Book notes: Sinclair Lewis classic is still interesting, but a slow read
Sinclair Lewis’s Main Street, published in 1920, is a satirical portrait of small-town America. The fictional town of Gopher Prairie is modeled after Lewis’s hometown of Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
The story chronicles the life of Carol, a naïve young woman from St. Paul. As college graduation approaches, Carol ponders what to do with her life. Her interest in sociology leads her to readings on village improvement. She declares, “That’s what I’ll do after college! I’ll get my hands on one of these prairie towns and make it beautiful.”
Carol spends a year studying library science in Chicago and three years working in the St. Paul Public Library before meeting and marrying Dr. Will Kennicott of Gopher Prairie. Carol is surprised by the town’s backward ways and ugly appearance. Her attempts to “improve” the village are met with opposition. Lewis paints the townspeople as gossips, uninterested in cultural or social issues, and the town as a bastion of mediocrity and conformity.
Despite Carol’s efforts to become involved in the town’s social activities, the townspeople continue to gossip about her. Eventually, Carol takes her young son and moves to Washington, D.C., for three years. When her husband seeks her out and courts her again, she returns to Gopher Prairie. This time, after the birth of their daughter, Carol becomes more accepting of the townspeople, setting her sights on change in small ways.
Most of the Book Club felt that Main Street was a painstakingly slow read. Yet they found it interesting. Our discussion highlighted common themes that continue to be relevant today: women’s roles, anti-immigration attitudes, hints of labor unrest, and socialism. We also reflected on the novel’s success in 1920 and imagined that many people in small towns saw their own towns in Gopher Prairie.
—Kathy Cramer and Becky Anderson, members, UMRA Book Club
Book Club to meet November 15
Fri, Nov 15 2019, 2pm
Kathryn Sedo will lead the discussion of Main Street by Sinclair Lewis when the UMRA Book Club meets at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 15, at the 1666 Coffman Building in Falcon Heights. Members will also select books to be read in 2020. Contact Pat Tollefson at [email protected] for more information.
Upcoming Events
The May 20 hike will start at the Historic Lift Bridge in Stillwater and go along the river to the new bridge, cross over and then back on the Wisconsin side, a total of approximately 5 miles. Most of the route is paved. We will eat lunch after at Brian's Bar and Grill in Stillwater. Car pooling will be available.
Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club welcomes back, for the second time, author Julie Schumacher, U of M Regents professor of creative writing and English, for a conversation about her novel The Shakespeare Requirement.
We are in for a treat on June 3! Lynn Anderson, will lead us on trails at two parks near her Monticello home. Bring a bag lunch and we will gather in Lynn's yard along the Mississippi River for eating and socializing after the hike.
Get out to the ballpark with fellow UMRA members for the annual U of M Day at Target Field as the Minnesota Twins take on the Oakland Athletics on June 14 at 7:10 p.m.
Please join us at 9:30 on June 17, 2024 for a walk around Lake Como in St. Paul before attending the UMRA Summer Social and Picnic starting at 11 at the Como Pavilion. A perfect opportunity to get in a walk before we gather to celebrate summer.
Picnic under the covered, open-air Como pavilion, gaze at the water, spy some birds, catch up with friends and former colleagues, and meet new members. We’ll have lunch with plenty of time for visiting and then compete in teams as we are challenged by our Quiz master(s)!
Healthy aging, mindfulness, fighting ageism, and more will be the focus of the third annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus.