American Author Challenge 2017: General Discussion

^^Octavia Butler, William Styron, Sherman Alexie, Patricia Highsmith, James McBride

January- Octavia Butler: http://www.librarything.com/topic/244706#
February- Stewart O' Nan
March- William Styron
April- Poetry Month: http://www.librarything.com/topic/254101#
May- Zora Neale Hurston: http://www.librarything.com/topic/255937#
June- Sherman Alexie: http://www.librarything.com/topic/258256
July- James McBride: http://www.librarything.com/topic/260671#
August- Patricia Highsmith: http://www.librarything.com/topic/266437#
September- Short Story Month
October- Ann Patchett http://www.librarything.com/topic/270409#
November- Russell Banks http://www.librarything.com/topic/272608#
December- Ernest Hemingway

**Okay, we should be pros at this by now. This is our 4th year. Can you believe it? Pick a book or two by that author, hopefully something off the shelf, (that is always the mission folks!) and read it. It is that simple. If a certain author does not appeal, feel free to substitute another American author. The Book Gods do shine down on "The Purists", so keep that in mind, before deciding to skip something. If you want to read authors out of order, I have no problem with that.

^^I will post the links to each author AAC, next to the author's name for easy access.

I will post the Octavia Butler thread, within the next couple of days. You should all ready have something picked out. No dithering, remember those Book Gods! They seem to be quite benevolent but you do not want to see them get angry.

4 years - really?!?! Time flies, my friend! Thanks for getting us set up for another year.

ETA to fix typo.

Katie stopped by! Katie stopped by! Hurrah! Have you read any Butler?

OMG, did you see my typo? Oy... that's what I get for typing on my phone!

Haven't read Butler before but I've had a copy of Kindred on shelf for a while and am looking forward to it!

Not looking...not looking...don't need another challenge...Butler, Highsmith, and Hemingway?! Well, I guess I'm adding another challenge next year.

>6 katiekrug: I thought you were kidding around, KAK. LOL.

Yah! We will both be reading Kindred.

>7 amanda4242: Great to have you along Amanda! First time?

>8 msf59: Yep. I've done the BAC, but this will be my first AAC.

ETA: Butler's Parable of the Sower is currently $1.99 on Kindle and her Seed to Harvest is the same price on Kindle and Google Play.

Such a good group of authors you've chosen, Mark! I am going to try my best to stick with it this year. All the challenges look like so much fun in January and somehow by July I've fallen off all the wagons. :-)

>9 amanda4242: Welcome a board, Amanda. Thanks for the Butler ebook deals! I will check them out too.

>10 rosalita: Hi, Julia! Great to see you. Hope you'll be able to join us on a few. Have you read Butler?

>11 msf59: I have never read Butler, despite having her on my radar for what seems like eons. I think I'm going to read Kindred unless the library doesn't come through.

I just ordered the Kindle Deals that Amanda mentioned. Seed to Harvest is four full books.

>12 rosalita: Looks like a few of us will be reading Kindred. Yah!

Here I am! Can't wait for another year of this. As much American lit as I read, I still always find something new and wonderful through this challenge. This year I'll try to introduce myself to Butler, O'Nan, and Highsmith, who I have not yet read, and re-visit all the others, who I have. Let 'er rip!

I'm so excited for more peopls to become acquainted with Stewart O'Nan!

'The Book Gods do shine down on "The Purists" ' .... slinking into the back room

Looking forward to Octavia!!! I love her writing and am partway through the Seed to Harvest series.

Kindred is probably Octavia's most read book, but it certainly isn't her most unique. Of the ones I've read, I like Bloodchild and Wild Seed the best.

Stewart O'Nan is the one I am unfamiliar with in terms of choices. I will probably look to buy something of his in January for February as I have Emily, Alone and unread but it is boxed up when I had my ill-advised book purge in November.

Bloodchild for me is lined up for January.

>16 roundballnz: The Book Gods love all their bookish children. Keep that in mind, my friend.

I have Parable of the Sower in hand. I'm still trying to finish a few more books for 2016 before starting my huge pile for January.

>18 cammykitty: I have Wild Seed on audio.

I'm in!

Although I don't plan to read AAC books every month, I see several months that coincide with my reading plans for the year so I may join in those months. I may even join in on another one or two if the mood strikes me!

I've already read Kindred which was excellent so I picked up Seed to Harvest for my Kindle. Thanks for the tip. I will be joining you from time to time.

Thanks, Mark, for continuing to host this fun challenge. I'm dropping off my star and hoping to participate more fully than I did in Year III.

I've already started reading Lilith's Brood. So far, it's a winner!

