Rating: 
Summary: An American Classic
Review: Yes, the book does drag a bit (I admit almost falling asleep during some parts) but altogether, "An American Tragedy" is still one of the classic novels of literature. Besides the obvious plot, it is a story about our destinies. Dreiser shows us that after millions of years of evolution, we are still only humans, capable of devastating failure.
Rating: 
Summary: Who ever said this book was captivating?
Review: I cannot comprehend why some individuals who survive this book (survive being the operative word) have the audacity to label it as "captivating" or "gripping", thus luring others into purchasing it. If ever an author reiterated points unnecessarily, provided page upon page of irrelevant, soporific facts, and generally snuffed the life out of any barely-existent storyline, it is Theodore Dreiser in An American Tragedy. Perhaps I exaggerate mildly, but such boredom as I have endured during the past weeks is sufficient to induce such hyperbole. Perhaps you ruminate as to why I would complete such a tiresome novel. Truthfully, I clung to a fragile sinew of hope that eventually the pace would accelerate, or Dreiser would radically alter his style mid-book and cease to sedate me with prolonged descriptions of such items as a camera tripod and some glorified infanticidal agent. This never occurred, however. In fact, the book worsened in approaching the conclusion! Interminable ramblings of "Praise the Lord", myriad biblical passages, and a painfully redundant courtroom session in which the same facts were repeated with such frequency I was moved to drive a metal spike through my head characterized the latter portion. Perhaps my sole laudation of this novel is the manner in which the reader vicariously experiences Clyde's trials, although in great likelihood this is merely an aftereffect of the length of the novel. God bless those who complete this work with their sanity! The only American tragedy I see is that some modern-day Americans feel compelled to experience this monstrosity.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth the time
Review: I read this many years ago, but I remember that during one part, I read til way past my lights out hour. If you think that seeing "A Place in the Sun" will suffice, do spend the time to read this Dreiser masterpiece and see why "the book is usually better than the movie". Yes, it was long, but this slow reader didn't mind since the characters and plot are gripping.
Rating: 
Summary: Magnificent!
Review: Truly the "great American novel," I found nothing to indicate an editor was needed or anything objectionable in Dreiser's clear, unpretentious, narrative writing style. I've never read an 800+ page book so quickly. A gripping story that reaches into the soul, easily among the top ten novels I've ever read. Don't miss this one!
Rating:
Summary: A superb book
Review: Although this book is quite long, I found it to be quite interesting, and Dreiser's prose was by far as far away from F. Scott Fitzgerald prose as you can get, making for easier reading. I found it hard to put this book down because I was able to relate to Clyde Griffiths, to a certain extent. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It's brilliantly written, and a very accurate reflection of the 1920's.
Rating:
Summary: The Dark Side of Horatio Alger
Review: Writing in a period when the "poor boy makes good'' myth was an integral part of American life, Dreiser turned it upside down (as he did for women in "Sister Carrie.'') . This indeed is Poor Boy Makes Bad. I've read this a half-dozen times and I can't find many flaws other than the occasionally murky prose and my prediliction for visualizing the protagonists as Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters and even Raymond Burr in his cameo as the prosecutor. A wonderful book.
Rating: 
Summary: The biggest Tragedy is that I read it
Review: I know its a classic. I know its supposedly the 13th best novel of the 20th Century. What I don't know is WHY??? This novel drags on for 800 pages and takes the reader along for the slow, painful ride. Its sentence structure, a common source of complaint from even the most staunch Dreiser admirers, is the least of its problems. Weren't there any editors around in Dreisers days? And if so, why the heck didn't he use one? If there was one thing that Hemingway taught the US public it was that you dont need to spend 5 pages describing a day or thought or feeling (or camera case!) in order to paint an accurate picture. While reading this book I felt like being banged over the head over and over again with paragraphs upon paragraphs of useless information that detracted rather than added to the scene or character. In addition, the last chapters with its constant repititions of religious rhetoric detracted from the sense of Clyde being "saved" and added to the feeling of being manipulated for 750 pages so that one would have to listen to Dreisers own version of puritanically religious viturperations. If you want classic American literature focusing on human suffering and the falseness behind the "American Dream" read "Light in August" or "Fountainhead" or the hundreds of great novels that fall somewhere in between the poles. Just do yourself a favor and stay away from this american tragedy. Please.
Rating: 
Summary: better than "Gatsby"
Review: I dont like Dreiser, I dont like his prose, and I detest his (very real) characters. But i will be honest enough to say that this novel is impossible to overlook. I believe this is a far more apt candidate as 'the great American novel'. It is much better than, say, "The Great Gatsby" in its hauntingly real picture of the American dream gone wrong.
Rating:
Summary: A terrific work about the corruption of a young man's life
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. With its vivid scenes from the poor streets of Kansas City to the fatal lake to the beautiful Sondra Finchley and her glamorous life. It showed just how incredible a life could have been for the main character if he had not made hasty decisions and followed his illusionous dream instead of the true reality of life around him. If you want to read a great novel about the life of teenager and later his early twenties trying to reach for that American Dream, a dream that changed so many people's lives in the early 20th century, this is a great work!
Rating:
Summary: Super Novel
Review: This book is a bit daunting, especially by its length. It even starts a little slow, but it is worth reading.Written in the early 1900's, the novel follows the late teen-age years of a poor teenager. He is impressed with material goods, wealth, women and social position. He goes to great lengths to achieve his whims. The movie "A Place in the Sun" failed to capture the motivations and feelings of Clyde, the main character, like the book did. In fact, the movie doesn't do justice to the book at all. I highly recommend this book -- it'll probably be on my all-time favorite list. The vivid detail that Dreiser writes made me feel like I knew Clyde. Although, at times, hard to sympathsize with, one does understand his motivations.
|
