Which novels that you have read in the past ten years would you nominate for classic status?

Please give reasons for your choices, if possible relating them to enduring works of the past. Asked by Jeruba 37 months ago Similar questions: novels read past ten years nominate classic status Arts > Books.

Similar questions: novels read past ten years nominate classic status.

The work of John Irving springs most readily to mind. I'm not sure to what extent we will leave future generations "classic literature" in the same way that we have inherited that of the past. I say this not because there are not truly fantastic books being written now, but because of the explosion in the sheer number of things being published.

Things are certainly going to change, the only question is how. That said, perhaps I'll answer a slightly different question and just express an opinion about some books which perhaps are worthy of becoming "classics", regardless of whether that will be their ultimate fate. The work of John Irving has impressed me immensely and it is no coincidence that he has identified Dickens as a particular favourite of his own in a number of interviews and essays.

Indeed, insomuch as there is anyone to whom Irving's work bears a close resemblance it is that of Dickens. The work of John Irving is presently a little less extensive, but there is still time and he has produced a significant number of substantial texts already. The development of complex, intricate characters is a feature of both authors and in both cases they have been accused of producing crude, unbelievable caricatures.In both cases, I would argue that this is not the case and that perhaps on this front the authors themselves have a clear understanding and a better perspective than their critics.

Equally, perhaps one should bear in mind that this is, after all, fiction and some exaggeration and concentration of qualities and events can perhaps be tolerated if this produces a better story. Both authors produce lively stories which continuen apace throughout, are prone to telling the tale of an individual or group through a substantial part of their lives and are prepared to allow those characters to develop (in what I would consider a plausible and realistic fashion). Huge themes are tackled by both of them; they differ in subject matter as both wrote contemporary stories and concentrated on affairs that were relevant at the time.

Lawyers and aspects of religion appear to have occupied a great deal of Dicken's time; Irving's targets have been more contemporary (he has boldly addressed both rape and incest in an extraordinarily sensitive fashion, for example). Whether they qualify as future classics or not I would certainly recommend reading them now..

Phillip Roth and Richard Russo come to mind... American Pastoral by Phillip Roth is a great one in my opinion. It’s the classic story of an immigrant family trying, trying with all their might to be "real" Americans, if not in the first generation, maybe the second or third? Roth’s honesty is amazing and moving.

Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo deals with problem of evil - everyday evil, its appearance in fathers, its reappearance in grandsons. Sullivan (Sully) is the man in the middle, suffering still but still trying to live his life the best way he can. Both are wonderful books: Roth received the Pulitzer Prize for American Pastoral; Russo’s book was made into a great movie starring the late Paul Newman who gives a dead-on performance as Sully.P.S.Don't judge Russo's book by this silly cover - I don't know who decided to change it from the original one.

MusicLoverMe's Recommendations American Pastoral Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $2.91 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 220 reviews) Nobody's Fool Amazon List Price: $9.98 Used from: $26.84 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 69 reviews) Nobody's Fool Amazon List Price: $14.93 Used from: $11.98 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 82 reviews) .

JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL It’s an incredible tour de force--a triumph of the writer’s craft. It combines the gentle social satire of Jane Austin with the fantasy of JRR Tolkien.It creates not one but two believable worlds--an alternate England in which magic actually works, and a Fairyland much darker and scarier than anything I had read before.

I've read it three times so far and loved it more each time. Jakijo's Recommendations Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel Amazon List Price: $28.00 Used from: $3.17 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 728 reviews) .

Classic...hmm None really reaches classic status. I did like "A Man in Full," but classic...I don't know.

1 The series finished up in 2004 and it's about the only one I can think of that will be around in a hundred years. amazon.com/Complete-Aubrey-Maturin-Novel... .

The series finished up in 2004 and it's about the only one I can think of that will be around in a hundred years. amazon.com/Complete-Aubrey-Maturin-Novel....

That should be free! " "Can I sell old books eg Classic English Literature, like novels by Charles Dickens, through Amazon, both paper/ebook? " "Which Graham Greene novels would be best to read?" "What are the five novels you would most like to read AGAIN?

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Cost of living for the past ten years for Cecil County MD.

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I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.