The Octavia Butler thread is now up. Stop over and let us know, what you are reading:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/244706#

Not sure what I'll read yet.

anuary- Octavia Butler
February- Stewart O' Nan--Faithful
March- William Styron
April- Poetry Month
May- Zora Neale Hurston--Their Eyes Were Watching God
June- Sherman Alexie
July- James McBride
August- Patricia Highsmith
September- Short Story Month
October- Ann Patchett--Bel Canto
November- Russell Banks
December- Ernest Hemingway

I can only match July and October but will try to find other American authors on my shelves. With 350 books on the TBR there must be some!

Happy New Year all!.

To close out 2016's AAC, I read Falling Man by DeLillo and The Final Solution by Chabon. Last two reads, books # 84 and 85.

So in 2016's AAC, I read 3 by Tyler, 1 by Russo, 1 by Smiley, 1 very long poem by S. V. Benet, 1 by Doig, 1 by Proulx, 3 by Steinbeck, 2 by JCO, 1 shorty by Irving, 2 by Chabon, 1 by Dillard, and 2 by DeLillo. I have several TBRs (each) by Tyler, Russo, Smiley, Doig, Steinbeck, Irving, and Dillard.

I blame that Weird Warbler from Downer's Grove for all those TBRs.

I'm coming to grips with the 2017 lineup.

The Stewart O' Nan thread is up. Stop by and let us know what you will be reading: http://www.librarything.com/topic/247418#

The William Styron thread is up for March: http://www.librarything.com/topic/250015#

Stop on over and let us know what you'll be reading.

^I want to apologize for not putting up the April AAC poetry thread yet. I intended to post it a few days ago and did not get to it. That will be the mission tonight...unless I get distracted with beer, birds or books, of course.

>32 msf59: Apologies not necessary, Mark. Those distractions are more compelling than...eh...poetry. Heh heh heh.

Um, er, it's still March, so you're good. :)

>33 weird_O: Come on, Bill, jump on board. I think you would enjoy Billy Collins.

>34 drneutron: Just made it, Jim. Whew!

^The AAC Poetry Thread, is finally up and running. Stop on by: http://www.librarything.com/topic/254101#

^The Zora Neale Hurston thread is up. Stop on by and let us know what you are going to read:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/255937#

^"The acclaimed author and poet Denis Johnson has died aged 67. Best known for his classic short-story collection Jesus’ Son, Johnson won the National Book Award for his novel Tree of Smoke in 2007 and was twice shortlisted for the Pulitzer prize for fiction. His work has been compared to that of Raymond Carver and William Burroughs."

^This is sad news. I have only read Train Dreams, which I loved. I have a couple more of his on shelf. I have considering featuring him on the AAC in the past but I did not do so.

Like we did with Kent Haruf, I wouldn't mind setting up a AAC thread for Johnson. It would be open-ended and you could read one of his, whenever you choose to. How does that sound?
I really want to read Tree of Smoke & Jesus’ Son.

**Correction: I also read Nobody Move, which was slight, but enjoyable.

RIP Denis, too young to die. I read Train Dreams twice in the same year, and will now reread it. I do have a couple of his other books too. I have certainly got Tree of Smoke, maybe some essays.

Yes, next years AAC a good choice.

Oh, yes, yes. A special place in this year's AAC for Mr. Johnson. I've read the same two Johnson novellas that you did, Mark. And I got a copy of Tree of Smoke a year or so ago to read right away, but now I see it languishing on the TBR Tower. I've read two books about Nam this year, so why not a third.

Also Note: WashPo just alerted me to the death of Greg Allman. He was 69.

^The Sherman Alexie thread is up. Stop by: http://www.librarything.com/topic/258256

>40 weird_O: I would gladly read Tree of Smoke with you, Bill. I have been wanting to read that for years.

^The James McBride thread is up. Stop on by: http://www.librarything.com/topic/260671#

Looking for Patricia Highsmith....Patricia?....Ms. Highsmith?....

Karen O.

>44 klobrien2: It's coming, Karen. Very soon....LOL.

^Better late than never, kids. Here is the Patricia Highsmith thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/266437#

>46 msf59: Thank you! Sorry if I was a pest!

Karen O.

>47 klobrien2: Not at all, Karen. I needed a kick in the pants and you delivered. Smiles...

^September AAC Thread is up. Stop by and let us know what story or collection of stories you will be reading:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/268496

^The Ann Patchett thread is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/270409#

Sorry for the delay.

I have read one book by Ann Patchett, Taft, which I think is one of her earlier works. I liked it quite well, but found the ending a bit of a disappointment because I couldn't suspend my disbelief over a particular critical plot point. Nevertheless, the writing was wonderful, and I'm looking forward to reading another of her books this month.

I have read and enjoyed both Run and Taft. I will use this challenge to pick up either Bel Canto or State of Wonder both of which are in my TBR pile.

