Granta 77: What We Think of America

I was looking for perspective about America from an outsider's point of view. I came away from the essays with a sense that America is not viewed in perspective - that our country is viewed almost as a flat dream-like image, a projection of others' fears and dreams. This country is very big geographically. And the mix of national origins is very broad. And the mobility both physical and socioeconomic is enormous - not perfect, of course, just remarkable. I read both negative and positive views of America - and they seemed to be focusing on different slivers of America's character or perceived character - none totally untrue or irrelevant, but none displaying more than a small thread of the American fabric.I think I did gain some perspective on the difficulty of both planning and perceiving American foreign policy. I recommend this book.The essay 'The Habit' by Francis Spufford was completely outside the theme of the collection, but it captures, vibrantly, the experience of growing up with a passion for reading.

Granta collections are always a surprise, and this one is no exception. I bought it expecting to grit my teeth while trying to come to terms with some of the frustration of the rest of the world with Americans. But instead I discovered a gathering of writers who, as much as I do, wonder at the ungraspable complexity of this nation whose belief in it itself and its ideals is as much to be praised as its uncritical and opportunistic practices are to be blamed. Both insiders and outsiders feel the right to insist that American values be upheld. This collection is not a serious critique but it is an amazing collection of meditations on America as uplifting as they are a reminder of how much and how long we Americans have lazily indulged in cynicism about our political process.

I bought Granta 77 expecting a pointed analysis of US foreign policy since September 11- with particular emphasis placed opinions on muslim countries. I wanted to hear what people were thinking of the US pulling out of the Kyoto Treaty, not ratifying the Anti-Land Mine Treaty, maintaining support for Isreal during the current occupation of the Palestinean territories, and other provacative, liable-to-be-misconstrued, actions taken by the US in recent years which are obviously smearing the good name of the US - for reasons perhaps justified, perhaps not. What I got instead was a series of 24 often affectionate ruminations on how the USA, and the "idea" of the USA, has affected the lives and imaginations of writers from around the globe. Some essays are simply mini-memoirs of how some small bit of americana (comic book superheros, in one instance) transformed a life.Some readers may be disappointed to note that only passing mention is made of September 11 in a few of the essays. Taken as a whole, however, the 24 essay present an underlying sense that the current behaviour of the US is, in a way, disappointing to these writers- who, from movies, school lessons, and personal contact with the USA, have come to admire the ideals of the country and the people who live there. A common theme is a "dislike America but love Americans" sensibility.Granta 77 is sucessful because the essays are more ambivilant and nuanced than one expects them to be. Also included is an interesting photo essay on Afghansitan.