Great American Novel

Last night, I got into a discussion with my critique group about whether there's such a thing as the Great American Novel. I would argue that some novels are broad enough in scope or ambition to qualify--although I don't think that any one book clearly holds the title.

Of the books I've read recently from the past several decades, the following come closest: The Falls, by Joyce Carol Oates; American Pastoral, by Philip Roth; and World's Fair, by E.L. Doctorow. Each uses a particular family to explore what it means to be American, and each one is conscious of broader American history beyond that family. If I had to choose which one comes closest to my Platonic ideal, I would have to say American Pastoral. Even two years after reading it, I still think of the characters (I think my favorite is Dawn, the former Miss New Jersey) and the themes of violence and identity.

I once taught American literature, but I still don't feel qualified to pick books from the past. Surely something by Toni Morrison or Faulkner should be in the running, but I'm not sure what. Huckleberry Finn and The Great Gatsby both explore different aspects of the American experience and the American character. Sister Carrie and The House of Mirth are both contenders, and I'd include The Scarlet Letter if I didn't find it boring. What else? Moby Dick? Their Eyes Were Watching God? Is Henry James American enough to write a Great American Novel? Some books--such as Ethan Frome or Catcher in the Rye--are well-written, but are they big enough in scope?

So I turn to my readers. Do you think there's such a thing as a Great American Novel, or is that an outmoded concept? What books would make your list?