Looking back,

I have no idea what possessed me to pick up this book in high school. But it became one of the formative books of my young adulthood, and I went on to read several other Sinclair Lewis titles.

Coming back to Main Street in my thirties, I'm seeing things differently than I did when I was sixteen. I used to be a staunch defender of Carol's ideals. However, now it's easier for me to see the other side as well—the side where you take life as it comes and learn to be happy where you are. But I also love the message that in finding yourself, you'll come to understand others better.

Sinclair Lewis really is a genius in depicting the mundane reality of life. He doesn't get too grim and he doesn't idealize. His characters are everyday, regular people living their lives and dealing with hidden problems. He loves to point out hypocrisy on both sides, and he somehow manages to make his characters absolutely lifelike and believable, whether it's a small-town housewife, a businessman, or a hypocritical preacher.

Yes, I can see why I read so much Sinclair Lewis when I was younger. His works have a certain charm that draws readers in and makes them think about life and society. They are not just stories, but also a reflection of the human condition. I'm glad that I discovered his books at a young age and that they continue to have an impact on me today.

A young woman, filled with ideas, dreams, and ambitions.

Despite her high expectations, after graduating from college and working for some time in the library of a city, she becomes... the wife of a provincial doctor.

As a young wife, she is forced to follow her husband and move to the small town where he lives, works, and prospers, but where she fails to find a home.

Gopher Prairie, a rural town like many others, is not what she expected. However, while trying to integrate into the community, she dreams of changing it, making it more cultured, more beautiful, more... in her image. And so we follow, step by step, the struggle of our young protagonist in a narrative that presents various themes for reflection. The stagnation of small towns, the prevailing social norms, the role of religion, the class division, the various hierarchies of power, the role of women, the power of education... are some of the themes that this story presents to us.

It also draws a portrait of American towns at that time, of their people and behaviors, of current issues, of politics and social transformations, of customs, of concerns about the future, of ways of life. A novel that, although it never awakened a great interest or enthusiasm in me, gradually expanded from a domestic narrative about a marriage between two very different people to a quite profound, critical, and comprehensive story of an entire society.

I still can't make up my mind whether I liked this book or not.

On one hand, I was truly fascinated. Even though this book was penned nearly 100 years ago, the portrayal of human nature through a small community strikes many powerful resemblances to today. It's quite remarkable how relevant it still feels.

On the other hand, I didn't fully resonate with some of Carol's progressive ideals. However, I found myself constantly alternating between hoping she would find happiness and wanting to give her a shake for overlooking the good in her life and always being dissatisfied. I'm relieved that I'm much more content in my own life than she seems to be. But I'm sure there are still plenty of people today who grapple with many of the same issues and complaints that she had.

One of the things I really enjoyed about reading this book was the historical perspective it offered on the 1915 - 1920 time period in America. Although it wasn't written with the intention of being a historical account, being written during that era gives it a unique window into the lifestyles, ideals, and views of the time. It was a time when World War I was in the recent past, but the Roaring 20s and the Great Depression were still in the future. Motor cars were about as common as horse and buggy. Seeing the world through the eyes of the characters in that context was truly my favorite part.

I firmly believe that book clubs, especially those composed mainly of women, would have an abundance of things to discuss about this book. However, my biggest gripe is that it's about 30% longer than it really needs to be. Some parts could have been trimmed down to make the story more concise and engaging.

This book, according to the Wikipedia, is a satire. This fact truly amazes me. Sinclair Lewis has managed to capture the reality of Minnesota people with such precision that it seems he is less about mocking and more about observing the reality.

He has perfectly captured the ideals, cruelties, and life of the people in Gopher Prairie. Although I was not fond of any of the characters, I could not help but be entranced by the realistic hilarity of the scenes that fill this book.

The way he portrays the small-town life, with all its quirks and idiosyncrasies, is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It makes one wonder about the true nature of human beings and the society we live in.

For a full review, please visit my blog at https://madamewriterblog.com/2019/05/...

I had just relocated to a tiny town in Minnesota.

Just like this classic character from many years ago, I had my own aspirations. However, 50 years later, my thoughts and encounters were strikingly similar.

It served as a reminder that either one fits in or one doesn't. But spending your entire life attempting to change the deeply ingrained aspects to something more to your liking likely means you will spend your life in turmoil.

The hope is that those who come after you, long after you're gone, will find the place more to their taste.

Shortly after this realization, I made the decision to move once again.

Perhaps a new place would offer a different set of circumstances and a better chance at finding that elusive sense of belonging.

Only time would tell if this new adventure would lead to a more fulfilling life.

But for now, I was ready to embrace the unknown and see where it would take me.

