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Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow Send a noteboard - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM
How do you define a classic work or author?
To expand on the subject line, a classic is a book which, stylistically and/or in terms of the ideas or emotions it conveys, consistently has literary value to readers generation after generation. Its value endures.

By definition, I think that this requires the work in question to be novel in one way or another, so derivative fiction cannot by definition become "classic". I also believe that truly valuable ideas often (but not necessarily always) require that the book not be easily accessible to everyone, so the reader is forced to work a bit to appreciate the book.

Do you mean more that the ideas challenge the current prodomonent views or are just difficult to grasp? There are plenty of books out there that pushed the envelope to a degree for the thinking of the time, but might not have been difficult to read, and are considered classics by most. Just curious here.

However, I also believe that some more contemporary works can be considered "modern classics" because their ideas are profound enough and common enough to humanity that we can impute to them an enduring value. As such, some of my favorites might be too recent to consider "classics" by virtue of their enduring value.

I would think the modern classics are an easy place for disagreement in literary discussions. Only time will tell, I suppose. Some works are just that good though and deserve, at a minimum, the debate if not the designation.

What are your favorite classic works?

The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Idiot, by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Demons, by Fyodor Dostoevsky

I struggled with Crime and Punishment, honestly. Ultimately good and worth it, but it was tough for me to get through. I've been stalling on reading more, mainly The Brothers Karamazov.

Doctor Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak

A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess

I've seen the movies, does that count? I always forget that A Clockwork Orange was a book first and never even think to read it.

Tender is the Night, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Haven't read this one, but was a fan of Gatsby. My wife liked Gatsby so much, she used to have a copy in her car.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

This is on my list to check out.

The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri

This should have been on my list of favorites.

The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides

I've only ever read Sophocles, Oedipus & Antigone. Good, though disturbing stories. Poor man's family life was f'd up.

Beowulf

This should have been in my favorites as well.

I think which one I would suggest would depend on the person I was talking to. I think Brothers Karamazov is incredible, but I'm not sure how relevant it is to atheists, for example. I would guess I would recommend Doctor Zhivago as a more broadly appealing work.

I may have to rethink my hesitation on more Dostoevsky after this. Really that good? You do seem to have a particular interest in all things Russian, though.

What have you staunchly refused to read that might be considered a classic?

Moby Dick

Why don't you want to read it?

Almost everyone I know who has read it has not found any real value to it.

I read it a long time ago and agree with your friends.

Thanks for your reply!
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The Classics - general discussion / survey - 30/09/2010 03:52:53 PM 1396 Views
My own answers. - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 988 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 927 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 924 Views
Get a copy with annotations! - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 910 Views
Re: My own answers. - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1007 Views
Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1033 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1276 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 962 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1128 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 881 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 950 Views
Re: My own answers. - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 983 Views
Cliff's notes - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1032 Views
Re: Cliff's notes - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1253 Views
Re: Cliff's notes - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1041 Views
It's cool. - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1089 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 963 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 988 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 922 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 11:39:16 PM 811 Views
Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 875 Views
Yes. - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 858 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1040 Views
totally problematic classics - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1012 Views
Re: totally problematic classics - 30/09/2010 09:26:46 PM 935 Views
I study them, apparently. - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1055 Views
I wish I could do that. - 30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM 965 Views
Less fun than you'd think. - 30/09/2010 10:52:10 PM 841 Views
Good survey. - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1032 Views
Agreed. edited - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 997 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 932 Views
Sometimes. - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 952 Views
Maybe I was unclear. - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 964 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 843 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 967 Views
I generally do. - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 964 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1129 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 962 Views
Dickens - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 941 Views
Re: I generally do. - 30/09/2010 11:54:11 PM 1018 Views
Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 860 Views
Re: Good survey. - 01/10/2010 02:52:27 AM 1114 Views
My classics - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 926 Views
Re: My classics - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1012 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1064 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 909 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1003 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 948 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 964 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 897 Views
I will not list 300+ books here, I promise - 01/10/2010 12:36:17 AM 1052 Views
O'Connor is wonderful. But I am not sure many can appreciate her. - 01/10/2010 02:50:54 AM 755 Views
I agree, thus the "confound" part in there - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 842 Views
I figured as much. - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 870 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 948 Views
Re: I will not list 300+ books here, I promise - 02/10/2010 11:23:37 AM 1009 Views
Criminy, I thought I was done with essay questions years ago. - 01/10/2010 01:39:56 AM 970 Views
Glad to bring back the school days. - 01/10/2010 01:49:48 PM 1010 Views
Re: Glad to bring back the school days. - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 825 Views
not sure but I don't believe in instant classics - 02/10/2010 05:22:07 AM 987 Views
the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club... - 02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM 1096 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1008 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 975 Views

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