American Unexceptionalism: The Everyman and the Suburban Novel after 9/11 (New American Canon) PDF
Preview American Unexceptionalism: The Everyman and the Suburban Novel after 9/11 (New American Canon)
American Unexceptionalism The New AmericAN cANoN The Iowa Series in Contemporary Literature and Culture Samuel Cohen, series editor o o o o o o o o o American Unexceptionalism The Everyman and the Suburban Novel after 9/11 Kathy Knapp university of iowa press, iowa city University of Iowa Press, Iowa City 52242 Copyright © 2014 by the University of Iowa Press www.uiowapress.org Printed in the United States of America Design by Omega Clay No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. All reasonable steps have been taken to contact copyright holders of material used in this book. The publisher would be pleased to make suitable arrangements with any whom it has not been possible to reach. The University of Iowa Press is a member of Green Press Initiative and is committed to preserving natural resources. Printed on acid-free paper Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Knapp, Kathy, 1960– American unexceptionalism: the everyman and the suburban novel after 9/11 / Kathy Knapp. pages cm. — (The New American Canon: the Iowa series in contemporary literature and culture) Includes bibliographical references and index. isbN: 978-1-60938-228-5, 1-60938-228-5 (pbk) isbN: 978-1-60938-251-3, 1-60938-251-x (ebk) 1. American fiction—21st century— History and criticism. 2. Suburban life in literature. 3. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001—Influence. 4. Authors, American—21st c entury— Political and social views. I. Title. ps374.s82k63 2014 813'.609—dc23 2013043057 For Bob and Phyll o o o o o o o o o Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction The Suburb and the Everyman in Transition xi 1 The Canonical Everyman Richard Ford’s Frank Bascombe Trilogy and the Challenge to Neoliberal Suburbia 1 2 The Assimilated Everyman and the Business of Forgetting Postwar Living Memorials and the Posttraumatic Suburb in Chang-rae Lee’s Aloft 23 3 “How to Live?” The Case for Failure in Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom 50 4 Dead Man Walking Philip Roth’s Engagement with the Everyman Tradition and the Reimagination of Middle-Class Identity 80 5 That’s What She Said The Everyman in Recent Suburban Fiction by Anne Tyler, Gish Jen, and A. M. Homes 110 Notes 137 Works Cited 157 Index 173 o o o o o o o o o Acknowledgments Writing can feel like a lonely endeavor, but in truth every sentence in this book has benefited from the fine insights, suggestions, and support of a multitude of friends, colleagues, and family members. My thanks must begin with Lenny Cassuto, the Grand Poobah of advis- ers and a fantastic friend. He read and reread the following pages count- less times, each time with exhaustive comments and fresh enthusiasm. He cheered me on and propped me up when things got really tough. And along the way he reminded me to take a walk, grab a meal, watch some Wire, and keep things in perspective. Anna Mae Duane, friend, colleague, and mentor extraordinaire, has likewise read these pages over and over and has been a bottomless source of wisdom, advice, support, encouragement, and good cheer. I am blessed with many terrific colleagues at UConn. Clare Eby has been an incredibly generous reader, advocate, and friend. Cathy Schlund- Vials offered feedback early on that set my project in motion. The mem- bers of my American Studies writing group— Anna Mae, Martha Cutter, Shawn Salvant, Mike Gill, and Alexis Boylan— provided comments late in the game that led to important fine-tuning. Bob Tilton and Margaret Breen have been sounding boards and supporters. Pam Bedore, Ellen Car- illo, and Serkan Gorkemli are my comrades-in-arms. Fiona DeMerrell and Judy DiLaurenzio have covered for me and kept me laughing. In addition, I am deeply indebted to several top-notch scholars in the field for their invaluable help at various stages. Cathy Jurca provided pages of thoughtful comments at the dissertation stage that gently guid- ed me to challenge my assumptions. Gordon Hutner offered suggestions and support early on that launched this project. Andy Hoberek, Min Hyoung Song, Aaron DeRosa, and Lee Zimmerman gave me feedback that stretched my thinking and took my work in new directions. Sam Cohen has been a great editor and a good guy every step of the way.
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