Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
The reason that "classics" ARE classics is because they're great books  . |
Or had been, at a different time, in a different culture, under different circumstances (such as limited selection) when different preferences and tastes dominated.
Also, I sometimes feel that some books are only "classics" due to the repeated claims that they are, even by people who have not read them. There are aspects of alleged prestige, intellectual superiority, etc. that factor in, as well, though I want to exclude present company from this. I just know too many people who have shelves full of "classics" that they never opened, but which they will nevertheless talk about as if they had.
Of course, it's always a matter of preference. Personally, most classics I have read struck me as boring and dusty. I read books solely for entertainment, and so I prefer what you may think of as trash.
It's entirely possible that my brow is on a bronze age level.