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Reading the 100

In March of 2024, the Atlantic released their list of "The Great American" Novels of the last century and told us all, "You have to read them." This is a diary of my reading of them. And also, perhaps, some ideas about craft and inspiration.

Newsletter · By Samantha Mabry · Official site

Indexed issues, last 90 days
4
Latest publication
Sep 10, 2026
Audience
Checking…
Earliest in this view
Jul 16, 2026

Latest issues

  1. Issue · Sep 10, 2026

    The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West (1939) (opens the original)

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    In March of 2024, The Atlantic posted their list of “The Great American Novels” of the last century. They then demanded, “You have to read them.” This is my diary of doing just that.<a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ezz1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd52887be-f850-4e2c-8f51-5afd58e7362d_2158x3

  2. Issue · Aug 22, 2026

    The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (1939) (opens the original)

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    In March of 2024, The Atlantic posted their list of “The Great American Novels” of the last century. They then demanded, “You have to read them.” This is my diary of doing just that.<a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RBmx!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485e38ee-9c38-46f6-ab30-3452da8ffe30_1960x3

  3. Issue · Aug 11, 2026

    Ask the Dust by John Fante (1939) (opens the original)

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    In March of 2024, The Atlantic posted their list of “The Great American Novels” of the last century. They then demanded, “You have to read them.” This is my diary of doing just that.<a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h5X3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f4

  4. Issue · Jul 16, 2026

    The U.S.A. Trilogy by John Dos Passos - The Big Money (1938) (opens the original)

    Excerpt · Positive tone

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    In March of 2024, The Atlantic posted their list of “The Great American Novels” of the last century. They then demanded, “You have to read them.” This is my diary of doing just that.<a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fB4B!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff5f

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