Classics for Beginners discussion

Which books have you read which have been published in the last couple of decade do you think will/want to become known as classics?

Harry Potter
Millennium Series (ie, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)

I love Harry Potter but don't think it will be made a classic, but on the other hand it is one of those books which if you are a regular reader and haven't read them it is strange.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I bought last year and am about half way through, I know it is supposed to be amazing but I lost interest. I will pick it up again but I have other books I want to read more first.

I think it very well might, it's one of the most important books published within the past decade and all....

*gasp* I loved that book!!! >.<

Haha, well i finally finished it yesterday after a week. And started watching the film straight after, but unfortunately fell asleep halfway through, it seems to be on a while, i'm not too bothered, so far the book is much better than the film - AS ALWAYS! haha

I absolutely refuse to watch the film x]

Nicolle wrote: "Which books have you read which have been published in the last couple of decade do you think will/want to become known as classics?"

That's a very interesting question. Very hard to predict.

It can be very interesting to go back thirty or forty years and look at what books or authors were winning literary prizes.

Some of the names will be familiar, and have developed into legitimate classics. Others you will say "huh? Who ever heard of that book/author?"

For example, starting in 1950 Nobel prizes in Literature were awarded to:
1950: Bertrand Russell. His work in mathematics and philosophy are definitely classics.
1951: Pär Fabian Lagerkvist. Huh? Who reads him today?
1952: François Mauriac. Another Huh?
1953: Winston Churchill. His historical writings are definitely classics.
1954: Ernest Hemingway. Definitely classic.
1955: Halldór Kiljan Laxness. Who dat?
1956: Juan Ramón Jiménez. Ditto.
1957: Albert Camus. Definitely classic.

And so on. The point? It's very hard even for the "experts" to pick those authors whose works will endure and those whose works won't.

I've only heard of Albet Camus and Winston (though obviously not for his writing).

Nicolle wrote: "I've only heard of Albet Camus and Winston (though obviously not for his writing)."

Not even Hemingway? But if you're at all serious about history, Churchill's History of the English Speaking PeopleS is a must.

No not even Hemingway (I only discovered reading a few years ago). I know about Churchill's speaches and have studied a couple for English Language but didn't think he was a published author.

Nicolle wrote: "No not even Hemingway (I only discovered reading a few years ago). I know about Churchill's speaches and have studied a couple for English Language but didn't think he was a published author."

Not only a prolific published author, but a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values."

Will have to read some, can you recommend?

Nicolle wrote: "Will have to read some, can you recommend?"

His History of the English Speaking Peoples is probably the most generally accessible, unless you're particularly interested in war. It's lengthy -- my edition is four volumes -- but fascinating if you're into history.

Thanks I am going to add it to my to-read list.

Some recent authors whom I believe will be future classics:

Salman Rushdie
Umberto Eco
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Orhan Pamuk
Louis de Bernieres

But I am sure there are others more deserving I forgot. And I wonder - some of their books might be 'classics' already in the minds of many...

I consider Gabriel Garcia Marquez to be a modern classic author.

Roberto Bolano would be my nomination. "Work so rich and dazzling that it will surely draw readers and scholars for ages" according to the National Book Critics Circle award panelist.

Could you put a link to the book please?

2666 by Roberto Bolano, in English translation; this is a long book, coming in at over 900 pages, but broken into several parts which helps in making the reading of it less daunting, although gruesome in places as in concerns multiple murders in Mexico.

book:2666|3115359]

It looks like a good read and I have added it to my toread list...

What about Lord of the Rings? I haven't read them yet but have heard good things about the series. Maybe these already are a classic???

I would say they are. We are reading The Hobbit as our group read next month and that is a prequel to those books. It was also written quite a few decades ago so it has stood the test of time.

Would they be considered classics?

I would definitely have to go with Where the Red Fern Grows....Charlotte's Web....Go Ask Alice....The Outsiders (might be a classic not too sure)...

I would say The Kite Runner and The Giver.

Tough Question. I think in 50 years we may be surprised. If Alexander Dumas's "the Three musketteers" is considered a classic, then we might be looking at classics like Houndedor The Parsifal Mosaic(not that I'm nominating them, just pointing out that what we like now, for fun, has as much chance of being a classic in 50 years as the things that we usally think of when it comes to classics.)

For Sci-fi, I'd say The Coyoteseries by Allen Steele, though it surely had humble beginings.

I hope it's not Battlefield earth. I liked it, but it's not all that.

How about

Life of Pi

I wasn't sure I would like it, but couldn't put it down, and the ending is great!

Susan wrote: "How about

Life of Pi

I wasn't sure I would like it, but couldn't put it down, and the ending is great!"

Susan, Yes when I read it I was amazed too. However, it was a subject of alledged plagerism, and although this was not pursued I would like to reserve judgement myself until I have read the other book involved Max And The Cats A Novel; if the two books are so similar it may detract from Life of Pi becoming a classic. There is a film being made, which can only help it on its way to becoming one given how much cinema affects readership nowadays.

