New Classics?

Off Topic
81

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
SinisterMinister wrote:
Sometimes I think people equate cult status with being classic. I was actually referring to the OP’s mention of the pop lit she listed.

I like all of Kerouac’s stuff but I don’t consider it classic just because a bunch of misunderstood, beat teenagers can relate to it.

I am not going to pretend to be a literary scholar. I am sure such people have a criteria for what makes a classic. To me, as with musical taste, labels don’t matter much but rather what one likes.

Just to be clear, there hasn’t been one popular fiction written in the last 25 years (that I have read) that I would consider classic.[/quote]

In response to a few of your points:

I took your mentioning the ‘banned book list’ as a good place to start as EXACTLY equating cult status with being classic.

I can’t get into Kerouac as much as I used to, but ‘On The Road’ is an irrefutable classic if for no other reason than its impact. Besides, I’ll always recall fondly that ‘buzz’ it gave me when I was 19 and full of the same energy and ambition and hunger and questions that Sal and Dean seemed to be. Even if I misunderstood the book, it still got me HIGH in a way few books have done since.

82

Since Stephen King keeps coming up, I highly recommend the ‘Collection of Best American Short Stories’ he put together of various writers. One story in particular really grabbed me. Those of you who love Cormac McCarthy would love his style and this story.

It’s called ‘Where Will You Go When Your Skin Cannot Contain You?’ by William Gay.

An excerpt: http://www.bestamericanshortstories.com/2007/excerpts/where-will-you-go-when-your-skin-cannot-contain-you/

83

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
analog_kid wrote:
Did you read Twilight yet OG? Come on, you know you want to.

lol[/quote]

Holy crap, don’t tell me Zap has read it! If you have, please give me a proper review. I am at war with this crazy women who thinks it’s more than a romance novel for sexually frustrated high school girls.

84

[quote]analog_kid wrote:
sexually frustrated high school girls.

[/quote]

These cannot possibly exist anymore with the playahs on these boards !

85

[quote]sen say wrote:
analog_kid wrote:
sexually frustrated high school girls.

These cannot possibly exist anymore with the playahs on these boards ![/quote]

Nah, they all started banging milfs because their new girlfriend doesn’t know what a blowjob is.

86

I don’t think even Oscar Wilde would have had the balls to say that.

87

[quote]deputydawg wrote:

Great job EmilyQ! The fact that you FINISHED writing a novel impresses the hell out of me. Myself, I’ve started a couple but could never finish – my ADD kicked in and I lost interest. So I am impressed. Good Luck. If it does get published let us know, I’m sure you’ll get a little T-Nation sales action.
[/quote]

Thanks! Honestly, I was stunned myself when I realized I was going the distance with it. It was my third shot at a novel. The first one hardly got off the ground. The second one was better, maybe 150-200 pages, and then something happened, the story died in my head. This one came pretty easily, though I had to start waking up at 4a to find time to write it. I printed out a hard copy yesterday for the first time. Very cool to see it that way.

It’s funny to think of a bunch of T-Nation guys carrying around my book. It’ll probably have something like lavender flowers on a pale green background for a cover. Maybe I’ll tell my publisher, if I ever get one, that I think I can sell more copies if they put a gratuitous fighter jet on the cover. And maybe a sword.

88

[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:

I’ve seen the Kindle on amazon.com, but I like being able to read a book and if I enjoy it, pass it along to someone. Make notes in the margin, doodle, pencil in messages. And I don’t have to worry about charging my battery to read.
[/quote]

I agree, there’s nothing like a real book. On the other hand, the Kindle looks like it would fit easily in my purse. I can shove a smallish paperback in now, but nothing bigger than 350 pages. It would be nice to be able to carry around a 700 page book easily. Or more than one book. It would be like having an entire bookcase in my car! (I guess…I don’t actually know how many books can be stored on it.)

Also, reading in the dark. It would be nice to be able to read in the middle of the night without having to leave bed or worry about my husband. I could load tedious, good-for-me stuff on there and then read it until I drop back to sleep. Z-12 can’t beat “Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice” for its soporific effect, I’d bet.

I dunno. I don’t consider myself gadget-y. But the Kindle makes me go “oooh.”

89

[quote]EmilyQ wrote:
deputydawg wrote:

Great job EmilyQ! The fact that you FINISHED writing a novel impresses the hell out of me. Myself, I’ve started a couple but could never finish – my ADD kicked in and I lost interest. So I am impressed. Good Luck. If it does get published let us know, I’m sure you’ll get a little T-Nation sales action.

