Books like American studies by Mark Merlis
Reeve, a college professor struggling with career frustration and an eviction threat, finds himself in a hospital bed haunting over the death of his mentor Tom Slater—a once-renowned American literary scholar who flirted with communism and ultimately committed suicide amid the anti‑communist purges of the McCarthy era.
As Reeve navigates his own inner turmoil, he reflects on the broader landscape of gay life in America, remembering his youthful defiance and the complicated emotions he now experiences toward a quiet young patient. His memories of Tom and of his own past shape a narrative that blends dark humor, lyrical detail, and a poignant exploration of desire, betrayal, and healing.
First publish date: 1994
Genre: LGBTQ+ Fiction/Gay Fiction
Authors: Mark Merlis
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Books similar to American studies (10 similar books)
A compelling overview of American history through the eyes and experiences of its women, workers, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and the working poor.
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A collection of linked short stories that follows a platoon of American soldiers and their experiences, thoughts, and burdens during the Vietnam War.
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The Warmth of Other Suns is a non‑fiction study of the Great Migration, tracing the journey of nearly six million African Americans from the South to northern and western cities between 1915 and 1970.
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Philip Roth’s Pulitzer‑winning novel follows Jewish American entrepreneur Seymour “Swede” Levov as his idyllic life unravels amid the social and political upheavals of the 1960s.
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After his mother's death, a disenchanted college professor travels to Washington, D.C., where he confronts his grief amid the city’s gloom, his repressed life, and unexpected revelations in the journals of Mary Todd Lincoln.
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The Professor Dr. Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld of the Institute of Romantic Philology embarks on humorous adventures in Portugal, learning to play tennis, and dealing with college chums and dental appointments in Ireland and Italy.
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Gordon S. Wood reexamines Benjamin Franklin, revealing that the myth of him as the quintessential American obscures the complex thinker who served the British Crown, pursued gentlemanly status, and shaped the Revolution from within.
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Set in Maryland, this psychological fiction follows the lives of college teachers as they confront human life cycles, change events, and moments of coincidence, weaving faculty experiences into a contemplative narrative.
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Welcome to the world of Professor Dr. Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, a college teacher in Regensburg who finds himself embroiled in absurd yet hilarious academic and personal mysteries while pursuing his masterwork, Portuguese Irregular Verbs.
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At a Michigan state university, faculty member Nick Hoffman faces a personal and professional crisis when his lover Stefan’s past with a new hire, Perry Cross, culminates in Cross’s mysterious murder.
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Some Other Similar Books
The City of Goodbyes by Maeve BinchyThe Americanization of Edward Bok by Edward W. Bok
Studying America: Essays on American Literature and Culture by Andrew Hoberek
The American Century by H.W.Brands
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin by Gershwin, David
Fabulous Harp by Maggie Shipstead
The American Future: A History by Simon Schama
The Optimist's Telescope by Betsy Levy Paluck
American Smaller by Greer Jessop
American Ethnicity by George J. Sanchez
America: The Farewell Tour by Chris Hedges
Seeing Ourselves: A History of American Self-Image by Kathleen D. McCarthy
The American Dream and the Power of Wealth by Glenn C. Loury
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