^The Russell Banks thread is up. Stop by and let us know what you will be reading: http://www.librarything.com/topic/272608#

^There will be some AAC 2018 info coming, later in the day.

>54 msf59: *bounces impatiently in chair*

>54 msf59: - I've got my list of 50 authors ready to see if you choose any of them :)

>55 laytonwoman3rd: >56 katiekrug: LOL. I have the funniest pals.

^Okay, I have been slowly stockpiling a short list of authors, that I am strongly considering for next year's AAC. That will be my fifth year of hosting and possibly the last. I finally put together a list of my past AAC authors, to help jog my memory, although repeats are not out of the question.

Like past years, I will gladly take recommendations. I also plan on continuing both the April Poetry and September Short Fiction months. I enjoy those.
Here are the authors I have come up with and others I have saved from past suggestions:

Joan Didion (I think I will kick off the year with this one)
Colson Whitehead
Alice Walker
Tobias Wolff
Jack London
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Erksine Caldwell
May Sarton
Dawn Powell
Julia Alvarez

I am also thinking of repeating Toni Morrison. Can we really get enough of her?

Would anyone be against me, including Stephen King? I think he would qualify.

>58 msf59: Can we really get enough of her?

I think so, but I'm probably in the minority. I also think I was subjected to enough London in school to last me several lifetimes.

How about Samuel R. Delaney?

>58 msf59: Lots of good choices including some I've rarely, if ever, read and hoped to get to one day, such as Joan Didion. I don't think I've ever heard of Powell or Alvarez.

I like the list. I have books unread by several of those authors. I really want to get around to Dawn Powell. I have no objection to Morrison again, or to King. May I throw Pete Hamill's name into the hat as well?

What about a younger, but well known author like, Jonathan Franzen? He has both fiction and non-fiction. I also don't think that you have ever had John McPhee, Adam Gopnik, or Bill Bryson on the list. McPhee has a sizeable body of work that is mostly non-fiction as does Bryson. Gopnik writes some good essays. Or somebody like Tom Perrota or Chris Bohjalian? Both of these have a sizeable body of work? Tom Wolfe or Pete Hamill.

My literary suggestion would be Bernard Malamud.

What about Oliver Sacks, if non-fiction is being considered. Diane Ackerman?

The list looks good, Mark.

Have you done Cormac McCarthy or Marilynne Robinson in the past? My old guy memory fails me.

I don't know if there'd be enough people interested in Walter Mosley, but I think he's awfully good.

I'm with Amanda in that I read enough Jack London in school to last me several lifetimes...

I have no objection to including King (he was on my prospective list!) or including Morrison again.

I was going to suggest a theme month in place of short stories or poetry that was for narrative nonfiction, since there are so many great American writers of that genre, and you are such a strong proponent of it.

My short list:

Narrative Nonfiction
Gloria Naylor
Edna Ferber
Amy Tan
Lee Smith
Michael Cunningham
Ernest J. Gaines
James Welch
Alice Walker
Jesmyn Ward
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Colson Whitehead
Stephen King

>65 katiekrug: - Would Eric Larson fall into that category?

Yes, indeed! He was one of the ones I was thinking of 😀

ETA - I was thinking of Larson, Millard, Egan...

Yuck Yuck Yuck to Stephen King.
I love Julia Alvarez. I also like Katie's suggestion of Amy Tan. Marilynne Robinson is wonderful.

>59 amanda4242: Thanks for chiming in, Amanda. Not much London love. LOL. I had not heard of Samuel R. Delaney. What makes him stand out for you?

>60 lindapanzo: Joan Didion is a done deal and I do like an author that writes both fiction and NF. I have not read either Powell or Alvarez.

>61 laytonwoman3rd: I do not think I have read Pete Hamill. I think he would make a fine choice. What are your favorites? I have also not read Powell.

>62 benitastrnad: I would consider Franzen, although I know he is a very divisive author. I have only read The Corrections but have been interested in Freedom and some of his essay work. I have never read McPhee or Gopnik. I like Bryson and Wolfe and Bohjalian has a nice range of work too.
Sadly, I never read Bernard Malamud. It seems like he doesn't get the attention he deserves on LT.

>63 jessibud2: I think Sacks is a good choice, although I have not read him. I have his new one lined up on audio.

>64 jnwelch: McCarthy was featured in '14, the first year. I have considered Robinson before but I was not sure she had a wide enough body of work. I do love her though. I really like the idea of Walter Mosley. I think I may try and bookhorn him in.

>65 katiekrug: I knew you would stop by with a beefy list. LOL. I LOVE the idea of a Narrative Nonfiction month. November, perhaps? I have considered more NF authors in the past but I always felt like there was a glut of Nonfiction Challenges on LT and I didn't want to rock the boat. That said, there sure seems to be a lot of NNF love in the group, including the Old Warbler himself.

