A little bit of philosophizing: Modern Classics

grzzly · 09-07-2010, 06:33 AM

While going through all the "classics" of the recent past I realized that there are not really any great books that were written in the past, say ten to twenty years, or were there? Maybe I am just not seeing them but where are the Fitzgeralds and Orwells of the present? Is it just me who is failing to see them out of sheer ignorance or are they not there?

Or do we maybe need some time before we realize how great books written in the present really are?

FlorenceArt · 09-07-2010, 08:30 AM

There have been many great books written recently, but it's hard to know how many of these will stand the test of time and become "classics". By definition, a "classic" is a book that remains relevant for at least a few generations.

grzzly · 09-07-2010, 10:35 AM

Can you give me a couple of examples? Or a source where I can find them? Bestseller lists really don't help that much.

GERGE · 09-07-2010, 12:43 PM

I can think of a few books I believe will become classics.

Mark Z. Danielewski - House of Leaves
Thomas Pynchon - Gravity's Rainbow
Murakami Haruki - Umibe no Kafuka
Ian McEwan - The Comfort of Strangers
Victor Pelevin - The Life of Insects
Vladimir Nabokov - Ada or Ardor
Michael Cunningham - The Hours
Orhan Pamuk - My Name is Red

bill_mchale · 09-07-2010, 12:58 PM

I think we might be surprised at which authors, and which books will be remembered in a generation from now. I doubt that Arthur Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells, let alone their readers, thought they were writing classics when they wrote their most famous works. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some of the "classics" from our period are seen as essentially being popular literature today.

--
Bill

edbro · 09-07-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some of the "classics" from our period are seen as essentially being popular literature today.

--
Bill

Dan Brown and James Patterson??? God forbid!

bill_mchale · 09-07-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbro

Dan Brown and James Patterson??? God forbid!

LOL.. well, probably not those specific authors. But there are some authors whom, despite their faults and obvious orientation towards a popular audience, might still be read in 50 or 100 years. I think King has about a 50/50 chance on still being read 50 years from now for example.

--
Bill

grzzly · 09-07-2010, 02:10 PM

Thank you gerge I will definitely have a look into those.

You may be right as to the popular books. Harry Potter for example I could imagine being read years from now also, considering the ongoing success of LotR among others. Not that I would say that they are necessarily perfect books, but then neither are Doyle's and people (me included) still love reading them.

The question just sprung to my head when I thought about how many great movies were released in the past years that I am sure will be watched years and years from now, but there was no book that I could immediately think of. Maybe it is because I am, or have been, far more into movies than into books that I don't really keep track of releases.

some call me tim · 09-07-2010, 02:39 PM

I'd say Murakami will definitely be considered a classic. Others that I can see being up there, that I've had some experience with at least: Jose Saramago, Michael Chabon, Margaret Atwood, and Cormac McCarthy come to mind.

GERGE · 09-07-2010, 03:03 PM

I think Atwood might be like George Gissing. I didn't read others.

emalvick · 09-08-2010, 11:05 AM

I don't think I'm well read enough with modern books to know what will exactly be classics, but I would imagine that with things like the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prizes, The National Book Awards, etc... some of those will end up as classics.

I don't think they have to have the mass popularity, but books like The Kite Runner or authors like Toni Morrison, Don Delilo, even Stephen King could end up as classics. I know there are many more.

I was actually surprised by how well written Stephen King is when it comes to his shorter Novellas/Short Stories like the compilation Different Seasons. I also enjoy it when he steps out of his straight up horror stuff.

The typical classic though will probably end up being more in the vein of social commentary as they often are.

HarryT · 09-08-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

I think we might be surprised at which authors, and which books will be remembered in a generation from now. I doubt that Arthur Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells, let alone their readers, thought they were writing classics when they wrote their most famous works. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some of the "classics" from our period are seen as essentially being popular literature today.

--
Bill

I'm sure you're right. I strongly suspect, for example, that the Harry Potter series will be regarded as a children's classic 50 years from now. Most classics are not "great literature"; they are simply books that have stood the test of time because they are a good read.

09-07-2010, 06:33 AM	#1
grzzly Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Germany Device: Kindle 3	A little bit of philosophizing: Modern Classics While going through all the "classics" of the recent past I realized that there are not really any great books that were written in the past, say ten to twenty years, or were there? Maybe I am just not seeing them but where are the Fitzgeralds and Orwells of the present? Is it just me who is failing to see them out of sheer ignorance or are they not there? Or do we maybe need some time before we realize how great books written in the present really are?

09-07-2010, 12:43 PM	#4
GERGE Guru Posts: 732 Karma: 5797160 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Istanbul Device: Kobo Libra	I can think of a few books I believe will become classics. Mark Z. Danielewski - House of Leaves Thomas Pynchon - Gravity's Rainbow Murakami Haruki - Umibe no Kafuka Ian McEwan - The Comfort of Strangers Victor Pelevin - The Life of Insects Vladimir Nabokov - Ada or Ardor Michael Cunningham - The Hours Orhan Pamuk - My Name is Red Last edited by GERGE; 09-07-2010 at 12:49 PM.

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09-07-2010, 08:30 AM	#2
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	There have been many great books written recently, but it's hard to know how many of these will stand the test of time and become "classics". By definition, a "classic" is a book that remains relevant for at least a few generations.

09-07-2010, 10:35 AM	#3
grzzly Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Germany Device: Kindle 3	Can you give me a couple of examples? Or a source where I can find them? Bestseller lists really don't help that much.

09-07-2010, 12:58 PM	#5
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	I think we might be surprised at which authors, and which books will be remembered in a generation from now. I doubt that Arthur Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells, let alone their readers, thought they were writing classics when they wrote their most famous works. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some of the "classics" from our period are seen as essentially being popular literature today. -- Bill

09-07-2010, 02:10 PM	#8
grzzly Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Germany Device: Kindle 3	Thank you gerge I will definitely have a look into those. You may be right as to the popular books. Harry Potter for example I could imagine being read years from now also, considering the ongoing success of LotR among others. Not that I would say that they are necessarily perfect books, but then neither are Doyle's and people (me included) still love reading them. The question just sprung to my head when I thought about how many great movies were released in the past years that I am sure will be watched years and years from now, but there was no book that I could immediately think of. Maybe it is because I am, or have been, far more into movies than into books that I don't really keep track of releases.

09-07-2010, 02:39 PM	#9
some call me tim Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 22620 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Libra	I'd say Murakami will definitely be considered a classic. Others that I can see being up there, that I've had some experience with at least: Jose Saramago, Michael Chabon, Margaret Atwood, and Cormac McCarthy come to mind.

09-07-2010, 03:03 PM	#10
GERGE Guru Posts: 732 Karma: 5797160 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Istanbul Device: Kobo Libra	I think Atwood might be like George Gissing. I didn't read others.

09-08-2010, 11:05 AM	#11
emalvick Groupie Posts: 166 Karma: 5358 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Davis, CA Device: Kindle 3	I don't think I'm well read enough with modern books to know what will exactly be classics, but I would imagine that with things like the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prizes, The National Book Awards, etc... some of those will end up as classics. I don't think they have to have the mass popularity, but books like The Kite Runner or authors like Toni Morrison, Don Delilo, even Stephen King could end up as classics. I know there are many more. I was actually surprised by how well written Stephen King is when it comes to his shorter Novellas/Short Stories like the compilation Different Seasons. I also enjoy it when he steps out of his straight up horror stuff. The typical classic though will probably end up being more in the vein of social commentary as they often are.

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