I have to agree with the choice for Harry Potter =)

Jimmy wrote: "Susan wrote: "How about

Life of Pi



Susan, Yes when I read it I was amazed too. However, it ..."

I was unaware of the plagerism issue. I'll have to check out the other book. Thanks for the info Jimmy.

I don't know if Harry Potter will become a classic or not...I don't know if it's because they are so popular...wouldn't that be the same as saying that Twilight would be a classic because sooo many people are into them???

I haven't read them yet I have just seen the movies, but I don't know if classic would be a title that I would give them in the future

I think Harry Potter and Twilight could be considered classics, just because of the impact they have had on the youth of today. I think these two series have triggered ALOT of new readers.

Sam wrote: "I think Harry Potter and Twilight could be considered classics, just because of the impact they have had on the youth of today. I think these two series have triggered ALOT of new readers."

I think maybe Harry Potter. Those books in my mind are the basic good vs. evil sort of C.S. Lewis or Tolkien-like.

I'm not so sure about the Twilight series. I liked them, but they seem more like teen romance, action books to me. I will say this though. I was teaching high school during the years when they were first becoming popular and I was so excited to see kids that hated reading getting caught up in them.

Teri-lynn wrote: "I don't know if Harry Potter will become a classic or not...I don't know if it's because they are so popular...wouldn't that be the same as saying that Twilight would be a classic because sooo many..."

"Harry Potter is all about confronting fears, finding inner strength, and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend.'' - Stephen King

Jim wrote: "Teri-lynn wrote: "I don't know if Harry Potter will become a classic or not...I don't know if it's because they are so popular...wouldn't that be the same as saying that Twilight would be a classic..."

That's a great quote!

Jim wrote: "Teri-lynn wrote: "I don't know if Harry Potter will become a classic or not...I don't know if it's because they are so popular...wouldn't that be the same as saying that Twilight would be a classic..."

Love that quote!
I recently read "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak and I think it's a potential classic. The Book Thief

What about Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kinsolver, and Gravity's Rainbow or Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon? These are books that everyone seems to have read one time or another that constantly get reviewed extensively.

@ Heidi.....I loved the Book Thief. So well written, and a great story.

Harry Potter

Nance wrote: "What about Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kinsolver, and Gravity's Rainbow or Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon?..."

Definitely agree re McMurtry and Kingsolver. Haven't read the others.

I really think Stephen King's works may eventually be considered classics. He is really a very good writer and writes more than just horror.

What about biographies?

What about children's books? The Little Princeis a classic but do you think that because the market for books is so vast now there will never be any children's classics of the future?

Stephen King's "The Stand" is a future classic! I could easily see college professors critiquing and analyzing the plots and subplots in a semester-long course!
"The Help" should be a classic as well.
The "Hunger Games" series may very well end up on the classics shelves. Even though it's wildly popular right now, these books demonstrate many of the essentials of successful writing; compelling characters, nonstop suspense, multi-layered approach (you can just enjoy the story, or you can examine the deeper meaning), and incredible plot twists!
Finally, the Harry Potter series should end up as classics, for their creativity, and the fact that these books encouraged so many kids to love reading.

I also think Harry Potter will become a classic, after all if you are like me, you grew up on it. A whole generation fell in love with it <3

Is the Poisonwood Bible any good? I have had it for years but never read it.

Nicolle wrote: "Is the Poisonwood Bible any good? I have had it for years but never read it."

I haven't read it either, but just purchased it at a book sale.

Me too.

Nicolle wrote: "Is the Poisonwood Bible any good? I have had it for years but never read it."

I read this some years ago. 4****
This is very different from her previous books ... A Baptist missionary takes his family to the Congo with predictably disastrous results.

Oh, well it should be good then. Thanks.

Total newbie, bumping the old thread, but it's okay - you'll come to love me! (I know because I've spent 2 days doing nothing but reading here and coming to love YOU all! LOL)

Poisonwood Bible is on my tbr... except not, but maybe moving up the list now. Get it? LOL

I do think Harry Potter will become a classic series. It's deep - she has created a whole world that we can immerse ourselves in, and come up for air only at the back cover. We anticipate what comes next, and can't help but root for the characters that we came to love - even those of us who only read it expecting to condemn it for its controversial themes. I think that controversy will die with time, and these books will stand as enjoyed by every new generation that comes up. My now 12yo has read them, and even though I had originally planned to ban them from my home, I now plan to let my other kids read them at the appropriate ages as well. My youngest kids aren't yet 2yo.


Twilight was and is part of a fad. Preoccupation with darkness and vampires, plus the whole teen romance thing - these books are not immersing enough, nor do we care enough about the charcters, for these to stand the test of time. Once the dark thing is "out" again, these will go with it.


E.B. White's books will be classics. Many of us consider them as such already. Possibly Judy Blume also?

Dalynn wrote: "I do think Harry Potter will become a classic...Judy Blume?"

I totally agree with your comment, Dalynn. To add to your Harry Potter comment, it is also a series that many generations (boy, girl, man, woman) all have gained something from them. How many books can say that?

Definitely Judy Blume!