I would probably bump the poetry month. 3 theme months would be too many, but I would hope to spark more interest in the Poetry Thread that is on the 75 Challenge.

I like your short list and at least 4 of those authors will certainly make it. I would consider Amy Tan too. I am not familiar with James Welch, only Joe. What makes you include him?

It looks like poor Mr. London may get the boot too. Grins...

>66 jessibud2: >67 katiekrug: You know I LOVE Larson, Millard & Egan too. I am getting ready to start The Killers of the Flower Moon, so we may have to add Grann to that list.

>68 nittnut: Thanks for chiming in, Jenn. No King love, huh? I have not read Alvarez. What are your favorites?

Mark, I am looking forward to your picks.

I want to speak up for Malamud. I loved his book The Fixer and his range of work is impressively diverse.

Some other suggestions:

Louis L'Amour
Pete Dexter
Pat Conroy
Jeffrey Eugenides
Shirley Jackson
Anita Shreve
James Fenimore Cooper

>71 msf59: Narrative Nonfiction November has a nice ring to it.

>73 PaulCranswick: I'd love to see a Louis L'Amour month or else a Western month. Pay Conroy would be welcome, too.

>70 msf59: - I have read quite a few by Oliver Sacks, though he was a prolific writer and there are still at least 4 titles on my shelf that I have yet to read (and a few that I don't own, as well)

>71 msf59: - I recently read about James Welch somewhere, and he sounded interesting. He's a Native American writer -- several novels, a bunch of poetry, and at least one NF title. I thought it would be nice to include a Native American writer, as has been done in the past (Erdrich, Alexie...)

NNF seems specific enough to not interfere with other NF challenges - though people do seem to use the term in a variety of ways that aren't always consistent! But to each their own...

I think Amy Tan would be a nice inclusion, especially as, I believe, she often deals with the immigrant or first and second generation immigrant stories that are so central to the idea of "America."

I suggested Ferber because I think a lot of "older" American female writers don't get enough attention...

I hope you'll include Stephen King because he is so much more than horror. Some of his short works are beautifully written and so moving...

I'll shut up now, though. I could go on forever.

>69 msf59: I like Delaney because he can blend science fictional worlds with the examination of the human condition one associates with literary fiction. Even in his early, pulpy novels he was exploring some deep philosophical ideas. I think he'd be a good pick because although he's famous as a science fiction writer, he's written fantasy, essays, memoirs, and even a couple of comics, so something for every taste.

>75 jessibud2: For some baffling reason, I have not read Sacks. I need to remedy that.

>76 katiekrug: Even if I do not end up adding James Welch, he definitely sounds like an author I would like to explore. I have only read a couple of Amy Tan's and I like her, so she is in contention.

I think I am going to go with King. He has such a huge body of work to choose from, including NF and of course, distinctly American.

>77 amanda4242: I may have to track down something by Delaney, Amanda. Thanks.

>73 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. That is an impressive list. I especially like Louis L'Amour, so don't be surprised if he pops up on there. I was a huge fan of him in my youth and had read a couple dozen of his books.

>76 katiekrug: Stephen King's 11/22/63 is one of my all-time favorite books.

>80 lindapanzo: - I am sooooo NOT a reader of horror or of Stephen King, at all. But I do own that one (11/22/63 though I have not yet read it. It's a chunkster.

Great list, Mark. Several unread Toni Morrison volumes on my shelves and I'd love to see Amy Tan on the list.

Also has Mark Twain ever been featured?

>81 jessibud2: It may be a chunkster but I think I read it in a day, staying up, if I recall, until 3 am on a worknight to finish. It's a real page turner. I don't like horror at all but that one is a time travel book.

>83 lindapanzo: - Well, I do love a well-written time travel book! And I remember that date very well. I was just old enough to really understand and be interested in what had happened and remember watching it all unfold on tv.

>82 kac522: - Mark Twain would be a great one to add!

I haven't been very impressed by Stephen King, but he's written some good short stories and I really liked The Eyes of the Dragon.

I'll have to stew over these here writer people, Mark.

I have always admired McPhee. I have at least a dozen of his books. And he has a new book about the writing process, I guess in the bookstores.

Ernest J. Gaines and Tom Wolfe and Pat Conroy and maybe Jesmyn Ward and Mr. King are okay just now, but I may change my mind.

I'll get back.

Julia Alvarez has a varied body of work. Some of my favorites are her middle grade books. Novels - IMO, In the Time of the Butterflies and In the Name of Salome are probably her best books. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents is illustrative of the immigrant experience and while not as strong as Butterflies, it's useful for that. Her poetry is great too - The Woman I Kept to Myself is one of my favorite books of poetry ever.
For other representatives of the Hispanic and Latin American, but also American, there is Sandra Cisneros and I also love Pam Munoz Ryan. I think Pam Munoz Ryan gets overlooked because her books are mostly YA and middle grade, but they are wonderful.