Thanks! Honestly, I was stunned myself when I realized I was going the distance with it. It was my third shot at a novel. The first one hardly got off the ground. The second one was better, maybe 150-200 pages, and then something happened, the story died in my head. This one came pretty easily, though I had to start waking up at 4a to find time to write it. I printed out a hard copy yesterday for the first time. Very cool to see it that way.

It’s funny to think of a bunch of T-Nation guys carrying around my book. It’ll probably have something like lavender flowers on a pale green background for a cover. Maybe I’ll tell my publisher, if I ever get one, that I think I can sell more copies if they put a gratuitous fighter jet on the cover. And maybe a sword.

[/quote]

You need Fabio on the cover.

90

Can Larry McMurtry be considered new? I think he will have some books that will eventually be considered great classics. Is Ray Bradbury new? What about Michael Chrichton? Despite his popularity because of movies, his books are very good and thought provoking.

91

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
EmilyQ wrote:

It’s funny to think of a bunch of T-Nation guys carrying around my book. It’ll probably have something like lavender flowers on a pale green background for a cover. Maybe I’ll tell my publisher, if I ever get one, that I think I can sell more copies if they put a gratuitous fighter jet on the cover. And maybe a sword.

You need Fabio on the cover.[/quote]

Fabio? Yikes. I dunno. I sort of shudder with revulsion when I see him. But you think the T-Nation demographic mostly finds him appealing? I’ll consider it. Maybe I can stick him in a fighter jet, holding some lavender flowers and a puppy. That should pull just about everyone in.

92

[quote]EmilyQ wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
EmilyQ wrote:

It’s funny to think of a bunch of T-Nation guys carrying around my book. It’ll probably have something like lavender flowers on a pale green background for a cover. Maybe I’ll tell my publisher, if I ever get one, that I think I can sell more copies if they put a gratuitous fighter jet on the cover. And maybe a sword.

You need Fabio on the cover.

Fabio? Yikes. I dunno. I sort of shudder with revulsion when I see him. But you think the T-Nation demographic mostly finds him appealing? I’ll consider it. Maybe I can stick him in a fighter jet, holding some lavender flowers and a puppy. That should pull just about everyone in. [/quote]

Then use Iron Dwarf as your model. He can even draw the cover himself!

93

It isn’t a classic, or a new classic, but I liked the story, “Appaloosa” by Robert B. Paker. He is the author of the “Spencer for Hire” series. The story had a “Tombstone” and “Deadwood” kind of vibe to it.

I am also liking Robert Crais, he has an Elvis Cole series.

and for a good read and a look into the fast food industry and dangers, “Toxin” by Robin Cook. It’s been out a while and it is fiction, but it was a fast read.

94

[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:

It isn’t a classic, or a new classic, but I liked the story, “Appaloosa” by Robert B. Paker. He is the author of the “Spencer for Hire” series. The story had a “Tombstone” and “Deadwood” kind of vibe to it.

I am also liking Robert Crais, he has an Elvis Cole series.

and for a good read and a look into the fast food industry and dangers, “Toxin” by Robin Cook. It’s been out a while and it is fiction, but it was a fast read.

[/quote]

Spooky you should mention Appaloosa - a good (and extremely sexy) friend mailed me a copy and I started it it a couple of days ago.

I’m happy so far!

95

I’ve only made it through the first two pages - so far - so forgive me if this has been mentioned, but

A Prayer for Owen Meany - by John Irving

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (although when I researched it for a class I taught on it I found that some think it was actually ghost-written by Truman Capote :slight_smile: ) I have to believe that this is already on page 3 or 4 of here. If not, this is a travesty. I truly believe it would be a crime to live an otherwise full life having never read this book.

Not because it’s the best written, nor even teh most emotional, or anything of that sort - heck, it’s not even my absolute favorite. It’s because of the snapshot that it captures of american life, and the timeless values that it echoes. Without being overly dramatic, I will just say: read this book.

96

[quote]KBCThird wrote:
I’ve only made it through the first two pages - so far - so forgive me if this has been mentioned, but

A Prayer for Owen Meany - by John Irving

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (although when I researched it for a class I taught on it I found that some think it was actually ghost-written by Truman Capote :slight_smile: ) I have to believe that this is already on page 3 or 4 of here. If not, this is a travesty. I truly believe it would be a crime to live an otherwise full life having never read this book.

