Ninteenth century works v modern classics?

[xkatiechaosx]

A debate a friend and I are having, we can't reach a consensus. Should works by writers such as Dostoevsky from pre 1900 be classified as classics in the same way as works by authors like Harper Lee, from a much later period?

Also, what is everyone's favourite Classic? ( Or Modern Classic )

[lynn]

The first one to say anything by Jane Austen gets a slap!

Old old classics - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Old new Classics - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
or
In Cold Blood - Truman Capote

[Enforcer]

Beano? Lion? Tiger? Eagle? Hotspur? and, because we are equal opportunities - Bunty

[sunfun]

;D ;D ;D ;D

[pda]

Classic - "a creation of the highest excellence"
The book with no name would definitely not be on the list.

Who decides what is a classic. Good writing, good story or is it bestselling, which does not necessarily include either ?

Personally I find the old classics hard going nowadays & would leave them back in the classrooms as part of reading to grow up with.
I like most of the Orwell books still, Harper Lee's Mockingbird is prob my favourite all time book. Catch 22 keeps getting another read.
Of modern authors I like most of Louis De Bernieres strangely excluding the Capn Corelli which I wasn't keen on. His early South America books were excellent.

Think I need a holiday...............

[Kinygos]

The "Eagle" used to do cutaway technical drawings.
Somewhere I recall that they did a nuclear submarine, using basic knowledge, and were pulled in for questioning as it was accurate. Is this true, or is it like "Beam me up Scotty"; never happened?

Can I back up the pda remark.

If you have a copy of "The book with no name", by "She who must not be named" DO NOT BRING IT TO HALKI.
This is NOT a joke, and if you do not understand do not post a question, ask Liz.

[carol]

Couldnt agree more Simon

[Kinygos]

I admit I do no understand the original question.
Surely the Classic Homeric epic poems "The Iliad" & "The Odessy" in prose translation are the ones to bring to Halki. They date from the 9th/8th C BC!

[Liz]

I do actually posess both those books ...have tried to get to grips with them but struggled

Love Beano ...Bunty was too soft ;D

as to the other ...erm matter ..please take heed of Simons words

[Kinygos]

There is only one Kinygos and he deserves an apostophe.
The avenging angel Trussos will stike you down Liz!

[Liz]

Sorry Kinygos ....I am but a numpty ;D

[daisy]

Gone With The Wind Magaret Mitchell (old classic)

Something Wicked This Way Comes Ray Bradbury (middle age classic)

New classics well not sure I have read any thing that could be classed as a classic ;Dbut did enjoy some of the early Stephen King stuff

[lynn]

Regarding "The Book with No Name" by the author with no name, the book is actually being sold on Amazon with her name associated with another author of the same name i.e. appearing that they are the same person. Tragically, the other author is a fairly well known travel writer and one of her books has been made into a film. I, of course, was fuming to see this and tried to lodge a complaint with Amazon but it's incredibly difficult to do such a thing. Imagine the other poor author being associated with "the one with no name". Oooohhh!!!

[Di]

pda, got to agree with you about Louis de Bernieres, one of the best writers going. I read "A Partisan's Daughter" in May (extremely entertaining but very sad ) and each holiday I pack "Birds without wings" intending to read it again as I wizzed through it the first time. Unfortunately, because I'm trying to take it in (excellent as a history book) it means that I just keep getting up to the same place each holiday (I don't tend to read much at home as I haven't got the time, so each time I start at the beginning again) In 3 weeks I will be packing a rather knackered copy of BWW in the hope that I might actually finish it this time

[cathy]

Not sure that the books I like could be classed as classics but my favourite author is Christopher Brookmyre - very dark, very very violent and laugh out loud funny! Not everyones cup of tea especially as the dialogue is broad west of Scotland, but I have read his books several times, my favourite is "One Fine Day In The Middle Of The Night", I must have read it at least 10 times and still laugh out loud at the same bits, Lynn probably remembers me trying to hold in the laughter at Ftenagia last October whlie I was reading it.

I also like a good serial killer, James Patterson is great because the chapters are only a couple of pages long - perfect for the beach.

I do like Stephen King's early stuff but it terrifies me and I always sleep with the light on if I've been reading him! - Yeah I know I'm a wimp!

Just over 6 weeks til I'm on the beach with a book