic narrative motifs!

It goes well with this, too, if listening to music while reading is your thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substrata

edit: didnt read the OP.

But this one could be used for the american dream, anyway. Write about Bennett and De Long's drive to discovery and Manifest Destiny.
53
#53
0 Frags +

Can it be more Dystopian, or does it actually have to live up to the American dream?

Can it be more Dystopian, or does it actually have to live up to the American dream?
54
#54
3 Frags +
Drinky_CrowFor example, in the The Hunger Games

Give the kid more credit than that. They have most AP Lit students reading Pynchon now.

[quote=Drinky_Crow]For example, in the [b]The Hunger Games[/b][/quote]

Give the kid more credit than that. They have most AP Lit students reading Pynchon now.
55
#55
3 Frags +

since ur 16 and dont actually like reading ima say fight club

since ur 16 and dont actually like reading ima say fight club
56
#56
0 Frags +

American gods is pretty cool
I've never had to write on the american dream though so i don't know if it would apply

American gods is pretty cool
I've never had to write on the american dream though so i don't know if it would apply
57
#57
0 Frags +

Eeeee Eee Eeee, by Tao Lin

Eeeee Eee Eeee, by Tao Lin
58
#58
2 Frags +

im literally autistic and only read technical books

im literally autistic and only read technical books
59
#59
0 Frags +

"something that can keep the attention span of a 16 year old idiot. i havent read a book in forever that has kept me really glued to it"
@ justus_1DeaGCHaMP

"something that can keep the attention span of a 16 year old idiot. i havent read a book in forever that has kept me really glued to it"
@ justus_1DeaGCHaMP
60
#60
0 Frags +

I saw Snow Crash mentioned. It's a good choice. The fiction is poppy enough to keep your attention and the themes are ham fisted enough to make a paper really easy.

Stephenson is a great author though. Anathem is one of my favorite books of all time, and The Diamond Age is a great read as well. Snow Crash fits your project best and also happens to be the most accessible so hit that shit up

I saw Snow Crash mentioned. It's a good choice. The fiction is poppy enough to keep your attention and the themes are ham fisted enough to make a paper really easy.

Stephenson is a great author though. Anathem is one of my favorite books of all time, and The Diamond Age is a great read as well. Snow Crash fits your project best and also happens to be the most accessible so hit that shit up
1 2 3
Please sign in through STEAM to post a comment.