The Great American Read
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Series spotlights best books, celebrates joys of reading.
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The Great American Read
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What's the Story?
THE GREAT AMERICAN READ aims to identify American readers' all-time favorite novel as decided by online votes over the course of the show's airing. The project launches with a list of 100 titles compiled by public opinion polling and literary professionals, who whittled down the selected titles to meet the project's criteria. Host Meredith Vieira introduces the titles in groups of shared qualities, such as books that have been banned at some point, works of female authors, and novels written outside the United States. Avid readers, celebrities, and authors weigh in on their favorites and discuss the positive impact of reading in their own experiences, and viewers are urged to vote for their favorites online.
Is It Any Good?
This unique eight-part series is a lengthy celebration of the joy and value of reading and the diversity of the rich works of fiction on the 100-book list. The chosen titles include children's classics like Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, science fiction greats like A Game of Thrones, and modern best-sellers like Looking for Alaska and Twilight. They comprise humor, drama, historical fiction, and the relatively new genre of young adult literature, all on equal footing in this one-of-a-kind contest for bragging rights.
For book fans, The Great American Read is a delightful way to revisit old favorites and learn about some new titles you may want to try, within the context of a nationwide literary popularity contest. Even if your favorite title isn't in the running, chances are there are others on the list that you'll want to root for, or perhaps you will discover a new number one based on the compelling book reports offered by celebrities and other avid readers. The Great American Read is a worthwhile family series that will inspire some good conversations, but given the mature nature of the content of several of the featured titles, it's best shared among teens and adults.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of reading. How do books inspire creativity in a way that TV series and movies can't? What genres of literature are your favorites?
How are we affected by fictional characters we admire (or don't)? Are the best characters the perfect ones or the ones who are most flawed? How does that compare to your experience with people in the real world? What traits do you most admire in your favorite characters?
Families can use The Great American Read to inspire joint reading efforts. Which books would you recommend to your teens, and them to you? Pick a title none of you have read to enjoy together, and discuss it afterward.
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 22, 2018
- Cast: Meredith Vieira
- Network: PBS
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Book Characters
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: October 13, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
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