Main Street by Sinclair Lewis is truly a chef d’oeuvre, worthy of a 10 out of 10 rating. Sinclair Lewis is one of my favorite writers, and this work, along with his other masterpieces like Arrowsmith, Babbitt, and Elmer Gantry, has left me completely mesmerized.

The novel's heroine, Carol Milford, who becomes Carol Kennicott after marriage, is a character I can strongly identify with. I have experienced a similar situation in my life, having lived in a small town like Gopher Prairie for three years and endured the hardships inflicted by the local population. Even now, for the past twelve years, I have found myself among a group of individuals who resemble some of the inhabitants of the author's hometown, which inspired the fictional Gopher Prairie in the novel.

Carol is an open-minded, progressive, creative, and enthusiastic woman when she marries Doctor Will Kennicott. She remains determined to pursue her ideals and change Main Street as much as possible. However, the reality of life after marriage, in a community that is at least conservative if not outright reactionary, proves to be extremely difficult to cope with. Instead of succumbing to the circumstances and becoming a mere housemaid, Carol tries to elevate the locals.

Unfortunately, the locals are not only backward but also, at times, truly mean and despicable in their actions. This is exemplified by the expulsion of an innocent teacher from Gopher Prairie. In the eyes of some pretentious, arrogant, and uptight locals, the woman was seen as being sent by Satan. When she accepted to go out for a dance with a certain man in town, she had no idea what to expect. The man took whiskey, pressured her to drink (although she only put the bottle to her lips without actually drinking), stole some alcohol, harassed her, and then, when his horrible mother attacked the girl at home, he lied and claimed to be the innocent victim.

Moreover, the situation worsens when the mother complains to the school board. Instead of taking a principled position and acting according to what the town knew – that the man was a scoundrel and a liar – they decide to punish the teacher even more and send her away.

Will Kennicott's relatives also move to the small town, and his aunt believes it is great to live in such a place where everyone knows what others do and sinners cannot escape their consequences. The relationship between Carol and Will is complex. Although he loves her, Carol's feelings are unclear to her for some time, and her spouse becomes repugnant to her during different periods.

If Will seemed bold and encouraged Carol to come to his small town, marry him, and change the community in the early stages of their relationship, later on, his demeanor appears outdated. He shows a lack of interest in culture, reading books, and helping his wife raise the level of their social circle. On the other hand, he is a complex and interesting character. His dedication to his work as the only doctor available for a large area during World War I saved many lives.

Will Kennicott can be compared to Doctor Bovary as he is limited compared to his wife and rather dull. He is largely responsible for the interest Carol shows in Erik Valborg, a young man who dreams of being a Karl Lagerfeld (before Lagerfeld was even born). When Erik is first introduced, I thought he was a gay character due to his love for clothes, apparent sensitivity, and cultural inclinations.

Erik falls in love with Carol, and she becomes a sort of mentor for him. For a time, she even thinks she is in love with the younger man. However, Will intervenes just in time, demonstrating his good insight. He explains to Carol the psychology behind her involvement and描绘了 a future in which she would run away with Erik, live in a destitute shop, in a back room with three children, and have a daily routine of washing and pressing the clothes that Erik would sell, caring for the kids and husband, who would come home late from the shop, fall on the bed after blaming Carol for the squalor and wretchedness of their terrible life.

Carol is convinced and terrified by this image, and then she travels to California with her husband, enjoying a break from Gopher Prairie and its "monsters." She even moves to Washington for a period, taking only her son Hugh with her and leaving the doctor in his small town.

This novel is a masterpiece written by a genius. Sinclair Lewis is the first American novelist to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, and it is well-deserved. His portrayal of life in a small town, the complex characters, and the social issues explored make Main Street a truly remarkable work of literature.

Sinclair Lewis is truly evolving into one of my most cherished authors.

His depictions of people, places, and events are nothing short of remarkable. They are wonderful, original, and concise, with each word carrying significant weight.

So far, in just a few chapters, we have witnessed George Babbitt wake up, get dressed, have breakfast with his family, drive to his office, and close a deal. And we haven't even reached lunchtime!

One might argue that not much has actually 'happened', but it is incredibly difficult to put the book down. I am eagerly looking forward to our next reading session.