A gentle breeze, having traversed a thousand miles of wheat-lands, billowed her taffeta skirt in a line that was exquisitely graceful, brimming with animation and captivating beauty.

The heart of a random observer on the lower road constricted with a sense of longing and wistfulness at her quality of suspended freedom.

She raised her arms, leaning back against the wind, her skirt dipping and flaring, a lock of hair blowing wild.

Here was a girl on a hilltop; gullible, malleable, young; inhaling the air as eagerly as she yearned to embrace life.

The eternal and poignant comedy of expectant youth.

...Yet her nerves were so highly charged, her trust in rather nebulously conceived sweetness and light so adventurous, that she was more vigorous than any other robust young woman.

Those others, with calves bulging in heavy-ribbed woolen stockings beneath demure blue serge bloomers, thundered across the floor of the "gym" in practice for the Blodgett Ladies’ Basketball Team.

Even when she was fatigued, her dark eyes remained observant.

She had not yet discovered the world's vast capacity to be callously cruel and haughtily dull.

But should she ever learn of those disheartening powers, her eyes would never turn sullen, heavy, or rheumily amorous.

During her Senior year, at various times, Carol ultimately resolved to study law, write motion-picture scenarios, pursue professional nursing, and marry an unidentified hero.

This book vividly describes life in the small town of Gopher Plains, Minnesota, from 1912 to the early 1920s. Minneapolis resident and the protagonist, Carol, marries an older man, Doctor W.P. Kennicott, and relocates from the city to his small town where he practices medicine.

Carol is far more progressive than the townspeople. She has a deep interest in art, literature, politics, and world issues. In contrast, the small town mainly focuses on family, church, and the community. She becomes the target of gossip. She discovers from a local busybody that people are speaking ill of her. She is criticized for her attempts to change the town and for not attending church regularly.

She endeavors to incorporate some of her own views and personality into her interactions with the townspeople. For instance, she throws themed parties and tries to get the poetry group to actually read poetry instead of just focusing on the lives of the poets. However, she is facing an uphill battle without any reinforcements.

This is a character-driven book about a woman who struggles to fit into the conservative small-town society. She has held a job and hates asking her husband for money to buy household supplies. It was a time when women didn't have the right to vote at the national level and were simply called “Mrs. So-and-So,” as if they had no identity apart from their husbands.

The plot is rather thin, but the characters are well-developed. The storyline follows Carol's numerous attempts to transform her environment to achieve the life she desires. The arguments between Carol and the doctor are especially realistic. Published in 1920, I always find it fascinating to read about life in the past as described by authors who experienced it themselves.

I finally completed it, which took over 6 months.

I have come to understand the joy of the ordinary. At times, I have been known to pursue it, but this particular one gave me a headache.

Don't misunderstand me; it does have its闪光点.

"I think perhaps we desire a more conscientious life. We are weary of toiling, sleeping, and dying.

We are tired of constantly postponing hope to the next generation. We are fed up with hearing the politicians, priests, and cautious reformers (and the husbands!) cajole us, 'Be calm! Be patient! Wait!

We have already formulated plans for a Utopia; just give us a little more time and we will produce it; trust us; we are wiser than you.' For ten thousand years they have been saying that.

We want our Utopia now - and we are going to give it a try. All we want is - everything for all of us!

For every housewife, every longshoreman, every Hindu nationalist, and every teacher. We want everything. We won't get it. So we will never be content -”

This passage reflects the longing and dissatisfaction of people. They yearn for a better life and are no longer willing to wait passively.

Although the pursuit of Utopia may be difficult, it is this kind of pursuit that drives people to progress and strive for a better future.

However, we also need to face the reality that achieving Utopia is not easy. We need to work hard, make rational plans, and continuously adjust and improve.

Only in this way can we move closer to our理想 and make our lives more meaningful and fulfilling.

"Main Street" is a captivating story that delves into the life of a college-educated city girl as she endeavors to adapt to living in small-town America. Set in Minnesota from 1910 to 1920, it serves as a scathing satire on small-town life, which was then often portrayed as the most idyllic environment in America, if not the world. Lewis paints a vivid picture of small towns filled with nosy individuals, deeply rooted in religion yet rife with gossip, and resistant to any form of change. Carol Kennicott arrives in town with the intention of bringing "reform" and "renewal" to the community, only to be continuously thwarted by the gentleladies and her husband, who urge her to simply accept things as they are.

Likewise, "Main Street" is also an exploration of a marriage between opposites, much like the classic tale of City Mouse and Country Mouse. The Kennicotts struggle to find common ground on which they can achieve psychological comfort in their relationship. A minor character reveals to Carol that he has contracted the "village virus," meaning that despite his desire to escape the town, he is trapped, as Harold Hill might say. This affliction also plagues Carol.

