In the midst of the star-studded crowd at the 2010 Oscars, a writer who teaches at a small liberal arts college in Vermont proudly watched as 20 years of dedicated work was finally recognized. Although it did not win, the film “The Last Station” was nominated for two Oscars and 12 prestigious film awards all together. All this red-carpet recognition comes from author Jay Parini’s 1990 novel “The Last Station,” in which was the inspiration behind the film. Parini found his way from the bright lights of Hollywood to the stage of Dana Auditorium on March 25 to speak on his latest novel, “Promised Land, Thirteen Books that Changed America.”

Parini stepped to the mike and immediately illuminated the room with his warm personality and funny jokes. He expressed his gratitude to those in attendance for the opportunity to come down to sunny North Carolina for his spring break from a snowy Vermont, still thawing out from another long winter.

He proceeded into his discussion recalling a trip to Europe with his wife in which they attended a presentation made by author Lord Melvyn Bragg. Parini found he was uninterested and began to make notes in his program. He started playing with Bragg’s idea of 12 books that changed the world and decided to write a book of his own, “Promised Land, Thirteen Books that Changed America.”

Parini features works from politics, religion, adventure, exploration, and philosophy. The works are stories and memorable legends of both fact and fiction.

“I was looking for books that played a role in shaping the nation’s idea of itself or that consolidated and defined a major trend.” said Parini.

Parini’s selections include famed literary works such as “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and historical documents such as the “Federalist Papers.” Through a collaborative effort, Parini’s 13 selections describe the many interconnected journeys and the diverse experiences that make the people of this nation Americans.

Each chapter of “Promised Land” is devoted to a different work and treats each using the same format. Parini includes a brief summary of how the book changed the United States, followed by a small biography of the writer. He then focuses on the historical context of the book, leading into a detailed description of the book’s story line.

“I did not write this book so people would read my book; I wrote it so people would take a look at these 13 that I have highlighted,” Parini commented.

Questions appear throughout the book that are designed to make the reader think back on their own experiences. His analysis of these different works is meant to inspire the reader to form their own questions on the subject.

“Chances are, you read some of these books in high school. And, though it hurts to say, you’re not in high school anymore. Taking a look at them with fresh eyes proved successful for me; I came away with so much more of each book’s story,” commented one member of the Progressive Book Club.

Parini specifically chose 13 books to refer to the 13 original colonies and chose the title “Promised Land” for the reoccurring theme of those words throughout U.S. history.

According to Bookmarks Magazine, “While critics agreed that the 13 works offered by Parini are seminal, they all thought that his short list was, well, too short.”

To silence his critics, Parini includes a list of 100 additional works that also changed the United States, with a confession that another hundred could have easily been included.

As Parini concluded his presentation, he revealed his reasons for writing the book. He was trying to learn about his country for himself, reiterating his personal thoughts of this nation.

In closing, he explained how the books he has chosen to highlight are not just books alone; they are all foundations that generate future books.

List of books featured in “Promised Land”:

1) Of Plymouth Plantation
2) The Federalist Papers
3) The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
4) The Journals of Lewis and Clark
5) Walden
6) Uncle Tom’s Cabin
7) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
8) The Souls of Black Folk
9) The Promised Land
10) How to Win Friends and Influence People
11) The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care
12) On the Road
13) The Feminine Mystique