The literary canon consists of the works considered by scholars, critics, and teachers to be the most important to read and study, which collectively constitute the “masterpieces” of literature. (Meyer 2175) In the past, there has been much debate over whether nonfiction should be included in the canon, but nonfiction authors being considered part of the canon is not rare and already a reality – George Orwell, Henry David Thoreau, Ernest Hemingway – have all produced a significant body of non-fictional work and are well-respected and established members. Sonja Livingston's work falls into a genre called creative nonfiction. As stated in his article for The Writer, Lee Gutkind states: “Creative nonfiction, also called “new nonfiction” or “new journalism,” refers to literary writing about your experiences and lifestyle. By “literary” I mean using scenes, dialogue, descriptions, first-person points of view – all the tools fiction writers have, while constantly trying to be truthful and factual. (Gutkind) Non-fiction can be and is "literary" and through mastery of this genre an author deserves to be included in the canon. Strong from his work; the uniqueness of his voice; Sonja Livingston should be considered a member of the canon. Ghostbread, Sonja Livingston's best-known work, is a memoir. It chronicles his childhood, his family, and how these relationships shaped his emotional development, particularly his relationship with his mother. Douglas Hesse states in an article in the English Journal: “Not all memoirs are literary, as sensationalist, ghost-written and celebrity stories too often attest. Literary memoirs are marked by the skill of writing, the quality of thought and reflection...... middle of paper ...... transform simple reality into art and idea. Writing creative nonfiction means perceiving what details are worth telling, why they might be important, and how they might be related. (1) Ms. Livingston uses style, theme, and structure to create writing that is at once profound, simple, true, and whimsical, and based on these attributes, an argument can be made for Sonja's inclusion Livingston in the literary canon. Works CitedDowling,,HF,Jr. Imaginative exposure: Teaching “creative” nonfiction writing. 36 Vol. , 1985. Web. Gutkind, Lee. Creative nonfiction. 117 Vol. , 2004. Web. Hesse, Douglas. Imagine a place for creative nonfiction. 99 Vol. , 2009. Web. Livingston, Sonja. Ghost bread. Athens, GA: The University of Georgia Press, 2010. Print. Meyer, Michael, ed. Bedford's Introduction to Literature. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. Print.