Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America, (Paperback)

from TheBentley

I really enjoyed this book. It seems to read much faster than it really does because it moves along quickly. Parini's bias is a little more evident than it probably should be, and when it isn't, it's largely because he's acting as apologist for the books he's chosen (like Huck Finn, for instance)...

from quondame

14 essays about important works published in 19th and 20th century United States, though one was written in and about the 17th century. The unexamined, though possibly correct, assumption is that the most influential books on the US would arise from within the US. Some of the essays, particularly...

from Tatoosh

This is an an excellent overview of books that, as the title says, "changed America." I recommend it to anyone who is interested in U. S. history and the ideas that helped to shape it.

from laytonwoman3rd

Jay Parini is marvelous; he writes clearly, he's not afraid to be a bit irreverent, he can be funny, and his breadth of knowledge--historical and literary--is impressive. It doesn't hurt my appreciation of him to know that originally he came from the West Scranton neighborhoods I often drive thro...

from laytonwoman3rd

Jay Parini is marvelous; he writes clearly, he's not afraid to be a bit irreverent, he can be funny, and his breadth of knowledge--historical and literary--is impressive. It doesn't hurt my appreciation of him to know that originally he came from the West Scranton neighborhoods I often drive thro...