because it pushes the common sentiment in American literature that the only relevant truth is our subjective experiences and mythology of individual egotism. it's reductionist and sentimentalist. I read it in 9th grade too.

I think reality and truth exist outside of individuals, and that they matter. Which is never a popular sentiment, and increasingly has become less of one as of late as folks seem to be moving toward group solipsism.

More broadly, I generally don't like American literature, because I find it way too navel-gazing, sentimental, and self-congratulatory. I prefer non-American literature because it tends to have a more grounded view of the world that's more embedded in real history, than Americans and their obsession with their own uniqueness and exceptionalism and standing 'outside history'. I also resent how American English is taught as if America and UK literature is the only relevant one in the world... and typically only likes foreign authors if their work is Americanized or fits the American cultural narrative.

I hated English class in general, except Shakespeare and the Ancient Greeks and even more since discovered there is this whole other world of great lit out there that isn't taught in American classrooms because it's 'scary and weird' to Americans, teachers and students alike. Even to this day, people come to my house and tell my how 'weird' my books are because so much of it is European/Asian and it's full of different ideas than American ones.

it would be really interesting to talk a class on American literature in a foreign country, or just a class in America without the instructor jerking off about how American authors are the most deep and profound people on the earth and subject (often drug fueled) feelings are the ultimate truth/experience in life. Every English or writing class I've ever taken comes off like nationalist propaganda to me... and actually I read a few books about how USA entire English/writing higher ed infrastructure was funded by the CIA to precisely do that... which confirmed my suspicions about it the entire time.

I think the only American author I really liked is Melville, because his work was anti-egotistical and kind of went at the American mythology of egotistical individualism and the idea that truth only exists 'inside us', where as most American authors, past and present, seem to embrace that idea as gospel.