So hard to know what will last, but it seems a book would have to have genuine human intereaction, serious character development, and deep truths to go on being of interest. Recent 21st Century books I've read that I think have the potential to become classics include... Cutting for Stone by Abraham...

Lindad_Amato. Sounds like a great idea. I'll suggest it. Thanks.

Though initially I wondered if I was going to like this book, I couldn’t have been more mistaken. It was my inattention that was the problem, so I started it again and now love this book. Has anyone else read this who would like to discuss it? I’m still reading, but it has a wealth of very real, uni...

Can't stand them.

Hi Shnuvi, Thanks for explaining the French slang, really couldn't figure out how shumi_pete got to Shnuvi, but Vishnu transposition I can follow. Great names either way and enjoyed hearing the French fun with language. Not much I can do with my name, I guess I would have to be Esu. On the Kindle, I...

MelMac, Thank you for your suggestion. I had just checked the Man Booker awards last week, and saw this one got the 2002 prize. I ordered it and am looking forward to reading it. I also ordered The Help, started that first, and like it very much. I'm interested in what you liked in the Life of Pi bo...

<t>I read "Life and Death in Shanghai" many years ago and have always remembered this book. It is an autobiography written by Nien Cheng, whose husband had been an official of Chiang Kaishek's regime. She was arrested, and while it is a very personal and inspirational account of her struggles, her a...

Heledd, Thanks again for the great suggestions and your time with adding all the helpful reviews. I have not read Serena by Ron Rash and will give that a try. Had not heard of Our Grandmothers' Drums and will order a copy. I like both fiction and non-fiction. I also read and liked the Poisonwood Bib...

Heledd, You are kind to write back so quickly, and in case it saves you some time, you might be thinking of a second book by Khaled Hosseini also set in Afghanistan called, A Thousand Splendid Suns. If not, you might like that too -- it deals with the very difficult lives of two Afghan women, quite ...

Heledd, Thank you for your suggestion and it sounds like we like similar books. I also read and loved the Kite Runner. I think both of these follow very likeable but ordinary people trying to cope with extraordinary difficulties, and gracefully doing so. I like your taste in books - any other ideas?...