I finished "Babbitt" with a sense of regret. George is maturing, and it would be fascinating to observe how he progresses.

Towards the end of the book, in one of his liberal moments, George even mentioned that it was possible his ancestors had once been immigrants.

Above all, this is a book about mid-life crisis, a period as emotionally intense as adolescence. I'm glad I didn't read this in high school. As a teenager, I could not have related to George Babbitt as I can now in my late middle age.

From adolescence to adulthood, midlife crisis to full middle-age, is there a term for the transition from middle age to old age?

Scott Walker would likely be everyone's favorite son in Winnemac. It is impossible not to notice that the prejudices, as well as the strengths, of the heartland have remained unchanged in the past 90 years.

When and how did the transformation from Republicans being liberal and progressive to being capitalist and fundamentalist occur? I believe World War I must have had a significant impact, as the shift had clearly taken place by the time of "Arrowsmith" and "Babbitt".

Also, urbanization and the European immigrations of the late 1800s/early 1900s would have contributed to the middle class's xenophobia and fear of socialism.

This is a truly wonderful book.

Throughout "Main Street", I couldn't help but constantly remark that it is significantly better than Dreiser's "Sister Carrie", which I truly loathed. However, after finally finishing the novel, I was surprised to discover that Sinclair Lewis had praised Dreiser's work. He said that it "came to housebound and airless America like a great free Western wind, and to our stuffy domesticity gave us the first fresh air since Mark Twain and Whitman." Despite this, I still hold my view vehemently and disagree with Lewis's assessment. I believe that "Main Street" offers a more engaging and thought-provoking exploration of American society and values. It presents a vivid portrayal of the small-town life and the characters' struggles and aspirations. On the other hand, "Sister Carrie" failed to capture my interest and left me feeling unfulfilled. While I respect Lewis's opinion, I stand by my own judgment and continue to believe that "Main Street" is the superior work.

Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis is truly a remarkable and captivating work. Sinclair Lewis, a Nobel Prize winner for Literature, has created a world that is both enchanting and thought-provoking.

I have had the pleasure of reading other masterpieces by this genius, such as Arrowsmith, Main Street, and Elmer Gantry. The main character, George Babbitt, is as complex and intriguing as the characters in those other works. He is charming, pugnacious, human, and at times controversial.

The book has moments of comedy that are truly funny, but it also delves into tragedies. For example, Paul, George Babbitt's friend, shoots his wife. There are conflicts between Babbitt and various other personages, from his children to his competitors, from his wife to a lover.

Despite all this, I find myself sympathizing with and identifying with George Babbitt. He experiences a midlife crisis, and although I like to think I am still young, I can understand and feel compassion for him. His views change, and I too have faced challenges from great books, such as Happiness - Lessons From A New Science by Richard Layard.

George Babbitt is a pillar of the business community in Zenith. He is an acclaimed orator, a solid friend, and a defender of values. However, when the members of the newly created League of Citizens for the Right Values press him to join, he initially refuses. But when he sees that his business is suffering as a result, he has to give in.

There are many moments when the integrity and moral profile of the hero are not that of a role model. In some ways, his idiosyncrasies and shortcomings make him more endearing. But he also has major failures and flaws. He has a heated argument and fires an employee who was dishonest and unethical. He faces blackmail, and the incriminating evidence could lead to a jail sentence for him and his employees.

Finally, Babbitt cheats on his wife and gets involved with a provocative group. This great book could be described as "Medicine, adjectival and Real Horror Show" by characters in other masterpieces. It is a work that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

Mr Sinclair shows a blatant lack of respect for his characters and the world they inhabit. It is as if he views them as mere pawns in his literary game, with no real regard for their emotions, motives, or significance.

His pen seems to be dipped in a pool of contempt, as every word he writes oozes with a sense of superiority and dismissal. The characters he creates are not given the dignity and depth they deserve, but are instead reduced to caricatures or vessels for his own ideological rants.

This lack of respect not only undermines the integrity of the story but also alienates the reader. We are unable to form a connection with the characters or become invested in their fates, as Sinclair seems to be actively working against our ability to do so.

It is a shame that such a talented writer would choose to squander his gifts in this way, by showing such disrespect for the very elements that make a story truly great.