What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSo Big
Edna Ferber · Book · 2020
If you loved So Big, start with Giant (George Stevens, 1956) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to So Big across media.
If you loved So Big, you are drawn to stories where personal resilience and maternal sacrifice define the pursuit of an American dream.
Films on the same thread
Giant
George Stevens · Film · 1956
Explores: Intergenerational Conflict, Racial Prejudice, Oil Boom.
Like the protagonist of So Big, Leslie must navigate the rigid social expectations of a new, challenging landscape while confronting the harsh realities of class and racial prejudice.
Gone with the Wind
Victor Fleming · Film · 1939
Shares 2 threads with So Big: Adaptation, Resilience.
Much like the determined spirit found in So Big, this epic follows a woman whose survival and adaptation through turbulent historical change mirror the grit of Ferber’s heroine.
The Color Purple
Steven Spielberg · Film · 1985
Explores: Female resilience, Overcoming adversity, Sisterhood.
If the profound resilience of the mother in So Big resonated with you, you will appreciate Celie’s epic journey of overcoming trauma and finding strength through decades of adversity.
The Tree of Wooden Clogs
Ermanno Olmi · Film · 1978
Explores: peasant life, class struggle, agrarian hardship.
This film echoes the agrarian hardship and the specific, poignant sacrifice for a child's future that sits at the very heart of the narrative in So Big.
Series on the same thread
The Good Wife
Michelle King · Series · 2009
Explores: Scandal, Redemption, Second Chance.
Alicia’s bold transformation into a self-reliant provider after a sudden domestic upheaval mirrors the way the lead in So Big takes charge of her family’s uncertain future.
Dickinson
Alena Smith · Series · 2019
Explores: Female Empowerment, Literary Ambition, Rebellion Against Societal Norms.
Just as the schoolteacher in So Big defies conventions to forge her own path, Emily Dickinson’s fierce commitment to her ambition makes her a kindred spirit of Ferber’s protagonist.
Little House on the Prairie
Ed Friendly · Series · 1974
Shares 2 threads with So Big: Rural Life, Resilience.
The Ingalls family’s struggle to build a life on the frontier captures the same spirit of rural endurance and family-centered perseverance that defines the world of So Big.
The Queen's Gambit
Scott Frank · Series · 2020
Explores: Chess, Addiction, Orphan.
The internal drive required to overcome humble beginnings and succeed against the odds links the protagonist’s journey in this drama to the life of the farmer in So Big.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
Fans of the rural life and community dynamics depicted in So Big will find a familiar, grounding atmosphere in this serialized exploration of modern farming and family relationships.
A New Untold Story
Podcast
Explores: Small-town life, Overcoming adversity, Single motherhood.
This biographical narrative captures the same spirit of overcoming impossible odds and the complexities of single motherhood that shaped the life of the central character in So Big.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is So Big a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel?
Yes, So Big is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Written by Edna Ferber and published in 2020, it chronicles the life of a spirited schoolteacher who transitions into the role of a hardworking farmer's wife and a self-sacrificing mother.
What is the primary story arc in So Big?
The story follows a spirited schoolteacher who undergoes a significant transformation. Throughout So Big, she adapts to the challenges of becoming a hardworking farmer's wife and eventually focuses her life on the responsibilities of being a self-sacrificing mother.
Who is the author of So Big?
So Big was written by Edna Ferber. The novel, which was published in 2020, is recognized for its narrative about a schoolteacher's journey into motherhood and farming life, earning critical acclaim including a Pulitzer Prize.
How did The New York Times describe So Big?
The New York Times described So Big as a novel to read and remember. This Pulitzer Prize-winning work by Edna Ferber details the life of a schoolteacher who evolves into a dedicated farmer's wife and mother.