Defining a Classic

[[deleted user]]

For me, classics are well written novels that get told for generations and it gets retold by other generations.They inspire and comfort us.They make us gold.They are the books that you will always read. Always. I still remember reading Winnie-the-Pooh when i was eight.That silly ol' bear will always be a golden classic.

[Kirsten]

There are many qualities to a classic. One, for me, is one that is still readable over the centuries. Another, is a book that is not just a classic for the people it was written for.

For instance, I recently listened to a discussion on Cervantes' Don Quixote. The author of a new book said that the word "quixotic" shows up all over the world.

Another identifier of a classic is a book you will read again and again. In my case, the works of Jane Austen and the Bronte Sisters qualify in this category.

[[deleted user]]

how long does a book be around before its a classics

[[deleted user]]

i got mixed up when people say current classics

[☯Emily , moderator]

Erika wrote: "i got mixed up when people say current classics"

The age of classics is debated. Some people think a classic is a work that is read and discussed 50 years or 100 years after publication. Our group decided on 50 years.

However, there are some more modern books that have an impact. Many people believe these books will still be read and discussed 50 or 100 years from now. I can give one example: To Kill a Mockingbird. This book had a tremendous impact on the CIvil Rights movement in the United States. I considered it a modern classic before it was 50 years old. Of course, it is now more than 50 years old and can be discussed in this group.

Other books, like The Color Purple and works by Toni Morrison, might be considered modern classics, but they have not yet reached the longevity needed to satisfy many.

I belong to a group, Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts, where we occasionally take a month to read and discuss a "modern classic," such as those mentioned above. You are welcome to join us.

[[deleted user]]

Hmm, I'd have to agree with Shelia, but I think the actual definition is a book thats still being made after 50 or 100 years.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

☯Emily wrote: "Erika wrote: "i got mixed up when people say current classics"

The age of classics is debated. Some people think a classic is a work that is read and discussed 50 years or 100 years after publicat..."

Well said.

[Snickers]

For me, a classic is a book that is at least 50 years old and any combination of the following:

1. Still in print.
2. Still being read.
3. Still relatable.

For example, The Chestry Oak was written in 1948 but was out of print for many, many years. Did it only become a classic when it was reprinted a couple years ago? I think it was a classic before that, just an obscure one. If "classic" were defined solely by age and popularity, there are many great old books that would be excluded. Books that still have value and deep meaning many years after being written - I consider those the classics.

[Nick]

Hi I've just joined your group - I have no opinion on what is a classic but I will endeavour to read some of the suggestions and let you know. I really didn't like reading at school and that carried on into my adult life - so I know many of the titles but have never delved in. Well here goes - I'm currently reading Sherlock Holmes (various) but I'm going to start with two I hated because I HAD to read them in school - 1984 and Catcher in the Rye

[Mary Lou]

Hi, Nick. I hope you'll find (as I did) that revisiting these books now that you're an adult will be a much different and more positive experience. Just the fact that you get to make the choice rather than having it made for you is a great psychological advantage. But even if 1984 or Catcher in the Rye still aren't your cup of tea, try some other authors like Dickens or Hemingway. I'm sure there are classics out there that you'll love.

[☯Emily , moderator]

Nick, I just read 1984 for the first time and loved it. It is so applicable to the events occurring in the world today. Alas, I hated Catcher in the Rye, which I read a few years ago.