I like the idea of Pat Conroy on the list too, and I haven't read a Louis L'Amour forever.

Good morning, Mark!

I've only participated once, last year with Irving, but I liked it a lot.

No Morrison. Yes King. Yes L'Amour since I've never read any of his and am intrigued. >82 kac522: Mark Twain's a good idea too.

I hope you have a quick and painless work day.

If I'm not mistaken, we did do Mark Twain early on, but his body of work warrants a second go.
>58 msf59: "I finally put together a list of my past AAC authors, to help jog my memory" Would you share that list for the rest of our flagging memories, Mark?

I hope Mark won't mind me doing this, but since he's out pounding the pavement....

2014 AAC
Willa Cather
William Faulkner
Cormac McCarthy
Toni Morrison
Eudora Welty
Kurt Vonnegut
Mark Twain
Philip Roth
James Baldwin
Edith Wharton
John Updike
Larry Watson

2015 AAC
Carson McCullers
Henry James
Richard Ford
Louise Erdrich
Sinclair Lewis
Wallace Stegner
*Kent Haruf
Ursula K. Le Guin
Larry McMurtry
Flannery O'Connor
Ray Bradbury
Barbara Kingsolver
E. L. Doctorow

* Haruf was a special Memorial addition, IIRC, hence 13 authors om 2015...

2016 AAC
Anne Tyler
Richard Russo
Jane Smiley
Poetry
Ivan Doig
Annie Proulx
John Steinbeck
Joyce Carol Oates
John Irving
Michael Chabon
Annie Dillard
Don Delillo

2017 AAC
Octavia Butler
Stewart O'Nan
William Styron
Poetry
Zora Neale Hurston
Sherman Alexie
James McBride
Patricia Highsmith
The Short Story
Ann Patchett
Russell Banks
Ernest Hemingway

Thanks, Katie. I just didn't have the "ooomph" to go do that for myself today!

I did it a while back for some unremembered reason :)

I just thought of another one who might be considered: Tracy Kidder. I've read 2 of his books this year but own 4 others, as yet unread! He's good!

Agree with Shelley.

>90 katiekrug:



^I really appreciate you posting the past AAC lists, Katie. I should have done it yesterday, since I had it copied out but my little, sluggish brain refused to think it was necessary. The lists sure come in handy.

I have decided not to include a repeat author, so Twain and Morrison are out. I want to give 10 new authors a go, especially if this is my finale, like I am planning.

>93 jessibud2: I like Tracy Kidder too, Shelley. It looks like we'll have to work him into NF November. I do have his latest book saved on audio but I have heard very little buzz about it.

>96 msf59: - Yay! Thank you. What is his latest book, by the way? The 4 unread ones I have are quite old, and the 2 I read this year, though more current, are not *new*, so to speak.

Looking over the previous years' selections, it looks like the challenge has been heavy on literary fiction.

>97 jessibud2: The new Kidder is A Truck Full of Money. It sounds interesting enough.

>98 amanda4242: I am a big fan of nonfiction, but I had felt there were other nonfiction challenges going on, the past few years, so I steered toward literary fiction, old and new. Hey, I thought it worked.

I like your list, Mark! And I think that heavy on literary fiction is a good thing. I will miss the poetry, though, if we skip it. My other suggestions, in no particular order. Amy Tan; Tom Perrotta; Pat Conroy, Jesmyn Ward; Lidia Yuknavitch; Molly Gloss. Also would love to give Edgar Allen Poe a month! But maybe he is too old and scary?

>99 msf59: I would say it's worked very well! I was just thinking mixing in a few more genre writers might be a nice change.

I compiled a list of the suggested authors and then sorted them into four categories. Since I started my sort, I see that several more names have been suggested. And you, of course, have made a couple of important decisions. So, FWIW, here's my list.

YES
Toni Morrison
Stephen King
Samuel R. Delaney
Colson Whitehead
Ernest J. Gaines
Walter Mosley
Cormac McCarthy
Marilynne Robinson
Jesmyn Ward
Pat Conroy
Mark Twain

OKAY
Tom Wolfe
Amy Tan
Bernard Malamud
Jeffrey Eugenides
Shirley Jackson
Michael Cunningham
Pete Dexter
Chris Bohjalian

MEH
Tobias Wolff
Pete Hamill
Lee Smith
Tom Perrota
James Welch
Gloria Naylor
May Sarton
Dawn Powell
Julia Alvarez

NO
Joan Didion
Alice Walker
Jack London
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Erskine Caldwell
Jonathan Franzen
Adam Gopnik
Bill Bryson
Anita Shreve
James Fenimore Cooper
Erik Larson
Candice Millard
Timothy Egan
Edna Ferber
Diane Ackerman
Louis L'Amour
Oliver Sacks
John McPhee

What?! 2018 may be the AAC's final year?! I think I'd come back for another go, if that's the case.
Have a light load day and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Back in the 70's and 80's James Welch was the first of the Native Americans writing about contemporary life on reservations. He had a huge impact on the current generation of writers such as Alexie, Erdrich, Debra Magpie Earling and Victor Charlo. I don't think I've seen a current NA author who hasn't acknowledged his work.

Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Welch_(writer)

I like to see the list mixed up between men and women and different ethnicities.

I read a lot of Louis L'Amour because my XH loved him. They always struck me as 'white hat/black hat' with a pretty simple story line. But if you choose him, I'll revisit.

Just a couple of quiet whispers:

Yes to Bernard Malamud

ENTHUSIASTIC YES to Gloria Naylor

No to Jonathan Franzen

Yes to Ernest J. Gaines and Walter Mosley and Jesmyn Ward

A not-so-quiet whisper -

ENTHUSIASTIC NO to Jonathan Franzen :)

I am for Franzen! But much in the minority, it looks like.

Not much interested in Franzen either, now that everybody mentions it.

>102 weird_O: Wow, Bill. That is quite a list. My choices should be a nice mix of yahs and nays. You don't like Larson, Egan or Millard? The horror...

>104 streamsong: Thanks for the James Welch info, Janet. Much appreciated. Do you have a favorite of his work?

>105 EBT1002: >106 katiekrug: I do not think Franzen will make the cut. No worries.

^The White Album: Essays is available on Kindle for 2 bucks. Perfect timing for Joan Didion, who will most likely kick off 2018. Just sayin':

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072HMBLSM?ref=pe_3046290_261627550_o_15_caf2&...

^I snagged my copy.

>109 msf59: Geez, Mark. It's not my list, it's my votes on author others have mentioned from the moment you opened the floor to suggestions to the moment I posted my vote.

I think highly of nonfiction writers like Egan, Millard, Larson, McPhee, Bryson, Ackerman, and Gopnik. I just don't think, as others, have said, nonfiction should enter into the AAC (except for the occasional memoir or essays by a writer primarily of fiction)

Make your list. Where you go, I will follow...probably.

:-)

>111 weird_O: You know I am just joshin', Bill, but I am glad you clarified the NF author dilemma. We are in agreement about that. Fortunately, I have featured several authors over the years that had wrote both fiction and NF. Nice, to have a choice.

Sorry, guys! I intended to post the new list today but, due to internet issues, it will have to wait until tomorrow night, as long as I get these issues solved, of course.

Thanks for your patience. Joan Didion will kick off the year and I am considering dropping the short fiction month, just to add an additional author. I hope these teasers, salve the wounds. Grins...

Excellent news about Didion, I have several volumes I’ve not read of hers. For anyone interested there s a fine documentary of her life, with interviews, on Netflix.

I will be waiting with bated breath!

>113 msf59: I am considering dropping the short fiction month There will be a year long short story thread in the Category Challenge next year if anyone is interested. I know you love your short story collections Mark.

I'm happy to lose the short fiction month for 2018. Gotta keep mixing it up!

Since Mark has confirmed that Joan Didion will be included in next year's AAC, I thought I'd point out that her book of essays, Slouching Towards Bethlehem is currently $1.99 on Kindle, as part of Amazon's giant Cyber Monday book sale.

>118 katiekrug: I just read that one this year, and I really liked it. My favorite essay was the one on John Wayne.

>114 Caroline_McElwee: I LOVED the Didion doc on Netflix. Highly recommended.

>116 luvamystery65: Thanks, Ro. I will definitively have to follow that Category Challenge next year. I have been loving me some short fiction.

>118 katiekrug: Hooray for Didion and Slouching Towards Bethlehem. I loved that collection.

I appreciate your patience everyone, so here we go:

2018 AAC

January- Joan Didion
February- Colson Whitehead
March- Tobias Wolff
April- Alice Walker
May- Peter Hamill
June- Walter Mosley
July- Amy Tan
August- Louis L'Amour
September- Pat Conroy
October- Stephen King
November- Narrative Nonfiction
December- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Great list Mark. I can easily see myself participating more often next year.

>121 msf59: - Nicely done, Mark - looks great! I have something on shelf for every month except August but the library has plenty of L'Amours on offer, so I am all set. Not that I am committing to every month, of course... :)

Yes, I like this list. *fist pump* Especially the Narrative Non-fiction category.

Looks like a list I can dip in and out of. I have some on my shelf for a few of them, so we shall see. Thanks for setting it up, Mark

Kudos for a great list, Mark. I'll be showing up for Alice Walker and Walter Mosley for sure, and there are others I'd like to work in.

