Quote:
Originally Posted by rhadin
We become decisive over these matters because we use the agreed upon great literature as teaching tools, as exemplars to which others should strive in their writing, and as a reflection of our culture and cultural values.
I personally think that, for example, J.D. Salinger is greatly overrated and David Weber is underrated, but I would also agree that as interesting a rewarding as I find David Weber's books, they are not great literature and Catcher in the Rye might be.
Would you want your 12-year-old to study any book that his/her current teacher decided was a fun read or do you think there should be some literary standards applied when choosing the book?
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I can't think of any book that has been studied in (UK) schools that was less than 20 years old. That should be long enough to gain a consensus on whether a book is any good or not.