I just happened to catch Tom Wolfe on CSPAN2 (Book TV - and, yes, there is such a thing) speaking at Duke. He ended his talk with a few book recommendations for people interested in learning how to write well. They all come from 1893-1939 - the "greatest time period for the American novel." Also, they're all authors who have influenced his journalistic approach to the novel.
Here's the list:
- The Grapes of Wrath
- Red Badge of Courage
- Elmer Gantry
- Sister Carrie
- Appointment in Samarra or BUtterfield 8
- Look Homeward Angel
I've read the first two, and now have some new additions to my "should probably read when I have a moment to spare" list. Oh, and I saw Capote last night, and it was amazing.
thank you for posting this - I too saw the speech but couldn't remember the whole list. BTW, I was glad to see he mentioned Sinclair Lewis - I read Babbit last summer and I really enjoyed it. 1890 - 1930 was the most fertile period in Wolfe's mind. I have a lot of reading to do....thx