2018 School Spending Survey Report
‘Fifty Shades’ Notwithstanding, Librarians Embrace the Great American Read
Any booklist is bound to be picked apart. So it’s no surprise that librarians have opinions about the 100 best-loved novels named in “The Great American Read.”
Any booklist is bound to be picked apart. So it’s no surprise that librarians have opinions about the 100 best-loved novels named in “The Great American Read” (TGAR), the PBS campaign to promote a multi-platform discussion of books and reading, culminating in the selection of “America’s best-loved novel” by public vote this fall. “White man stodgy” was one comment about the list that was offered at a round-table convening of local librarians at the Manhattan offices of WNET, a member station of PBS serving the New York metropolitan area, in April. Harry Potter? A librarian remarked on the presence of the J.K. Rowling books on the TGAR roster. A terrific series, to be sure, but that was published 20 years ago. “The list strikes me as a somewhat uneasy mashup of very recent popular fiction and the books people remember reading in high school,” commented Lauren Gilbert, head of community services at Sachem Public Library in Holbrook, NY, by email. “This is probably an accurate reflection of most Americans’ reading habits. They read ‘literature’ when it was assigned, and since then, they read the popular book everyone is talking about (e.g. Fifty Shades of Grey).” The list is, in fact, a popularity contest. Nearly 8,000 Americans were asked to name their favorite novel in a demographically representative survey commissioned by PBS. “The goal is the best loved novel. Not the most respected, most studied in schools, or the best written,” says Jasmine Wilson, WNET’s associate producer of community engagement. Thus far, the books have sparked lively debate, she says. And that’s a good thing. What it means to be an American, and more
Inspired by a decade-old English series that culminated in a fight to the finish between Pride and Prejudice and The Lord of the Rings (the Tolkien fantasy won), TGAR is intended to encourage the discovery of new books and inspire the re-reading of old favorites, says Wilson, in a national discussion about reading. The Facebook page for the campaign has 39,000+ followers to date, and there are 6700+ fans on the TGAR Instagram. “[The initiative] provides great insight into what people think about reading,” she says. During the summer, the public is encouraged to read the books and vote on their favorites. In September 2018, the TV series (which debuts in May) will return to explore the nominated books and related literary themes, from love and heroes and villains to what it means to be an American, including interviews with authors Jason Reynolds, John Green, and George R.R. Martin, among others. “America’s Best-Loved Novel” will be revealed on October 23. While librarians at the WNET event expressed their feelings about the titles, they got down to the business at hand and exchanged a range of ideas for how libraries could engage “The Great American Read” with their patrons, from related book displays and a March-Madness style bracket to TGAR selfie booths.
New York area librarians met at WNET to share ideas about The Great American Read.
A banned books tie-in
“Some books on the list have been banned from libraries—it’s something we’re very aware of,” says Wilson. Controversy can be a selling point; one group at WNET proposed a display of “Disreputable Books,” with the intriguing tagline “books people don’t want you to read.” Others wanted to invite patrons to pick the list apart. Encourage young readers to think in pairs, was one idea. Why is this book on the list? Why is this one not? “I do hear of pushing back against the list and I feel them,” says Jhanika Miller, library information supervisor at the Ulmer Park Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, who notes the absence of graphic novels among the top 100. “Honestly, our stacks are the problem.” Miller, who attended the WNET convening, recommends libraries work with PBS and “Fight for the titles that are diverse, well written.” Gilbert, who also contributed at the WNET event, says “I would hope [the list] wouldn't result in too much hand-wringing among librarians, or anyone, no matter the outcome, and that we can all just enjoy what I hope will be a national conversation about books and reading. As a librarian, I purchase and recommend titles without judgment, based on a patron's expressed preferences and reading history.” WNET has established partnerships with several New York branches, according to Wilson. “If you have someone come into your library and ask for a library card [in connection with “The Great American Read”], please let us know,” Chris Czajka, WNET’s director of community engagement, told the librarians. “We’ll come down with a camera crew and a bunch of balloons.”
Debbie Bogenschutz says
I read that list and felt so sorry for people who had read so few books that some of them would be their favorites.
Monica Edinger says
Well, at least those polled could name a book as opposed to these folks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJdNrCeUdhc
Kathy Ishizuka says
And that was based on this recent Pew Research Center report, which I had intended to include, but the piece was getting long. "About a quarter of American adults (24%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form." http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/23/who-doesnt-read-books-in-america/
David says
And I feel sorry for patrons who have to deal with condescending librarians.
Adrian says
What are your alternatives if this list is "white man stodgy" or "A terrific series, to be sure, but that was published 20 years ago."? Basically if you hate it, give me something "better".
Emily says
I like that PBS is focusing on books, although I'm glad to see that this is for a good novel, not a competition over which book is most important to American Literature, Social Justice, or any other cause. Not because a novel is bad - I love novels! - but because I felt a lot of titles were missing if that were the case; I agree that this list is a mix of old favorites and new flings. ;) Haha! But it's sparking a lot of conversation in our library, and my husband is tops on our list so far, having read 77 of the titles completely. Our Director came in with 65, she was jealous!
Ronald Betre says
White man stodgy? I guess that is the one gender/racial insult that is still allowed. The compilers seem to have gone out of their way to pick several books by and about minorities, and avoid a few that might be politically incorrect in current terms, despite having major cultural impacts (Tom Sawyer, any of Jonathan Franzen's or even Flannery O'Connor's works). My reaction was the same as Lauren Gillbert's, i.e, that the list is a " somewhat uneasy mashup of very recent popular fiction and the books people remember reading in high school" -- but filtered by current PC sensibilities.
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