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not sure but I don't believe in instant classics random thoughts Send a noteboard - 02/10/2010 05:22:07 AM
Though there are things like Harry Potter that I suspect will become one given time. If my grandkids like then maybe.

Legolas' post about Emma and Rebekah's challenge got me thinking that there are a lot of "classics" floating around out there that certain people (myself included) may never have given a chance. This will be true, regardless of what you consider a "classic" to be. I leaned a little too heavily on a man named Cliff during school to avoid getting too far out of my comfort zone. Also, making something "required" reading usually took away some of it's appeal for me.

This may be more of a survey than a discussion, but I think it would be interesting none the less, especially with the amount of literature buffs around this board. Anyway, here we go...

How do you define a classic work or author?


I think it matters which modifier you put on it. If you just say literary classic then it needs to be a book that has been in continuous print for an extended length of time (say over 75 years) and is recognized as having literary value.

You can modern classic which would be the best books written in the 20th century and I would say they need to have remained popular for at least 30-40 years. 1984, Hemingway, To Kill a Mocking Bird ect. Again they should have some recognized literary value.

When you start talking genre classics like classic science fiction or classic westerns I think the rules become looser. They should still be relatively old for the genre and they need to be good examples of the style the represented. They don't need to have literary significance but it helps if they were at least nominated for some of the top awards in their genre.

That was pretty much off the top of my head and I am sure their are classics that would fit but it think it is a starting place.

What are your favorite classic works?


True classics? Not many to be honest. I really think writing has evolved for the better in the last 100 or so years. I like some of the old poetry (which would include Shakespeare) but I really don't find a lot of appeal in Dickens or Dante. Some are interesting stories and they have value but they don't typically read that well.

Now more modern classics. Run Rabbit Run, Brave New World, Slaughter House 5, LotR, To Kill a Mocking Bird. I even liked Tom Sawyer.

If you had to suggest just one, which would it be and why? (please not, "because it's good" )


The Sound and the Fury, so you can explain it to me.

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


I would say Little Woman but I read that to my daughter so i will go with Moby Dick.

Why don't you want to read it?


I tired and it sucked. Long and boring.

I considered myself relatively well read, until I started hanging out around here at least. I will answer the questions in the next post to get it started, despite what it might reveal about my literary experience (or lack thereof). Thanks!


There are really only a handful that are truly well read so I wouldn't worry to much.
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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 987 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 931 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 925 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 869 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 974 Views

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