Favorite author (from these choices)

[garrett222]

i don't care who i forget.

[Cheddar's Cousin]

Bukowski!

[Quadromarshia]

Kerowac!

[stuporfly]

Joody Bloom!

[CalmerThanYou]

Kerowac!

kerouac

this would have been my vote...or hunter s.

[Pixiessp]

Steinbeck!

[Goodtoknow]

John Steinbeck.

East of Eden is my favorite American novel ever, and in my mind the epitome of American literature.

Hemingway produced a lot of really good stuff too. He didn't seem to progress as a writer though like Steinbeck did. He was more of a savant...I don't think he got better after The Sun Also Rises.

I don't consider Vonnegut a literary giant nor enjoy his stuff as much as Hemingway or Steinbeck.

JD Salinger had Franny & Zooey and The Catcher in the Rye. That is all I've read at least. Doesn't compare.

I guess you threw Ayn Rand in the mix for Title IX reasons?

I wish F. Scott Fitzgerald, or William Faulkner would have been included. Jack Kerouac would have been a good add too.

Regardless, though I'd have to vote for John Steinbeck for breadth and quality of work.

[woogie846]

I've always liked Steinbeck.

[Deviate_420]

WHERE IN THE FUCKING CHRIST IS JK ROWLING!!!!?????lol

[quicksand]

VONNEGUT!!!

[humanoid]

I said Vonnegut, because there is no one that can make me ponder some of mankind's deepest issues, yet make me laugh while doing it, quite like he can

Steinbeck is also a master though, and almost everything I've read is awesome...

Gary Shteyngart is also very near the top of my list, but so far he's only written 2 novels, so he has a way to go

Ayn Rand is some very heavy reading, and while some of it is highly enlightening & thought provoking, I wouldn't necessarily say that I enjoy it

[garrett222]

I said Ayn Rand is my fave tied with vonnegut...Fountainhead is legen......wait for it...dary!

[algunz]

All of them have a certain personal connection, but Hemingway was from a particularly happy part of my past.

[kitt kat]

This poll is sexist.

[Mr.Nipples]

R.L. Stine

[someone]

Steinbeck is the most technically gifted of these choices. Hemingway is too male-oriented, Salinger is too one-note, Vonnegut is too gimmicky. You actually have to agree with Rand's philosophy in order to appreciate her.

Fitzgerald should be on this list so he could win his rightful honor.

[Cancersticks1]

Tom Robbins

[Goodtoknow]

wait. andy dufrenez iz a wryter?

[Cancersticks1]

sigh...

[Goodtoknow]

I keed I keed.

[zajaa]

remember when dave eggers was big for a minute there

[sportsbunny]

John Steinbeck.

East of Eden is my favorite American novel ever, and in my mind the epitome of American literature.

Agree

[MissingPerson]

These options scream "School shooter."

[fatbastard]

Bukowski!

Kerowac!

Sartre

[sydaud]

Hemingway produced a lot of really good stuff too. He didn't seem to progress as a writer though like Steinbeck did. He was more of a savant...I don't think he got better after The Sun Also Rises.

I won't even argue this because I've never given it thought before now. "The Sun Also Rises" is easily my favorite Hemmingway book, but if I had to pick my 1920's writer of choice, it would have been Fitzgerald. "Rises" is Hemmingway at his most human; before the booze made him jaded.