American Dreams

by Norma Klein

Follows the relationships of Jay, Xenia, Susan, and Conrad, four college friends, during the sixties and seventies as they search for life's meaning

276 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Norma Klein was born in New York City and graduated cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard College with a degree in Russian. She later received her master's degree in Slavic languages from Columbia University.

Ms. Klein began publishing short stories while attending Barnard and since then she had written novels for readers of all ages. The author got her ideas from everyday life and advised would-be writers to do the same -- to write about their experiences or things they really care about.

Ms. Klein died in 1989.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this book until recently, even though I'm a huge fan of Norma Klein. I was doubtful because it was so old I thought it would be really dated, but I should have known better because her books never seem that way to me, no matter how old they are. It wasn't my favorite of her books, by any means (I still prefer her YA novels), but it was good.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so boring! The events start in 1963 but the writing is 1980. Just boring & uninteresting all the way around

[Trent · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel from 1987 that hasn't aged well. Its attitudes toward its 4 main characters seem quaint and (in the case of the gay character) at times patronizing.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

I flat out disliked all four main characters, they were all bores and I could not care less about their lives.