Chamber Four

Happy fourth of July (weekend). With all the barbecues, fireworks, and beers to be had over the next few days, you might not be looking at much reading time. But if you can steal away a few hours with a books, here are some suggestions to get you in the American spirit (the  world-underdog, don’t tread on me spirit, not the Sean Hannity twisted, dark-heart, imperialist entitlement spirit).

Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes 1943

Remember this one? You probably read it in 5th grade. It’s a great depiction of Revolutionary Boston, and the book takes its readers through all the major historical factors: the Boston Tea Party, the Sons of Liberty, Paul Revere’s famous ride, etc. Johnny had been a silversmith apprentice, but in a (sort of) accident his thumb and fingers are fused and he becomes a social outcast. This positioning gives Johnny a nice vantage point for objectively watching the many characters in Boston (some now legendary) as war looms and sides must be taken. Johnny Tremain is a kid’s book to be sure, so more mature readers should consider reading this book for nostalgia’s sake more so than stimulation.

But don’t forget, he’s deformed! In the words of the oft-wise Bart Simpson in my favorite ever episode, “Whacking Day”: “Deformed! Why didn’t you say so? They should call this book Johnny Deformed.”

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain 1884

Twain is widely considered to have been the first writer to capture the “American voice” in literature. This is perhaps his most famous instance of this, and it is an excellent and timeless book, and another one that we’ve probably all read, but not since grade school. Twain captures the rebellious innocence of youth beautifully, and thus Huck’s tale is a neat little microcosm of America. Yet it also turns its gaze inwards, exposing and at times satirizing the stubborn and righteous South. Considering the time and place it was written, Twain’s take on racism in this book is reason enough to read it. Huckleberry Finn is, in so many words, America in a nutshell and that’s why it’s on this list. (This book is in the public domain, read it free here.)

Profiles in Courage, by John F. Kennedy 1955

JFK may or may not have actually written this book (it’s claimed his speechwriter did most of the work), but nevertheless it is an engaging read. At times it serves a bit of a reminder of the aristocratic nature of the US Senate, and many would argue there are more courageous things to be done than vote against party lines. However the book manages to serve as a condensed history of the United States of a sort, as well as provide political insight to some important moments in history, something I find pretty interesting.

Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut 1973

This probably should have been first on this list. I love this book, it is my favorite of Vonnegut’s. Breakfast of Champions is uproariously funny, and Vonnegut’s unsurpassed satirical eye is pitch perfect in this book. The commentary he provides on America through Dwayne Hoover, a down-and-out used car salesman, and Kilgore Trout, his recurring, sci-fi novelist failure character,  is interesting indeed. Even if the satire’s not your thing, it’s a pretty wacky book that provides plenty of fun. Vonnegut also includes his own scribbled illustrations, which are very funny as well.

So that’s my brief list. If you want a more intense compiling, you can find  pretty hardcore suggestions at Patriot Reading List. Happy Fourth and enjoy the hotdogs.