The Great American Novel Challenge

I am so excited I can barely contain myself! Aaron just posted what is bound to be a superb exploration of American writings. The Great American Novel Challenge, to sum up, is a 13-month challenge beginning July 4, 2009 to read, write about, and discuss 13 different novels that you feel should be in the running for the moniker "the great American novel." (Why thirteen? Thirteen original colonies!)

Now, before your mind fills with visions of rereading Huckleberry Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird, there is a catch. A few actually (which are explained in detail in Aaron's post). First, you cannot pick books you have already read. Second, you can only pick one book per author. Third, only two books at most from any one decade. There are ten other guidelines to this challenge, and before you think these rules eliminate all American novels, think of authors you want to read more of, books all those "best of" lists tell you that you should have read, and think of all those books in high school and college you "read" but did not actually open. If you think Danielle Steel is the epitome of the American novelist, go for it. If you have been looking at Ernest Hemingway's novels with trepidation and need a little push to dive in - here is your push.

So, are you up for the challenge? Check out Aaron's post and let him know you are up for it, and then grab a book from your local library and start reading!