Everyone thinks that they know all the classics- 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Les Miserables', ect. But what about the classics tommorow? What books do you think people will pick up and read in 100 years? People think that books like 'Jane Eyre' are wonderful-and they are! But people think that they are better than other books just because they are older. In 2109, people will probably be picking up the books you have on your bookshelf right now and thinking that they are the best books ever- because by then, they'll be classics. Think about that the next time you don't want to read a book, just because it's modern. Every book will be a classic in it's own time- so why only read the old ones? I'm not saying I have anything against books like 'The Count of Monte Christo'. I'm just saying that the books in Borders today are worth just as much as the old copy of 'Gone with The Wind' that you bought at a garage sale.
Enjoy the new books you have now-
They are the classics of tommorow.

I think I have to agree with you. I was part of a book discussion club at my library. All we read were the classics. In fact, many believe that there are only a handful of classical writers. The book discussion leader, a Prof. of literature at Rutgers University, believed that the only "modern" book worth reading was "The Great Gatsby".

I don't know if anything written today will be considered a classic. It is like the movies. Nothing will ever replace "Citizen Cane" as the best movie of all time. Not because I think it is, only because it is held to such a high standard.

Word of mouth, the best way to spread a novel. Today's books may never be seen as classics, but I do believe many will endure the test of time.

You're right, bookluver. This is an interesting thread.

Hmmm.... the classics of tomorrow. Maybe:

Instruments of Night by Thomas Cook?
some Stephen King novels?

Hehehe. I don't know, but it sure is worth thinking about.... The modern books on our shelves today could be the classics of the future! :laugh2:

You're right, bookluver. This is an interesting thread.

Hmmm.... the classics of tomorrow. Maybe:

Instruments of Night by Thomas Cook?
some Stephen King novels?

Hehehe. I don't know, but it sure is worth thinking about.... The modern books on our shelves today could be the classics of the future! :laugh2:

I don't think I've read any Stephen King novels but I've heard of them and I want to check them out. Who knows? Maybe in 50 years everyone will know Stephen King! For all we know- he could be the Shakespear of tommorow!

I often wonder the same thing. I think that books that had some controversy around them, ie The DaVinci Code, or books that a lot of people read and were on the bestseller lists for a long time will become the classics of tomorrow.

The classics of tomorrow will be by authors like Haruki Murakami, Banana Yoshimoto, Neil Gaiman, and David Sedaris.

But those are just my predictions.... More translations, more fantasy, more autobiographical books....

How about "1984" or "The animal farm"?

I think they do raise issues that make them of universal and continuous interest.... Plus they are great reads by themselves.

I suspect that everyone will forget Dan Brown when the next "Dan Brown" will show up. At least I hope so.....


Kal