American Fiction

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 		Literary Locales of Pacific Northwest Writers
The Pacific Northwest: hotbed of everything from environmentalism to cafe culture in recent decades. It's also proved a long term attraction to many top American writers.
The Bell Jar as a Bildungsroman Novel
Sylvia Plath takes the bildungsroman novel, which is typically a young man's journey to discover his place in society, and accommodates to the feminist position.
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert – Book Review
This historical novel weaves together facts and fiction in a mesmerizing tale of Old Hawaii and the Leper colony on Molokai'i.
Book Review – Happiness Sold Separately
Lolly Winston's book, Happiness Sold Separately, is the story of a marriage facing tough times.
Are Toni Morrison Novels Too Difficult to Enjoy?
Reading multifaceted novels often involve a sufficient amount of patience and a willingness to immerse oneself into the world of the characters.
Mark Twain Born in Missouri
Mark Twain, who was the most celebrated American writer of his time, believed that "the secret source of humor itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven."
Review of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
Despite only being published in 2008, Rebecca Miller's story of Pippa Lee and her complex past is already a modern classic which has spawned a successful film adaptation.
Finding the Best Book for the Readers You Love
Books make excellent last minute gifts for moms and dads, and friends who are readers and writers. Consulting a good book list can ease the shopping pressures.
Point of View in The Bell Jar
The point of view in Sylvia Plath's novel, The Bell Jar, is an essential element in understanding the story.
A Brief History of Pulp Fiction
The rise of pulp fiction coincides with the rise of literacy and consumerism. This article outlines the growth of the pulps from the 1920s to the present day.
Review of Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Seeing Slaughterhouse Five on any classic novels list is no surprise. This World War II novel by Kurt Vonnegut deals with time, coping, and war in an unconventional way.
River Jordan Breathes Life Into Southern Tales
River Jordan infuses her work with a down-home style of storytelling she learned on the porches of her extended family. It's more than a style, it's a state of mind.
The Life O'Reilly by Brian Cohen – Book Review
The Life O'Reilly, a Novel, is the story of Nick O'Reilly, a partner in a fancy New York law firm who discovers he wants more out of life.
Best John Grisham Books
Most know about John Grisham's books that have been made into movies. But his best novels have yet to made into movies.
Themes in The Bell Jar
The themes in Sylvia Plath's novel, The Bell Jar, are the closely interwoven concerns of identity.
Book Review –The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans
The Sunflower is an enthralling journey through the jungles of Peru, filled with adventure and romance.
The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love
Beth Pattillo's Sweetgum series continues in this new book.
Minor Men in The Bell Jar
To understand what happens in The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath you need to know how all the characters compliment or contrast with the main character Esther Greenwood.
SpendMore Time With Your Family Through Reading
Shireen Dobson wanted to find a way to spend quality time with her daughter, while on vacation with her family she thought about starting a mother/daughter book club.
Snapshots: 20th Century Mother–Daughter Fiction
Janet Berliner puts together a fine anthology of short stories that deal with the mother and daughter relationship. One particular interesting story is Wicked Girl.
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Book Review
The debut novel from Katherine Howe is a step in the right direction as she fictionally retells the horrors of the Salem Witch Trials from a new and unique perspective.
Playing House By Fredrica Wagman
The story of one woman's struggle with the lasting effects of a childhood sexual relationship with her brother will shock readers.
Christopher Moore's Fool – A Review
Christopher Moore's newest novel tackles a staple in high school English classes: King Lear. In this book Moore has cemented his status as the world's greatest absurdist.
Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo
For readers looking for a good, light read and a reason to laugh, Heavens to Betsy, by Beth Pattillo is a fun-loving, heart-felt and amusing romantic novel.
Minor Women in The Bell Jar
To understand what happens in The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath you need to know how all the characters compliment or contrast with the main character Esther Greenwood.
Lady of the Roses Book Review
Lady of the Roses presents an alternative look at Britain's historical War of the Roses while at the same time presenting the riveting character of Lady Isobel.
Austenland Book Review
Jane Hayes' obsession with everything Jane Austen leads her to an English resort that replicates Regency era life for its patrons, complete with its own version of the br
Truman Capote's A Thanksgiving Visitor
Buddy schemes to eliminate his worst enemy, but may just lose his one true friend in the process.
Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory
Truman Capote offers a glimpse of his childhood through his autobiographical tale of Buddy and Miss Sook.
Main Characters in The Bell Jar
To understand what happens in The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath you need to know how all the characters compliment or contrast with the main character, Esther Greenwood.
The Sound of Sleigh Bells
Cindy Woodsmall's knowledge of the Old Order Amish comes through again in this her newest book.
The Protagonist in Plath's Novel
Esther Greenwood is the protagonist in Sylvia Plath's first and only novel, The Bell Jar.
The Short Stories of Albert Maltz
Albert Maltz is one of the finest writers of social protest literature in the US. He was committed to social justice and opposed worker exploitation, racism and fascism.
The Code of the West ín Louis L'Amour Novels
The protagonists in the novels of Louis L'Amour are men of courage and endurance. These are men who live by the Code of the West, popularized by author Zane Grey.
Literature Review, William Gibson – Neuromancer
Treading a very thin line between compelling action-adventure and deeply philosophical study of life, the question of physical existence and personality.
What to Read After Kostova's The Historian
Elizabeth Kostova's international bestseller the Historian isn't the only historically based mystery novel out there. Here is a small list of authors to go to next.
Book Review – Into the Beautiful North
A unique blend of sorrow and comedy work to create a novel which is both touching and often laugh-out-loud funny.
Book Review of Homeland by Barbara Hambly
Homeland presents a woman's perspective in both the North and South in this complex and satisfying story of what the war really meant to the people who lived it.
The Condition by Jennifer Haigh
The Condition by Jennifer Haigh is the story of a fractured family with a 12-year-old daughter who has Turner syndrome and their struggle toward normalcy.
S.E Hinton on Writing The Outsiders & Others.
During a recent stop in Seattle, S.E. Hinton muses about writing her classic male coming-of-age bibles and being allowed on set as they were adapted for the big screen.
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Thankful Heart
Laura Ingalls Wilder seldom mentions Thanksgiving celebrations in her Little House on the Prairie books. However, she knew what was necessary for true Thanksgiving.
Five Novels With an Earthquake in the Plot
Fictional accounts of earthquakes can be found in many settings, including the future. The following novels explore scientific, spiritual and human aspects of quakes
Playing House – A fascinating & Disturbing Read
Incest is not something generally discussed in open forums. Frederica Wagman explores the effects of incest on an adult survivor in this fascinating book.
Playing House – A Book Review
Filled with candor and excellent details, Fredrica Wagman's novel will entice readers with its grandiose themes, dreams, and desires.
Book Review – A Daughter's Inheritance Review
A Daughter's Inheritance, the first instalment of the Broadmoor Legacy series, is a delicately crafted historical novel by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller.
Symbolism in The Tortilla Curtain
The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle is a cynical look at American civilization and how it often seems to resemble animal instinct more than human nature.
The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall
Cindy Woodsmall uses her personal relationships with the Amish to write this well researched book.
Juvenalian Satire in The Tortilla Curtain
Critics recognize T.C. Boyle's novel, The Tortilla Curtain, as a satire. However, Boyle's confused readers often miss the point.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Thinks On Freedom
In Little Town on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder, shares a breakthrough in how she understood freedom that occurred while she enjoyed Independence Day in DeSmet.
Review of Farmer Boy
Laura Ingalls Wilder's book, Farmer Boy, is a nostalgic account of what Laura perceived Almanzo's childhood to be.