When i look at the nearly 100 titles of the supposedly most outstanding American fiction, I am amazed, not at the great books, nor even the great books left out, but the horrible books selected.
Of the total, I have read the following, with a one or more word review attached to each:
TBR! I love Willa, but somehow have never heard of this book! 1923: One of Ours by Willa Cather
Wonderful tale 1928: The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
TBR! 1932: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Saved by Grapes of Wrath, disgusting perspective of an entitled white and all her world, most offensive is the whole "happy darkies" bit 1937: Gone
with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Great Book, by a Great Writer1939: The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Worst book ever to win the award, with the possible exception of this year's model 1940: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Great book 1945: A Bell for Adano by John Hersey
Great Book, by a Great Writer 1952: The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk
Not my favorite writer but an excellent book, much better than the rest of his stuff 1953: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The greatest American writer of the 20th century, but not his best work, see below 1955: A Fable by William Faulkner
Truly Great novel, better than TKAM, except for the social implications of TKAM the opening bit is the best piece of writing in the English language
1958: A Death in the Family by James Agee
Most likely the greatest single novel of the 20th century, if not American history1961: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The greatest American writer of the 20th century, but not his best work, try A light in August, Go Down Moses, Wild Palms, Absalom, Absalom,
1963: The Reivers by William Faulkner
Not her best work, but very good, try a Delta Wedding 1973: The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
Loved it 1975: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
One of the better books written in the last half of the 20th century! 1981: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (posthumous win)
Rabbit is terrible 1982: Rabbit Is Rich by John Updike
Wow! 1983: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
OK, maybe his best work 1986: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
A Great writer, at one time, not her best work 1988: Beloved by Toni Morrison
Terrible 1991: Rabbit at Rest by John Updike
Terrible 1992: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
Terrible 1994: The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx
Not Great 2002: Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Terrible 2007: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Terrible 2011: A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