Thanks, everyone. I try to have a nice mix. I probably could have added another female author, but I think I have represented them well over the years. The only author I have not read is Hamill, so I will be taking recommendations on his work.

Snow in August is wonderful. I read it years ago and may re-visit it for the challenge. But I also have Forever and North River on my shelves, so.....

>128 katiekrug: - That is the only Hamill I have read, as well.

Great list!

No poetry Mark!?

I thought that had been a rip-roaring success in the last year or two. Still a very good list IMHO. I will try as usual to support your country challenge - if I may say without false modesty - the original and the best.

>128 katiekrug: >129 jessibud2: Good to know about Snow in August. I hope to track a copy down. Thanks.

>131 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. You made me blush. You are no slouch either, mate. You sure get more practice. I made the command decision to forgo the poetry thread, to add the NF month and to make room for another author, since this will be the FINALE.

I hope to bolster the Poetry Thread on the 75 and I hope I can get assistance from my other poetry loving pals.

>121 msf59: Well I have books by many years of those authors on the shelf, and there are a couple of authors I’ve never read before, so I’ll be striving to do a few AAC months Mark. Thanks for setting this up.

>132 msf59: I will never give up my poetry reading, Mark, but part of being a great leader is making tough calls and I am grateful for your help in raising the profile of poetry in the group.

I hope that this is not the FINALE of the AAC as it is something of an institution already.

>133 Caroline_McElwee: I am so glad you have many of these authors on shelf, Caroline. I know many participants, will only attend if they have something at hand. Funny, I am not sure if I have more that 3-4 of these authors on shelf.

>134 PaulCranswick: Well, like I mentioned, Paul, we will have to keep the poetry spirit alive, in 2018, on the 75 Poetry Thread. It will take a group effort to do so, but there are plenty of us enjoying the form.

2018 WILL be my final AAC year. 5 years will be a great run. Maybe, I can focus on other folk's Challenges instead.

Or maybe some other hardy soul can continue the AAC. I would definitely throw all my support behind that true American soul.

I might consider taking over the AAC in 2019, circumstances permitting, if the interest is there. I'd hate to see it go away.

I have read Forever and Tabloid City by Hamill. Both very good, and quite different from one another. I have also read two of his non-fiction works, A Drinking Life and Downtown: My Manhattan.

>121 msf59: Very intriguing choices; I'll be in for most of them, I'm sure!

Karen O.

>136 laytonwoman3rd: Go Linda! Go Linda. I think you were be a perfect choice for hosting the 2019 AAC.

Thanks for the Hamill recs. I would love to do a fiction and a NF.

Hi Mark!

>1 msf59: Is it just me, or is the first image in the first message 'x'd out for everybody?

>139 karenmarie: - All of a sudden, lots of images are not showing up for me...

I wonder if it's a third party link? I (almost) always upload pictures to my gallery or junk drawer here for images but I know there are big changes at what is it... PhotoBucket?....

Maybe. Often it depends on your device and software updates. For instance, I am on my work laptop (ssshhhh!) but can see things on my phone I can't see here (same for my other laptop). I tend to just copy image locations for pics I find on the web, and I think a lot of people also do that - and those can get broken or cause problems...

On my PC I see the photos of Butler, Styron, Alexie, Highsmith and McBride in >1 msf59: above, but there is also an empty image box above them. On my phone (Android) I only see the photos, without any suggestion that I'm missing something.

Photobucket stopped hosting photos for free months ago, and I quit using it then. I replaced a few of the photos I had linked from that site here on LT, but many of my older posts will now have missing images because the links go nowhere since I closed my Photobucket account.

I also load most of the photos I want to post here into my member gallery or junk drawer, then copy the image location to insert it into my posts. I'm wary of just copying locations from the web, because as Katie points out, they are subject to loss if the link goes wonky or the site moves or removes them.

All the images are appearing for me. Once in awhile one will disappear and I will replace it. I haven't had many problems over the years. Knock wood.

**SORRY, for the delay on getting the Hemingway thread up. Bad Mark. I will do it tonight.

The Ernest Hemingway thread is up. Stop by and let us know what you will be reading: http://www.librarything.com/topic/276578

The Kiwi down under can only find a match for July. I have an Amy Tan unread on my shelves. I will try to get hold of a copy of The Underground Railway for February.

>136 laytonwoman3rd: I will certainly follow along, Linda, if you pick up the baton.......every month won't be Faulkner though will it?!

>148 PaulCranswick: *evil laugh* You'll have to take your chances, Paul!

>121 msf59: I'll join in for several months, Mark!

For those wanting to join Mark's January Author read, Joan Didion's White Album is on sale with Amazon. Kindle version is $2.99. Yes!

>150 EBT1002: Several, as in 10? Grins...

