Ann Patchett Says This is the Great American Novel (And This Classic Is NOT)
The bestselling author plays book "pick it or skip it"—her verdicts may surprise you
Key Takeaways
- Patchett says skip 'East of Eden'—pick 'The Grapes of Wrath' instead.
- She also steers readers away from 'Ethan Frome' in favor of Wharton's other work.
- Patchett's pick for a great American novel is a new book, just out in 2025.
Life is about important choices—like knowing which books to read and which to skip in our busy lives. To help with these decisions, we knew exactly who to ask for this book-inspired game of “pick it” and “skip it.” Ann Patchett is not only a bestselling author, but also a successful independent bookstore owner. Woman’s World caught up with Patchett right before she stepped on stage to be interviewed by another influential name in the book business: Zibby Owens, host of the Totally Booked with Zibby podcast, which just won three 2026 Signal Awards. Here is Patchett’s artful advice on which classics to pick and skip this season.
Ann Patchett tells us which classic novels to skip and pick
In head-to-head faceoffs, these books are the ones Patchett would pick up and add to her reading stack today and which ones she would surrender to the DNF (did not finish) pile…
Skip: ‘East of Eden’ by John Steinbeck
This 1952 John Steinbeck family saga is having a moment right now, thanks to the streaming series that’s been adapted from the book. One reviewer even said: “Is it possible that Netflix may boost literacy?” But when asked what is the great American novel, Patchett immediately told Woman’s World in an exclusive interview, “Not East of Eden!” She revealed, “Whenever I see someone coming into the bookstore to buy East of Eden, I’m like: Don’t do it!”
What’s the book about? As the title suggests, it’s a loose, modern retelling of elements from the Bible’s book of Genesis. It follows one couple’s fall from grace and two siblings’ murderous turn. However, not everyone agrees with Patchett’s diss of this book. One fan of the novel said: “East of Eden is the best book I have read in 2026, without hesitation, and one of the most rewarding reading experiences of my life.” If you’re game to try it, consider this reading schedule to know which chapters will coincide with which Netflix episodes.
Pick: ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ by John Steinbeck
If East of Eden is out, something has to be in. What would Patchett read from Steinbeck’s backlist instead? She told us, “I mean, give me Grapes of Wrath!”
What is it about? You may recall that this 1939 epic, set in The Great Depression, won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. It explores the “haves” and “have nots” of Oklahoma farmers during the Dust Bowl’s mass migration to California.
One reader called it “brutally honest and raw” and said, “this is a story that should stand up in front of you, look you dead in the eye, and smack you right in the head.” … “If you decide to read this, buckle up and take your time, it’s a hell of a journey and if it doesn’t change you, even a little, you weren’t paying attention.”
The one classroom classic Patchett says: Don’t read!
Patchett enthusiastically recommends thousands of books a year to friends and strangers. But East of Eden isn’t the only classic she’s been known to steer people away from. She also says to…
Skip: ‘Ethan Frome’ by Edith Wharton
In a reel for her bookstore, Patchett says, “I’m going to tell you one more thing. And I’ve said this before: don’t read Ethan Frome!” Why? Perhaps Patchett finds it too bleak and depressing. The 1911 novella focuses on a New England farmer in a loveless marriage and a love triangle with tragic consequences.
One fan argued: “The New England winter setting, the snow, the cold isolation, all mirror the emotional state of the characters. The writing is tight, evocative, with vivid descriptions of hardship, guilt and longing. The moral and psychological tension (between love, duty, and despair) is compelling.” So read at your own risk.
Pick: ‘The Custom of the Country’ by Edith Wharton
Is there an alternate book by Edith Wharton that Patchett feels is better worth our time? Yes! In a reel, she recommended “Edith Wharton’s novel The Custom of the Country, which I really loved and I had never read before.”
What is it about? It follows the rise of a beautiful but appallingly ruthless Midwestern woman as she marries in New York in the Gilded Age. It explores materialism of the elite who are newly rich and possess unchecked ambition. One reader said: “This is a real page turner with a protagonist that I celebrated hating. A horrible, scraping climber with narcissistic personality disorder. A perfect read to rile inner rage.”
Patchett even explained in a New York Times article that reading old books is “good for your brain.” She said, “When I started reading Edith Wharton’s The Custom of the Country—which is really fabulous—for the first 50 pages, I was having a hard time kind of slowing myself down enough. I was like, Oh, I’m reading a book from 1913, just calm down and go with it.”
The gift of slowing down wasn’t the only reward Patchett received from this endeavor. Reading this book later in life inspired her to go back and revisit other Wharton classics she’d enjoyed in her youth, including The House of Mirth, which she called “nothing but pleasure.”
The book Ann Patchett says is the great American novel right now
Now that you know what to avoid, what else should you add to your reading wishlist today? In Patchett’s current bestseller Whistler, main character Eddie dreams of writing the great American novel. That got us thinking which book Patchett would call a current classic…
Pick: ‘Buckeye’ by Patrick Ryan
We asked Patchett: “What do you consider the great American novel?” She said, “The great American novel for my money right now—because I love to talk about books that are new: Buckeye by Patrick Ryan is a sweeping, multi-generational, fantastic American novel just out in paperback. That would be my pick!”
What is it about? It’s a TODAY Show “Read with Jenna Book Club Pick” and it is a sweeping saga that begins after WWII and stretches for decades, connecting two families in one Ohio town with marital secrets. It explores themes of love and loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness.
What one reader said: “Destined to become an American classic…I simply couldn’t let go of the hold the novel had on me.”
Now it’s your turn to play the game: What classic or current books would you pick or skip? Share your nominations in the comments below.
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