Great Women of American Literature
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I hope Jeff doesn't move this to the "entertainment and pop culture" thread, because I don't think it belongs there.
Looking for your opinions on the great women of U.S. literature. Thank you. |
Anonymous
|
Why? Is this a homework assignment?
In any case, I would say off the top of my head Edith Wharton Flannery O'Connor Sylvia Plath Maya Angelou Alice Walker Toni Morrison Willa Cather |
Anonymous
|
I like Marilynne Robinson, Joan Didion (prefer her novels to her essays and reporting) and Toni Morrison. More recently Donna Tartt.
A recent favorite that I hope joins those ranks is Rachel Kushner. Nell Zink is interesting too. |
Anonymous
Over-rated. Sometimes you get points for committing suicide/dying young or for being of color. |
Anonymous
| Harper Lee |
Anonymous
|
In addition to the above:
Emily Dickinson Zora Neale Hurston Jhumpa Lahiri Sandra Cisneros Gertrude Stein Edwidge Danticat Gloria Naylor Louisa May Alcott |
Anonymous
Extremely over-rated. She was a one-hit wonder. The second book sucks. |
Anonymous
|
Edwidge Danticat is a hack.
Wow, OP, this thread is making me seriously depressed. We have a dearth of great women in American Lit. |
Anonymous
The second book is really her first. The fact that To Kill a Mockingbird is the one that is so great doesn't make her over-rated. She created a beautiful novel. |
Anonymous
What makes you say that? I loved Krik?Krak! |
Anonymous
|
Jane Smiley
Anne Tyler |
Anonymous
That was my point in posting it. A friend told me that we have few great U.S. literary women. I am not very literary, but I ticked off a few writers. She then ticked of many, many British writers. Granted they have a much longer history and tradition of literature than we do, but it did make me stop and think. Thanks to those who have answered. |
jsteele
Site Admin Offline
Site Admin Offline
|
What about Eudora Welty? Admittedly, I haven't actually read any of her novels -- just short stories -- but I've also read about her and she seems to be held in high esteem.
|
Anonymous
|
^ Yes!
Joyce Carol Oates too A lot of great short story writers in there |
Anonymous
|
Kate Chopin
Amy Tan Octavia Butler Gwendolyn Brooks Elizabeth Bishop |