Not because it’s the best written, nor even teh most emotional, or anything of that sort - heck, it’s not even my absolute favorite. It’s because of the snapshot that it captures of american life, and the timeless values that it echoes. Without being overly dramatic, I will just say: read this book.[/quote]

I still haven’t read “To Kill a Mockingbird” or “Catcher in the Rye”. Thanks for the reminder

97

[quote]hoosegow wrote:
Can Larry McMurtry be considered new? I think he will have some books that will eventually be considered great classics. Is Ray Bradbury new? What about Michael Chrichton? Despite his popularity because of movies, his books are very good and thought provoking. [/quote]

The first book of his I read was “The Great Train Robbery”, which I loved. I then read "Sphere’ and “Congo”, and never picked up another of his books.

98

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:
hoosegow wrote:
Can Larry McMurtry be considered new? I think he will have some books that will eventually be considered great classics. Is Ray Bradbury new? What about Michael Chrichton? Despite his popularity because of movies, his books are very good and thought provoking.

The first book of his I read was “The Great Train Robbery”, which I loved. I then read "Sphere’ and “Congo”, and never picked up another of his books.[/quote]

I recently listened to “Prey” as an audio book by Crichton. That one was interesting. It was about nanotechnology and the dangers in new technologies.

99

[quote]sen say wrote:
OctoberGirl wrote:

I mean classic literature.

I hate to admit it but I only read “Of Mice and Men” about 2-years ago. I loved the story, it was incredibley powerful and I get why that is a classic.

So are there new classics today?

A couple of books that I have read that are modern that I think can last are:

The Painted House - John Grisham

Ender’s Game - Orson Scott Card

Stand by Me - Stephen King

The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, Book 1), The Wandering Fire (The Fionavar Tapestry, Book 2), The Darkest Road (The Fionavar Tapestry, Book 3) - Guy Gavriel Kay

Those are some of the ones I always mention to folks who ask me about a good book.

I wasn’t sure if Shirley Jackson was modern or classic but if modern than:

The Lottery - Shirley Jackson

I don’t think Ender’s Game or anything by Grisham or King will ever be considered ‘classic literature’…Ender’s Game is a kid’s book and Grisham and King are pretty much ‘kid lit’ also…not trying to disparage your selections OG…I enjoy King and Grisham (not really) and I think my kids have read the Ender series…and probably 20% of the books I read are ‘kid lit’.

I 100% think that both Grisham and King will be around in 50 - 100 years. I think the large amount of work and their mass market popularity will make these guys kind of like the Beatles and the Stones of the publishing industry. I don’t think there’s anything to what they are writing though that makes them ‘classic’.

So…the question is, ‘what IS classic literature’ ? I majored in English Literature for my undergrad degree and probably wrote a hundred papers on this topic. This actually bored the shit out of me and led me to pursue a graduate degree in business.

So…

Everything is driven so much by marketing today. The publishing industry exists only to make money. So many books exist today that aren’t really that great, but that we’re told are great…Brett Easton Ellis and Jay McInernay come to mind…not to bash the guys that suggested them as modern classics. I like both of their work…but…c’mon…they’re regurgitating stories and engaging in meta and pseudo fiction in order to seem ‘edgy’.

In regards to people wanting to read ‘classics’…I understand there’s a canon of literature out there that addresses universal dreams, beliefs, ideas and that is timeless…but…if it wasn’t for the publishing industry (and college curriculums) shoving these books down our throats…would we really choose to read them? I had to read so much that did not speak to me in college because the professor had written his book 20 years ago about that particular author/book and was too lazy to do anything new…

I read a quote somewhere from someone explaining how it cracked them up when someone referenced a book from the 18th or 19th century as THEIR ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK ! It’s like saying your all time favorite song was one penned in the 18th or 19th century…I always liked that quote…

Some authors I recommend (that haven’t already been mentioned) that may (imho) become classics:

Tom Robbins
Salman Rushdie
Don DeLillo
John Kennedy Toole
Kurt Vonnegut
Raymond Carver
Jose Saramago

[/quote]

Since when can “kid lit” not be classic literature? I’m re-reading “The Chronicles of Narnia” right now is why I thought to disagree.

C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy are my favorite books ever. Talk about descriptive, I swear I can smell the places he describes.

100

[quote]TriednTrue wrote:
I’m currently reading “The Guns of August”, a non-fiction work chronicling World War I. [/quote]

An excellent read. If you read and comprehend the History outlined in the book, the events that are happening today in the Middle East, in our domestic politics, and in global geopolitics make much more sense.

I just had an interview where I was asked what book would I recommend to a student graduating college today.

Answer: Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)

(got the job, btw)