#FallIntoBooks #classicsforclassichaters #ClassicHaters might be too strong a word, but they really are not my jam
These 4 I read as an adult and loved them all! Also, how do YOU define what falls under the category of a classic?!? Withstands the test of time? Something revolutionary?? Written before your lifetime??
Siannalyn I've just discovered Flowers for Algernon a couple of months ago, but since then is in my wish list. I hope to read it, sooner or later! 7y
Sace That is a good question. So many classics just seem to be accepted as classics and maybe they haven't really withstood a test of time. It's interesting to see how some classics are coming under fire for outdated attitudes and language. I tend to think a classic is one that speaks to the whole of the human condition, even is sometimes the attitudes of the past don't coincide with the attitudes of the present. Am I making sense? 7y
Cortg We were just talking about The Good Earth last night. I had no idea there was a movie. My co-worker was like, yeah, one of those old movies. It doesn't have any Chinese people, they just taped their eyes back. Yep, 1937. 7y
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ElishaLovesBooks I have read The Good Earth a few times starting in high school and loved it every time! @RestlessFickleBookSlut your answer above makes a lot of sense-that's basically the defining characteristic I use when teaching what a literary classic is to 8th graders. 😊 7y
Sace Whew! I have a hard time defining classic. Thank goodness my job doesn't depend on it! I know I'm guilty of sometimes accepting something as classic just because. I went to high school at a time where the western "Canon" was still influential. I love seeing students today being exposed to diverse literature. It's a great time to be a reader! 7y
Theresa I used to define a classic as a book "someone" (Who?? No clue, but their opinion matters to others for some reason) said was important. Most of the classics I read when I was younger were school assignments & I didn't really care for them. I'm enjoying slowly rediscovering some of them as an adult, but I still can't define "classic" well. 7y
Cinfhen I like your explanation a lot @RestlessFickleBookSlut totally makes sense & teaching 8th grade classics sounds challenging but awesome @ElishaLovesBooks 7y
Cinfhen I struggle with the definition too @Theresa 7y
kiminreverse I am such a classics hater! I've liked TKAM, Of Mice and Men, and the childrens book![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH 7y
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMHCinfhen I enjoyed those 3 as well but I'm with you...if it was written in the 1800's I'm probably going to HATE IT @kiminreverse 7y
Aseleener I'm in a classic lit book club and our rule is that a book has to be 50 years old. I think we could use another parameter, as some books members have suggested are ones I've never even heard of. We often look to see if there was ever a movie made about it. 7y
Aseleener @Cortg Yes, we watched The Good Earth movie in January. It is so horrible! We love watching the old movies at our meetings; drinking wine, making fun, and complaining about how it doesn't follow the book. 7y
Aseleener To me a "classic" is simply a book that is referenced often. That is my main motivation for reading them. Even if I don't enjoy it, I know what people are talking about when they bring it up. There is a great sense of accomplishment when a book you're reading mentions another book, and you're like, "Hey, I've read that!" 7y
Cinfhen How often does your book club met? How interesting your take on a classic - I totally get what you mean! @Aseleener (edited) 7y
Cinfhen My book club just selected a classic for October, which I'm already dreadingThe Custom of the Country (edited) 7y
The Custom of the Countrytwohectobooks Ah, don't dread Edith Wharton, she's great! 7y
DivineDiana I am a Classics fan, and have a personal goal to read more of them (however it is defined 🤔). So, I am very happy that one of my Book Clubs took my suggestion and our October read isFrankenstein: ; Or, The Modern Prometheus (edited) 7y
Frankenstein: ; Or, The Modern PrometheusAndrew65 @Cinfhen A good discussion about what constitutes a classic book, in general I don't read many classics but given the definitions above perhaps I have read many classics of the future. 7y
RealLifeReading I reckon a book published at least 50 years ago is a classic. 7y