Unlocking Books discussion

Is a book labeled as a classic just because it's old? Or is there something about it that calls to generation after generation?

In the books of today, what qualities do we look for that would make them become classics?

That's an excellent definition, Paige. I remember reading A Separate Peace in high school, and one of the things that I still remember from that book is the depth of character. Depth of character would the 3rd thing I'd add to your list.

Classic books are those that have stood the test of time. They are meaningful to one generation after another.

How do they manage to appeal to people hundreds or thousands of years after they were written? They have the qualities you all have mentioned.

Just think -- one hundred years ago, there were plenty of popular books, but only some of them are read now. The ones that speak to human experience, human emotion, and human imagination are still read.

When I was a young girl, I found pleasure in reading the books that my mother had read in her youth. I later gave some of them to my daughters (except for those that had antiquated ideas about 'a woman's place'.)

So would Harry Potter be considered a classic eventually? Every generation of people love the books...it'll be interesting to see if they last and stand the test of time. Can a fantasy series be considered a "classic" at all?

Can fantasy be a classic? How about Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz?
Are they not fantasy? The Wizard of Oz is a series of seventeen books by Frank Baum, but the first is the one everyone knows.

Let's add Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to that fantasy list. Gulliver's Travels....

Oh so many!

I'm a Fantasy enthusiast, so, I do consider some Fantasy absolute classics....

Rita wrote: "Is a book labeled as a classic just because it's old? Or is there something about it that calls to generation after generation?

In the books of today, what qualities do we look for that would ma..."

I would say that it has universally applicable themes, not just age. I haven't seen any books come out in the past 10-15 years that I would consider classics-in-the-making, to be honest.

S.M. wrote: "Let's add Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to that fantasy list. Gulliver's Travels.... Oh so many!"

Gulliver's Travels was a blessing to me. I was going through a dark time in my life--typical college stress plus I had health issues--and I was having nightmares every night.

Then I picked up Gulliver's Travels. Such a joy to read. I hadn't laughed so much and it completely dispelled the dark clouds and stress. In fact, I had some of the most beautiful dreams after reading that book, including one where I danced with an elephant.

Sorry for the reminiscing tangent.

I hate it when some gushing critic calls a book or movie "an instant classic"! It's oxymoronic - a classic cannot BE instant! "Classic," as stated here, means "stood the test of time."

Nice! It's a lovely tangent, don't worry. I tend to read quite dark stuff when I'm stressed out. It reminds me how lucky I am and how good I have things!

Jeanne wrote: "Classic books are those that have stood the test of time. They are meaningful to one generation after another.

How do they manage to appeal to people hundreds or thousands of years after they were..."

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare was one that my mother recommended to me. She said, "I read this one when I was young and I still remember it to this day."

Of my parents, my mother was NOT the reader. She's more artsy, where my dad is more analytical and is proud of his word-prowess. He was the reader.

But because of my mom, I picked up that book, and because of my mom, I have recommended that book to my own daughters. It's a beautiful story that I've never forgotten.

The story I read when I was very young that stuck with me was Susan Cooper's 'Over Sea, Under Stone.' It was a great read. The rest of 'The Darkness is Rising' series I didn't enjoy nearly as much.

I still go back and re-read this story every so often. I just love it!

Yes, I like Susan Cooper too. The film though was dreadful. Have you read Alan Garner? In a similar vein, I think you'd like Catherine Fisher

The film was terrible... and they skipped over 'Over Sea, Under Stone,' which was supposed to be the first book of the series, entirely. I was not impressed. Of all the books that would have translated well for screen in that series, it would be the one they chose to ignore.

Grr.

I'm done now. I haven't read Alan Garner or Catherine Fisher. I'll look out for them next time I'm at the bookshop.

I just read a Catherine Fisher book (Incarceron), and I was greatly impressed with her world building. The beginning was a bit confusing because the prison Incarceron is a vastly different concept than anything I've read before. It took me some time to figure out that the prison was it's own world rather than a building. So those who were standing outside were still inside the prison. Once I understood that, the story came together. I think the ending needed a little more to tie it together, but there's a sequel and I'm hoping the sequel will give me the answers to my questions.

It sounds like an interesting read. Oh goodness, there are so many books I need to read!

Speaking of classics, do we have any classical music fans here? Piano students? Writers who might consider writing a memoir some day?

Concert pianist, Anna Goldsworthy, posted her Q&A topic today. We can ask her about music, how she practices, how she writes, questions about music, piano technique, favorite pieces to play, etc.

Here's the address;
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/3...

I have a great love for both symphonic and symphonic metal. I love electric violins & cellos.

My dad was very proud of his musical abilities. He played saxophone and clarinet and taught himself how to play the piano. His dream was to go to school for music, but he gave it all up for the ministry.

I think he was always disappointed in me because I didn't have his drive for music, especially when I liked rock more than classical. I played flute in high school, but it wasn't until college that I actually began to excel. Private lessons went a long way. Sadly, my dad never got to here me play when I was good.

One thing my father instilled in me, and that was a love for classical music. He doesn't know how much he affected me, but I appreciate my ear for music that I got from him. When my dad was home, there was always something playing, and he was always conducting the music, whether he was in the car or in his living room.

