Reading the Classics discussion

In my Lit class the other day my Prof gave us an interesting question to think about:


Share examples of contemporary books or authors (for our purposes here we can define contemporary as something published in your lifetime) that you think might still be read a century from now. Have you read anything recent that you think is a 'great' book that could last beyond our own time? Why do you think so?

I thought this could be a fun topic to be discussed here (and maybe help me get some ideas!)

I don't think I read enough "regular" fiction to pick specific books that might end up classics. Most of the books I read are high fantasy or sci-fi, few of which ever make any list let alone be considered a contemporary classic.

Stephen King will have a few books last prominently. I consider him to be a sort of modern-day H. G. Wells. He's creepy and original.

Margaret Atwood and Barbara Kingsolver are favored for being put on contemporary classic lists. Some of their more modern tragedies and mysteries should stick around.

"American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis. It's dark, satirical and kind of depressing.

"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole is original and weirdly funny.

"Life of Pi" is depressing so that'll probably make the list.

I guess where I'm heading is that most classic books that I have read (save Austen) are depressing. They also have to be original and have some sort of idea behind them regarding life at the time of publication. They have to reflect the ideas of the times and be well-written .

If we are allowed to include foreign authors, I'd definitely say Orhan Pamuk's books can stand the test of time.
I agree with Christine about "Life of Pi", also Cormac McCarthy's "The Sunset Limited"

"Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell
"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak
"Kafka on the Shore" by Haruki Murakami

I guess one criterion to take into account is the narrative style and the prose technique. Themes have been exhausted in a way or another so the way those stories are told would make them stand out.

While I am not sure about the ethics of doing your assignment for you, I can't help adding a few titles:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

maybe Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay and My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Christine wrote: "… I guess where I'm heading is that most classic books that I have read (save Austen) are depressing..."

Wow, that isn't my experience! I don't think that I would read classics if it was!

I have also loved all the classics I've read .

I'm pretty sure the Harry Potter series will become a children's classic, but I doubt if there are many current YA titles that will stand the test of time.

Probably things like The Road and The Handmaid's Tale, things that are extremely dark and dystopian and also literary. If the world in 100 years ends up being like either of them, they will be seen as prophetic. If the world is nothing like them, they will be seen as disturbed fantasy.

Maybe David Foster Wallace.

It's hard for me to imagine any contemporary realistic fiction, say, Jonathan Franzen, or Alan Hollinghurst, still being read in 100 years. Not because they're not good, they are good now. But will they have anything meaningful or relevant to say to future readers? It's hard to think so.

Lobstergirl wrote: "Probably things like The Road and The Handmaid's Tale, things that are extremely dark and dystopian and also literary. If the world in 100 years ends up being like either of them, they will be see..."

Yes, I was thinking The Road too, and I like what you said and you're probably right. Similar to the way we see 1984 or the film Soylent Green today.

I find that a lot of contemporary writers drop off the radar once they die: Anthony Burgess, Graham Green and William Golding aren't as well regarded as they were, in the US has John Updike's star started to wane yet (as an example)?

Acfually, themes are never exhausted. The universality of themes is always equivalent to the fact that humans (that includes all of us) continue to err in judgment, think what they are doing is "the right thing," and find out later they were egregiously wrong.
That's why we read literature in the first place-to better understand the human ("our") condition.

I think in Canada, Joseph Boyden's Orenda will make that list for a retelling of the history of our lands and contact between Europeans and First Nations from all sides, with an emphasis on finding the humanity in all.

I would add We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. This story has stayed with me for years and I think that's one of the signs of a classic.

I'd say The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster and Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, they're timeless to me.

I'd like to say The Handmaid's Tale, or anything by Margaret Atwood. Why? I think her writing is phenomenal, and to me, her works are timeless pieces of mostly speculative fiction. I think Dystopian fiction as a whole has yet to be considered at all 'canon' or highly regarded, and I hope this will change, as to me, it creates some of the best pieces of contemporary fiction out there.

Night by Elie Weisel
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
While they weren't published during my lifetime, they are the first ones I thought of, and I hope they endure!

For me, that would be The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
This novel is full of mystery, history, romance, interesting stories with plots and various destinies. The Shadow of the Wind is about books, writing and reading. This book always comes first on my mind when I want to recommend it to someone.
Wonderful writing, very artistic with a little bit of humor. I think The Shadow of the Wind is the book that has every important element of a great novel, for years to come.

Andrijana wrote: "For me, that would be The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
This novel is full of mystery, history, romance, interesting stories with plots and various destinies. The Shadow of the Wind is a..."

I just finished this book the other day! It was fantastic. Gorgeous writing and just dark enough to satisfy my twisted side. :)

Slaughterhouse-Five.Man's inhumanity to man.Is a universal concept.It will last forever.

Colleen wrote: "Andrijana wrote: "For me, that would be The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
This novel is full of mystery, history, romance, interesting stories with plots and various destinies. The Shado..."

I'm glad that you like it, Colleen. Fantastic book, indeed. :-)

I'm going to agree with everyone who said The Handmaid's Tale. It's probably the Atwood I've reread most often, & not just because of school (which is where I ran into it the first time). It really does hold up. I'm pretty sure the people in the late 21st century will still relate.

Andrijana wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Andrijana wrote: "For me, that would be The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
This novel is full of mystery, history, romance, interesting stories with plots and various dest..."

I'm reading the second book in the Zafon trilogy about the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, and it's giving me chills! The Angel's Game is a prequel to The Shadow of the Wind and is just as intriguing, imho. I'm looking forward to the final book in the series, The Prisoner of Heaven.

I would hope this trilogy stands the test of time, but who knows.

Julia wrote: "Andrijana wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Andrijana wrote: "For me, that would be The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
This novel is full of mystery, history, romance, interesting stories with plot..."

Yes, The Angel's Game is also amazing. Zafon really put everything in its place-every word, every story and everything is well connected. I haven't read The Prisoner of Heaven yet, I think it's the period of time after The Shadow of the Wind.
I hope it's going to be timeless. It doesn't have to be the best trilogy, but I wish only not to be forgotten.

I love Margaret Atwood's writing and I hope it will stand the test of time. The same goes for Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In terms of poetry, I think Seamus Heaney was already moving towards becoming a classic even before his death this year. His poetry is incredible, and I definitely hope it will be read in centuries to come.

Besides the Harry Potter books (haha, I had to mention them, because I really think they will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come), I think The Shadow of the Wind qualifies. The artistry of the whole book was fantastic. I could "see" everything, I felt like I really started to know the characters, the mystery was very well done (although there were parts that I saw coming from very early on), the writing was amazing... It was just a really well written book, and I hope it stands up to the test of time.

I really love the works of Haruki Murakami, and hope he becomes part of the classic canon.

(And a big "ditto" to Harry Potter, Wyllow--I've read the series 3 times :-)

I am now reading Don Dellilo's White Noise- I think this book and it's author will be a classic, if not already. The satirical social commentary is superb.

Jill wrote: "Night by Elie Weisel
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
While they weren't published during my lifetime, they are the first ones I thought of, and I hope they endure!"

Oh they will! Both books stay with a reader forever.