American Unexceptionalism: The Everyman and the Suburban Novel after 9/11 (New American Canon)

228 Pages·2014·1.319 MB·English

by  Kathy Knapp

American Unexceptionalism
The New AmericAN cANoN
The Iowa Series in Contemporary Literature and Culture
Samuel Cohen, series editor
o o o o o o o o o
American Unexceptionalism
The Everyman and the Suburban Novel after 9/11
Kathy Knapp
university of iowa press, iowa city
University of Iowa Press, Iowa City 52242
Copyright © 2014 by the University of Iowa Press
www.uiowapress.org
Printed in the United States of America
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No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or
by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.
All reasonable steps have been taken to contact copyright holders
of material used in this book. The publisher would be pleased
to make suitable arrangements with any whom it has not been
possible to reach.
The University of Iowa Press is a member of Green Press Initiative
and is committed to preserving natural resources.
Printed on acid-free paper
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Knapp, Kathy, 1960–
American unexceptionalism: the everyman and the suburban
novel after 9/11 / Kathy Knapp.
pages cm. — (The New American Canon: the Iowa series in
contemporary literature and culture)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbN: 978-1-60938-228-5, 1-60938-228-5 (pbk)
isbN: 978-1-60938-251-3, 1-60938-251-x (ebk)
1. American fiction—21st century— History and criticism.
2. Suburban life in literature. 3. September 11 Terrorist Attacks,
2001—Influence. 4. Authors, American—21st c entury— Political
and social views. I. Title.
ps374.s82k63 2014
813'.609—dc23 2013043057
For Bob and Phyll

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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction The Suburb and the Everyman in Transition xi
1 The Canonical Everyman
Richard Ford’s Frank Bascombe Trilogy and the Challenge to
Neoliberal Suburbia 1
2 The Assimilated Everyman and the Business of Forgetting
Postwar Living Memorials and the Posttraumatic Suburb in
Chang-rae Lee’s Aloft 23
3 “How to Live?”
The Case for Failure in Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom 50
4 Dead Man Walking
Philip Roth’s Engagement with the Everyman Tradition and
the Reimagination of Middle-Class Identity 80
5 That’s What She Said
The Everyman in Recent Suburban Fiction by Anne Tyler,
Gish Jen, and A. M. Homes 110
Notes 137
Works Cited 157
Index 173

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Acknowledgments
Writing can feel like a lonely endeavor, but in truth every sentence in this
book has benefited from the fine insights, suggestions, and support of a
multitude of friends, colleagues, and family members.
My thanks must begin with Lenny Cassuto, the Grand Poobah of advis-
ers and a fantastic friend. He read and reread the following pages count-
less times, each time with exhaustive comments and fresh enthusiasm.
He cheered me on and propped me up when things got really tough. And
along the way he reminded me to take a walk, grab a meal, watch some
Wire, and keep things in perspective.
Anna Mae Duane, friend, colleague, and mentor extraordinaire, has
likewise read these pages over and over and has been a bottomless source
of wisdom, advice, support, encouragement, and good cheer.
I am blessed with many terrific colleagues at UConn. Clare Eby has
been an incredibly generous reader, advocate, and friend. Cathy Schlund-
Vials offered feedback early on that set my project in motion. The mem-
bers of my American Studies writing group— Anna Mae, Martha Cutter,
Shawn Salvant, Mike Gill, and Alexis Boylan— provided comments late
in the game that led to important fine-tuning. Bob Tilton and Margaret
Breen have been sounding boards and supporters. Pam Bedore, Ellen Car-
illo, and Serkan Gorkemli are my comrades-in-arms. Fiona DeMerrell and
Judy DiLaurenzio have covered for me and kept me laughing.
In addition, I am deeply indebted to several top-notch scholars in the
field for their invaluable help at various stages. Cathy Jurca provided
pages of thoughtful comments at the dissertation stage that gently guid-
ed me to challenge my assumptions. Gordon Hutner offered suggestions
and support early on that launched this project. Andy Hoberek, Min
Hyoung Song, Aaron DeRosa, and Lee Zimmerman gave me feedback that
stretched my thinking and took my work in new directions. Sam Cohen
has been a great editor and a good guy every step of the way.