In 1921, "Main Street" narrowly missed being awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Instead, the honor went to Edith Wharton's "Age of Innocence" as the judges deemed Lewis' satire too biting and malicious. Although Lewis did not receive the Pulitzer in 1921, he was later awarded it in 1925 (which he declined) and in 1930 became the first American to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Main Street." While it may be a bit sluggish in the middle and somewhat repetitive, preventing it from earning a perfect 5 stars, its language and characterizations are remarkably modern. I frequently found myself checking the copyright date to ensure that it wasn't a more recent work. When the upper-class ladies engage in gossip, it feels as though you are witnessing an episode of the Real Housewives of Gopher Prairie.

This book is highly recommended. It is not a traditional historical novel but rather a work from the past that offers profound insights into an era as perceived by one man at the time. I am confident that it presents the quiet reality of America just before and during World War I, a reality that cannot be found in any other novel.

I truly wish that I had the ability to pen words that could do full justice to this remarkable novel. However, I find myself lacking in that regard. Fortunately, there are already several outstanding reviews of it on Goodreads.

Whenever I delve into the works of Sinclair Lewis, I am firmly convinced that he is the greatest and most perceptive writer that America has ever given birth to. He was so far ahead of his era that the thought of how few people have actually read his works brings a tear to my eye.

This is the fourth novel of Lewis that I have had the pleasure of reading, and it is undoubtedly his most renowned. Quite possibly, it is also the best one among those I have read. For the sake of our love for good literature, I earnestly implore you to read this book.

It is a literary gem that holds the power to transport you to another world and make you see things from a different perspective. Do not miss out on this opportunity to experience the genius of Sinclair Lewis.

Classics Cleanup Challenge #11
Audio #159

I truly didn't have a fondness for all of that arguing.

For some mysterious reason, it really managed to upset me to a great extent.

It was as if those heated exchanges were like sharp thorns pricking at my peace of mind.

The constant back and forth, the raised voices, and the clashing of opinions made me feel rather uncomfortable.

I couldn't quite put my finger on why it affected me so strongly.

Perhaps it was because I preferred a more harmonious and calm environment.

Arguing seemed to disrupt that tranquility and bring a sense of chaos.

Whatever the reason, it was clear that all of that arguing was something I could do without.

It left me with a feeling of unease and a longing for a more peaceful and cooperative atmosphere.

College-educated Carol Milford was born with a vibrant “reformation gene” within her. Once she graduated, it was time to find a worthy cause to put that gene into action. Enter Dr. Will Kennicott. Their paths crossed, and after a lackluster courtship, they married and journeyed to Gopher Prairie.

Let's take a moment to praise author Sinclair Lewis for his excellent choice of the town's name. “Gophers” are underground creatures known for their extensive burrowing, and “prairies” are vast, desolate grasslands. Consequently, the three thousand citizens of Gopher Prairie are isolationist, suspicious of outsiders, and highly resistant to change.

However, to the fresh-faced and naïve Carol, this could be the perfect opportunity. She quickly noticed the cultural gaps in the small town regarding theater, literature, art, social conversation, and world affairs. She immediately activated her “reform gene.” But she didn't anticipate that the resistance-to-change gene of the Gopher Prairians would overpower all her enthusiasm for introducing change. Every attempt she made to broaden people's perspectives was doomed to failure.

Each effort to introduce new ways of thinking or doing things led to frustration for Carol and confusion for the Gopher Prairie community. Her husband, Will, was not a strong supporter of her efforts. In fact, he leaned towards her giving up on her reformations and conforming to the town's ways. Will presents a contradiction as he spent nine years studying in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and chose a wife who was used to city life, yet he sided with the townspeople.

Years passed, and Carol became a mother. Although she seemed passive about her life in Gopher Prairie, emotions were building up inside her, making the status quo unbearable. Thoughts of leaving the town and Will, temporarily or permanently, danced in her mind. Strangely, the catalyst for her actions was not what was directly done to her but rather the experiences of two other misfits in the insular world of Gopher Prairie.

What Carol does in her pursuit of liberty is detailed in the last 100 pages of Main Street, and this is where Sinclair Lewis truly shines as an author. He beautifully describes the passions of a thwarted idealist who finally gets the freedom to act. Much of the narrative from this point is about Carol's coming of age, her gain in maturity, and her enhanced ability to see her life options more clearly and weigh them.

This is a wonderful story of small-town America over 100 years ago. While Carol's trials and failures may seem a bit long at times, Lewis captures the spirit and mores of the period perfectly. I have other Lewis novels on my reading list, including Babbit, Arrowsmith, Elmer Gantry, and Dodsworth.