Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Best of the Best: The inevitable superiority of the classics

I was perusing this article the other day, and I came across this paragraph.

"I just finished reading The Road by Cormac MacCarthy. It’s so good that it won the Pulitzer Prize. Afterwards I read the first few chapters of Lolita. I was shocked by Lolita’s superiority. Truly great books don’t come around every year. If you only read contemporary literature, you’re drawing from a diluted pool. Why not make the most of your reading time by finding the best of the best?"

Sorry, but I couldn't agree more. I think this is what I have been trying to say about contemporary literature for some time. There is some I seriously love, but honestly...if you look into history, it's probably been written better.

"If you’re a writer/blogger, ignoring the classics is a mistake."

What classics have you been wanting to read?

mme. bookling

3 comments:

Sarah Alaoui said...

Works of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen as well as Dostoevsky. I agree that they're classics for a reason. do you recommend any?

candacemorris said...

You bet!

-To Kill a Mockingbird
-Any of Annie Dillard's nonfiction (almost is a classic, and totally will be soon)
-Lolita
-Jane Eyre
-Wuthering Heights
-East of Eden (THIS IS A MUST)
-Brave New World

Melissa said...

I am reading Atlas Shrugged at the moment(one I have been putting off reading). I have about a third of the book left but can say right now that it will end up being one of my favorite books if not THE favorite. I have been dying to recommend it to someone who would actually appreciate it. I had a plan of action for the books on my shelves (I had them ordered as to what I'm going to read next), but have now upped Anthem and The Fountainhead as my next reads.

My WV is saringe. HA.