Why people recommend it
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley is a celebrated contemporary novel that reimagines King Lear on a sprawling farm in rural Iowa, exploring deep family fractures, dark secrets, and rural life. The book was discussed on The Book Review in two separate episodes by author S.A. Cosby. In the 2024 episode S.A. Cosby on 'Razorblade Tears', Cosby named Jane Smiley's novel as one of his favorite books of all time, utilizing it to support his broader argument that all compelling fiction fundamentally involves crime and profound moral transgressions. Later, in the 2025 episode S.A. Cosby on Writing Southern Crime Fiction, he referenced the same novel again, pointing to the narrative of a massive Nebraska family farm to explain how traditional literary works can sometimes feel culturally distant to readers who might not directly relate to such an environment, yet still offer powerful thematic resonance. Through these reflections, Cosby demonstrated the lasting impact of Smiley's storytelling, highlighting how a classic tragedy transposed onto the American agricultural heartland continues to provoke rich discussions among contemporary crime writers regarding setting, family dynamics, and the nature of literary transgression.
Who recommended it
- S.A. Cosby Recommended
S.A. Cosby — 2 mentions
“...or you can read A Thousand Acres by James Smiley and you may not relate to a family that owns a huge farm in Nebraska.”
“one of my favorite books of all times is a book called A Thousand Acres by James M I love that book”