The Modern Classics Challenge

[Kell]

There are so many books considered "great" and many of them are from the 20th Century (and some from the 21st Century are already being considered modern classics too!). These modern classics cover many different genres and spark a whole range of emotions.

So how about it then? Anyone up for the Modern Classics challenge?

[Gyre]

I am well up for it, just let me know what title. :D

[Kell]

Any title you like - whatever takes your fancy - it's up to you! :mrgreen:

[wrathofkublakhan]

That's an interesting idea.

I'd wager Modern Classic is much better than an Instant Classic, which might explain my relationship with my Used Car Salesman.

If I understand, a Modern Classic might be a popular book from the current era that had an impact on our literary culture.

I think the following might be examples -- tell me if I'm on the wrong track.

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice spawned an entire 'modern' genre of vampire horror/romance/magic books.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach opened the door for the New Age Novel living on it's own section in the bookstore.

Chariots of the Gods? by Erich von Däniken (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_von_D%C3%A4niken) led the way for such speculative books like the da Vinci Code, Celestine Prophecy (new age too!) and that ilk.

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson -- modern fiction that brings in ideas of post cyber punk, memetics, computers, nano-technology and that sort of thing; blending the rapidly changing tech-world by imagining the next step.

Geez, this is a tough subject to define ... maybe A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess might be a "modern classic", M*A*S*H by Richard Hooker, Shogun by James Clavell, or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey.

I'm a-thinking this might be a broader subject than my poor narrow mind.

[Gyre]

Any title you like - whatever takes your fancy - it's up to you! :mrgreen:

Oh I see :smile2:, I will mull this over and get started!:D

[Spooncat]

Would Lord of the Flies by William Golding be the sort of thing you mean?>:readingtwo:

[Kell]

Would Lord of the Flies by William Golding be the sort of thing you mean?>:readingtwo:I'd definitely count that as a modern classic. :)

[babypinkcandygirl]

ooh i like the burgess/kesey classic idea... i guess all the beatnik writers would count in that case. defintely naked lunch by william s. burroughs (needs a few readings to fully appreciate i think) and on the road by jack kerouac. but then again i think its a very personal thing, for example i found memnoch the devil so much more profound than interview with a vampire. so i guess the fame of a book must count, or at leastits status as a cult-classic. is 1984 (george orwell) too prosaic...? :blush: