/lit/ - Literature

https://i.insider.com/52614c71ecad041b12bd5e50

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USA literature by state

A little over a month ago I made a thread asking for suggestions for novels set in each US state. The purpose of the project being to gain a fuller understanding of America and Americans. I feel like I'm seeing more and more flaws in what was an initially flawed premise, but I'll crack on just the same. I'm 1/10th of the way through, so here are my thoughts so far:

>1. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck - Oklahoma

Started with this one because I was pretty sure I'd like it, having already read and enjoyed Cannery Row. I got more or less exactly what I expected. Loved the dialogue and the characters. The shorter chapters that spoke to the wider situation were hit and miss, though the one with the title drop is a corker. I can understand the criticisms others have for it, it is not subtle and it is repetitive, but it all chimed well with my faggy socialist sensibilities. As I was nearing the end of the book I couldn't think of a good way to leave things. Obviously there could be no happily ever after but despair on top of despair wouldn't have fit either. The final image is so perfect, hopeful in spite of everything.

>2. The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler - California

As Steinbeck took me to California I figured I may as well stay for a while. I thought this was shite. Hated just about everything. There's Marlowe himself, insufferably perfect in every way. He'll outtalk anyone, he'll best all comers in hand-to-hand combat and the poor chap can't even go to sleep without annoying women trying to have sex with him. The whole cynicism angle really doesn't work when your main character is a superhero. The plot is a bit of a mess, can't say I was surprised to learn it is the result of cobbling together several short stories. The writing is so full of smarmy witticisms that every other page earned an eye-roll. I can't give it much credit for being so influential when the genre it helped carve out seems so worthless. And it's a complete dud in terms of what it can teach me about California, but that's my fault, should have picked something else.