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Title: Main Street

Author: Sinclair Lewis

Narrator: Brian Emerson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-10-05

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 105 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Published in 1920, Main Street was Sinclair Lewis' first really successful novel. An allegory of exile and return, Main Street attacks the complacency and ingrown mores of those who resist change, who are under the illusion that they have chosen their tradition.

Maxwell Geismar lauded this work as "a remarkable diary of the middle-class mind in America".

Members Reviews:

Time for a classic

It's hard to believe that this book was first published in 1920. Many of the themes are as relevant today as they were 90 years ago. The narrator is excellent and doesn't get "in the way" of the story line. This classic is definitely worth rediscovering.

Main Street - Sinclair Classic

Book: In general, I do not comment on classics. However, I found the story interesting since it draws from the history in the US from 100 years ago: Pre-WWI, midwest, industrialization of the economy, the movement of most of the population from the farm to the city, etc - all the changes - economic, political, social, etc. The character, a college girl with a liberal outlook, for some strange reason decides to marry a small town doctor. The book dwells, to the point of depression, on the failings of the small town. It was a counter to all the books of the time that over-glorified small town life. Mr. Lewis challenge all those notions. However, I did not really feel too much empathy for his lead character.

Performance: The reader was very good. In time, I forgot there was reader and toward the end of the book the reader acted some of the characters well out.

Can't believe I hadn't read it before

I really enjoyed this book, I found the issues and personalities to be surprisingly familiar, considering that it was published in 1920. Also, that a man of that time could write such a feminist novel. Although not much happens action-wise, I felt engaged throughout. Wonderfully real characters and an incredible sensitivity to their various motivations.

Better than expected

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance was above average- I had to speed it up quite a bit, and I appreciated him trying to differentiate voices. I think this would have been a hard book to stay engaged with if the narrator didnt participate so much with the voices and characters.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

yes

Any additional comments?

I read this while trying to read and compare Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Lewis writing styles. Considering they were all writing around the same time, I find Lewis writing style and commentary more realistic and poignant. Especially in Main Street, his prose continues to challenge the American ideals. There were specific parts, like with the red Swede, which were a remarkably accurate paradox between the 20s and today. The feeling of being a liberal or a reformer, but also being a part of a middle to high class lifestyle. Furthermore, Lewis novel superbly describes the balance and hardship of wanting to challenge the norm for betterment of society, while wanting to fit in.

The novel challenges me to reconsider any charity or progressive ideal I may have and really think about the intention behind those ideals.