Azar Nafisi is best known for her best seller, Reading Lolita in Tehran. In this new book, Nafisi views America through the analysis of three books: Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, Sinclair Lewis’ Babbitt, and Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. As an Epilogue, she includes the work of James Baldwin. Originally, Nafisi was going to analyze America through 24 U.S. novels. But, someone (maybe an editor) talked her into a much smaller number. If you’re familiar with the books Nafisi has chosen, you’ll find some insights here. But this is not exactly a book about these classic American novels. The reader learns a lot about Nafisi and her friends, too. If you’re in the mood for an off-beat mediation on Twain, Lewis, McCullers, and Baldwin The Republic of Imagination will captivate you for a few hours. GRADE: B
I think I learned enough about her in READING. May take a pass on this one.
Patti, I would have been more interested in Nafisi’s original idea of looking at America in 24 books. These choices seem constrained.
I agree – 24 books would have interested me more.
Jeff, I was a little puzzled by Nafisi’s choices. Reducing all of American literature to HUCKLEBERRY FINN, BABBITT, and THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER is a little strange.
I agree it’s a strange mix of works on which to base an analysis of American Lit, or Americans, or anything, really.
Rick, I completely agree. It’s an odd selection.