Music actually plays a major role in my writing. I let myself "sink" into the music, let it surround me. It's got to be just the right music at the right volume.

Ah, that's a lovely image, Rita. I hope you will one day write a story that features a sympathetic man who "conducts" music "in the car or in his living room". Charming.

Jeanne, that would be beautiful. I don't think I could incorporate that exact picture in my current WIP, but it has given me another idea. I'm working on Symbiote as a full length novel, and in this story, there are a lot of broken people, refugees who hide in the city, scraping by to survive.

I could see an old man who is lost in the music that only he can hear. He lost his CD's when the corporations took over America, but he still hears them in his head. Everyone thinks he's crazy, but he's just remembering. Perhaps he was the conductor of major orchestra. Or maybe he had once been a concert pianist. I see him as being beautiful poetry in a mad world.

I will save the sympathetic man who conducts music for another story.

Beautiful! And you already know the expressions on his face and the way he moves. He will be a fine memorable character.

For that, check out Septimus Harding in Anthony Trollope's 'The Warden'. Or even see the BBC dramatisation of it. His love of the cello as he's playing is magical.

Sounds delicious! I love stories that contain a music theme.

When I had some down time a few years back and was tired of historical dramas, I wrote a book about a post-war opera company. Easiest book I ever had to write, considering my opera background/education - no research!

Kate wrote: "When I had some down time a few years back and was tired of historical dramas, I wrote a book about a post-war opera company. Easiest book I ever had to write, considering my opera background/educ..."

And where might we find this book? :-)

Yes, Kate, where? Is it fiction or non-fiction?

Fiction. And it can be found on the hard drive on my laptop, in many disassociated Word files. Hopefully I'll get around to working on it again one of these days.

Good. I would love to read a story about an opera company.

Opera companies are CRAZY. I sang in the chorus for the Magic Flute in Boston - it's essentially a mythological fairy tale, but our producer decided to set it in a 19th century insane asylum. I was a crazy person crawling around on the floor with massive teased hair. Good times.

Hee hee! Crawling on the floor with massive teased hair ...and singing! Fun!

A guide to opera singers that I made up several years ago:

10 People Who Show Up In Every Opera Production

1. The Hugger. Generally a girl who’s been in theatre all her life, has a loud voice, and can’t say hello, good-bye, or “Got a light?” without hugging you.

2. The Diva. The large, loud-voiced dramatic soprano with lots of lipstick and scarves, always 20 minutes late. Oddly, she’s never got the starring role.

3. The Hunk. Generally the 2nd lead bass or baritone; an obviously heterosexual cutie whose low notes cause all the girls to watch with parted lips. He’s always tall, and always a genuinely nice guy as well as a hunk. He also always has a girlfriend – the world just isn’t fair.

4. The Show-Mance. The couple that hook up during rehearsals. Especially entertaining if one of them is already married.

5. The Desperate Girl. The girl who’s looking for a Show-mance, frantically scrutinizing all the guys to figure out which are gay and which are straight.

6. The Oscar Wilde. Most of the guys are gay, but there’s always one with a beret, a lavender cashmere sweater, and a flapping wrist who really sticks out. He invariably has several kissing scenes in the opera with a crestfallen soprano who was hoping for The Hunk.

7. The Visionary. The stage director who has a Vision. Sometimes a jerk and sometimes a nice guy, but he always has a Vision with a capital V.

8. The Nepotism Newbie. The soprano who got a medium-sized role because she knows the director, dates the producer, or is a Member of the Production Board. Universally loathed by all the sopranos in the chorus.

9. The Buddy. Generally the second tenor; the guy who all the girls treat as teddy bear and confidant. Can be gay or straight.

10. And finally, The Fountain. The girl who wells up with emotion at every soaring bit of music, no matter how many times she’s heard it. Sadly, this is me.

Oh, this is great!

Audience: "But why is the singer in the chorus weeping? Is this in the script?"

Love that list. Having been in amateur theatre all throughout school, I can safely say that this list also applies!

I was giggling all the way through. Ahhhhh, the memories!

With a cast list like that, I would love to read your novel. That could make for an interesting plot.

I agree with S.M.-- I've seen some of these in theater groups too.

I don't know if this has been said but I think a classic is a book that can be enjoyed by several different generations, not just the one it was written for/during. Kind of like Dracula or The Complete Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Stephanie wrote: "I don't know if this has been said but I think a classic is a book that can be enjoyed by several different generations..."

I agree, Stephanie. I just read Pippi Longstocking with my kids. I remember she seemed so magical when I was a kid, and I loved sharing it with my kids.

They started sleeping with their feet on their pillows at night. They thought it was so funny.

Lol. I didn't know that was a book. I had heard of the movie, but that was only through a tv show. :)

Didn't Renee once have a monthly challenge where you have to write something that challenges social norms? We had to write an upside down sort of story.

Every chapter in Pippi Longstocking is like that. Pippi was raised on the sea by her father before he disappeared in a storm, and now she's raising herself. She has no clue what is socially acceptable.

Yeah, I remember that challenge. It was fun. Huh, interesting.