What is a classic?

[Karen]

What is a classic novel you ask? Some people have a hard time defining what a classic is. What do you think a classic is?
my defenition(courtesy of my amazing english teacher): A classic, is a novel written at least a decade ago that holds values still seen today.

[Meh]

Holds values? That's a very broad definition. I don't entirely agree with the ten year thing, I don't think time has much of anything to do with it. What matters is meaning, and depth of meaning. You know it's a classic if you keep on coming up with new meaningful insights on life every time you read it. And even if that's not true of that particular book, if it has something that's amazingly powerful and original to say and is written accordingly, then it's a classic.

[Tracy]

you might just as well ask, "What is Art?". Different people will have different opinions, those opinions will change over time, but a great work of art (or a classic work of literature) will be regarded as such by many people over an extended period of time. I think time has a lot to do with it, a book that is popular now, and no one remembers in 20 years is not a classic. Of course a book that is not particularly popular at the time it is written, may become a classic (Moby Dick, one of my favorites, is an excellent example).A "classic" is something that has an intrinsic value, which is recognized by successive generations. I would say 10 years is too short a time for a book to be considered a classic, a good minimum might be 20 (?).

[Tracy]

BTW The Hunchback is definitely a classic, an awesome read, just don't let it depress you too much.

[Hobb]

My son told me yesterday: 'I don't need to read this, I've seen the movie'. Well James, as much as I like the old black & white...trust me, this is not the same thing at all! This is 'Notre Dame de Paris'.
Did I convince him?

[Toby]

One can only hope.

[Stephanie]

I think a 'classic' is something that stands the test of time. The world may change and evolve, yet, certain things remain the same ie the human spirit, humanity, love, etc.

Of all the movies I've seen based on books, few have ever lived up to the book(s); some came close, yet a great imaginaton is more powerful for me than a movie ever will.

I love movies, yet, I can get lost in a book 100times easier and connect more to the characters in a book than in a movie. A good movie based on a book(s) only adds to the experience or to the visuals the author created, it doesn't replace.

[Joshua]

sad that last, but all too true - classics do indeed stand the test of time, not always for what they teach but many times for the flaws they reveal leaving for the reader (and society) the task of finding a better way - heart warming and heart breaking, my list of classics is ever growing

[Jon Recluse]

A classic is any book that touches you, any book that you read again and again simply for the pleasure of returning to the world that exists between the pages.

[Emre]

the idea of a classic work (one that can keep its value and merit despite time) is very new. Ironicly, every generation has its own list of classics. So, what makes them classics? :) It's a very subjective notion. Some of the classics may even bore you to death.

[Kit]

I think Stephanie is closest, "with stands the test of time."
I would like to add; stands out among its contemporaries or within its genre.
In that sense "Harry Potter" is already a classic... not sure about "Fifty Shades" though... jury still out on that one, (no I haven't read either!)
(Ok I read first Harry Potter book with my tutor group at school!)


Hunchback is definitely one.
I almost always buy classic books because... I know it is going to be quality.
If I don't enjoy a classic, its probably my fault!
There are also plenty of classics that I haven't finished the first time I tried to read them, and then tried again and loved them.