>151 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. I grabbed it.

>150 EBT1002: What happened to way less challenges in 2018, Ellen?

I thought that I would forego the AAC next year, but it seems that I have some of the listed authors on my shelves. Hmm. My problem is that if I take it on then I am almost driven to complete a challenge. I am 12/12 for 2017 for the AAC.

>153 Familyhistorian: Yeah, that went out the window, Meg. I'm hopeless. But I am truly going to try to (mostly) stick to books I already own. Mostly the authors Mark has chosen are not authors whose works are already hanging about on my shelves but a few of them are so I will participate as those match. I totally understand your drivenness to complete if you take it on.

I'm also 12/12 for the 2017 AAC and very proud of that fact!

>154 EBT1002: Congratulations on being 12/12 for the 2017 AAC, Ellen. I told myself last year that I would mostly stick to books that I already owned to complete the challenges. I think that lasted until about mid January. LOL

>155 Familyhistorian: I'm already adding books to my wish list (this is what happens when I have a sick day and spend much of it mucking about on LT) so we'll see how long I last!

>156 EBT1002: As long as you are only wishing and not buying.

My first time completing the American Author Challenge. Yay!

January: Octavia Butler -- Lilith's Brood ~~ COMPLETED

February: Stewart O' Nan -- Snow Angels ~~ COMPLETED

March: William Styron -- The Confessions of Nat Turner ~~ COMPLETED

April: Poetry Month - Witch Hunt by Juliet Escoria ~~ COMPLETED
- and I Shall Not Be Moved by Maya Angelou ~~ COMPLETED

May: Zora Neale Hurston -- Dust Tracks on a Road ~~ COMPLETED

June: Sherman Alexie -- Indian Killer ~~ COMPLETED

July: James McBride -- Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul ~~ COMPLETED

August: Patricia Highsmith -- The Talented Mr. Ripley ~~ COMPLETED

September: Short Story Month -- Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?: Stories (Art of the Story) by Kathleen Collins ~~ COMPLETED

October: Ann Patchett -- Bel Canto ~~ COMPLETED

November: Russell Banks -- Lost Memory of Skin ~~ COMPLETED

December: Ernest Hemingway -- The Sun Also Rises ~~ COMPLETED

Congratulations on completing the AAC Ellen.

>158 EBT1002: Congratulations!

I also managed a clean sweep this year.

January: Octavia E. Butler
Wild Seed ★★★★
Survivor ★★★★1/2
Clay's Ark ★★★

February: Stewart O'Nan
A Prayer for the Dying ★★★1/2

March: William Stryon
The Long March & In the Clap Shack ★1/2

April: Poetry
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein ★★★★★

May: Zora Neale Hurston
Mules and Men ★★★

June: Sherman Alexie
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ★★★★

July: James McBride
Kill 'em and leave: searching for James Brown and the American soul ★★★

August: Patricia Highsmith
A Game for the Living ★★1/2
Carol ★★

September: Short Story Month
Babylon Revisited and Other Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald ★★★1/2
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger ★★★1/2

October: Ann Patchett
What Now? ★★1/2

November: Russell Banks
Dreaming Up America ★★

December: Ernest Hemingway
The old man and the sea ★★

^This lofty award goes to Ellen, Amanda, Katie & Meg. for hitting "Purity" status on the AAC. Very impressive. Bravo!

Anyone else read all 12?

Of course, I am happy with any participation. We all have multitudes of books to read, so I am tickled that someone, would read one AAC a month, while tackling their own personal TBR mountain.

I am working on posting the 2018 General Discussion thread, along with the Joan Didion thread. Hope to have them both going by tomorrow night.

I read all 12, thankyouverymuch!

Kindred
Everyday People
Sophie's Choice (did not finish)
Various and sundry poems
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Flight
Song Yet Sung
Strangers on a Train
Olive Kitteridge
Taft
Lost Memory of Skin
The Old Man and the Sea

>163 katiekrug: High-Fives to Katie! I added you to the "Reading Champion" list. Do you have a Didion lined up? Grins...

I sure do... The Year of Magical Thinking :)

Well, of course I read all 12, Mark, just like last year.

Wild Seed
A Prayer for the Dying
The Confessions of Nat Turner
The Silence Now by May Sarton
Dust Tracks on a Road
Flight
Song Yet Sung
A Game for the Living
The Last Drive and other stories by Rex Stout
State of Wonder
The Reserve
The Sun Also Rises
12/12

>166 Familyhistorian: You have been added to the Honor Roll, Meg. Very impressive.

Thanks Mark!

^The 2018 AAC General Discussion Thread is up. Stop by, drop a star and a comment, if you choose:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/279501#

Posting this distressing story here, because Alexie was one of our selections in 2017. There seems to be no end to the disappointments.