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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 1525 Views
My own answers. - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 1119 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 1050 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 1043 Views
Get a copy with annotations! - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 1002 Views
Re: My own answers. - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1134 Views
Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1161 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1394 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 1087 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1255 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 999 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 1071 Views
Re: My own answers. - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 1109 Views
Cliff's notes - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1161 Views
Re: Cliff's notes - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1365 Views
Re: Cliff's notes - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1162 Views
It's cool. - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1220 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 1087 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 1102 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 1074 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 11:39:16 PM 928 Views
Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 992 Views
Yes. - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 990 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1164 Views
totally problematic classics - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1123 Views
Re: totally problematic classics - 30/09/2010 09:26:46 PM 1018 Views
I study them, apparently. - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1185 Views
I wish I could do that. - 30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM 1088 Views
Less fun than you'd think. - 30/09/2010 10:52:10 PM 959 Views
Good survey. - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1156 Views
Agreed. edited - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 1118 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 1049 Views
Sometimes. - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 1071 Views
Maybe I was unclear. - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 1089 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 965 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 1114 Views
I generally do. - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 1077 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1249 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 1084 Views
Dickens - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 1053 Views
Re: I generally do. - 30/09/2010 11:54:11 PM 1133 Views
Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 977 Views
Re: Good survey. - 01/10/2010 02:52:27 AM 1225 Views
My classics - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 1034 Views
Re: My classics - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1130 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1188 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 1041 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1118 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 1071 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 1082 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 1012 Views
I will not list 300+ books here, I promise - 01/10/2010 12:36:17 AM 1179 Views
O'Connor is wonderful. But I am not sure many can appreciate her. - 01/10/2010 02:50:54 AM 880 Views
I agree, thus the "confound" part in there - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 964 Views
I figured as much. - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 987 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 1064 Views
Re: I will not list 300+ books here, I promise - 02/10/2010 11:23:37 AM 1120 Views
Criminy, I thought I was done with essay questions years ago. - 01/10/2010 01:39:56 AM 1084 Views
Glad to bring back the school days. - 01/10/2010 01:49:48 PM 1129 Views
Re: Glad to bring back the school days. - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 921 Views
not sure but I don't believe in instant classics - 02/10/2010 05:22:07 AM 1093 Views
the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club... - 02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM 1236 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1129 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 1116 Views

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