Modern Day Classics | Tea Time Talk

| bookishthingsandtea

tea time talkClassics are always a staple for reading, but books have to become a classic somehow. When Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice in 1813, it wasn’t considered a classic (were classics even a thing then?), it was just another book. So as time continues, some books that I read when I was younger I now consider books that everyone should read at least once, so let’s discuss those.

HARRY POTTER BY J. K. ROWLING

harry potter stoneTo start off, we have a series that almost everyone has already read and, in my opinion, already considered a “classic” of some sort. Harry Potter a title like that because the series has so many important messages intertwined inside the story such as friendship, dealing with loss, and standing up for yourself. It’s also a great coming of age story and it’s nice for readers to be able to grow up with the main cast of the books. Also, much like many classics I believe that just about everyone has at least heard the name Harry Potter and knows very vague information about it.

In 50 or so years, I do hope that Harry Potter will be considered a classical novel (in some sort) and who knows, high school students might even start reading it in class to analyze why it is on the banned books list (as many classics are).

HUNGER GAMES BY SUZANNE COLLINS

hunger gamesIn my mind, whenever I hear about the Hunger Games I’ll always think about it as the classic dystopian novel. For me (and possibly for others), Hunger Games was one of the very first dystopian novels I’d ever read and I think that’s why it attracts so many readers. Many of the later classics target an alternate universe where a rebellion typically takes place (although not always) such as Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Animal Farm, and Lord of the Flies. The Hunger Games neatly fits along with those because it is a book that challenges society and causes people to rethink their standing.

Plus, much like Harry Potter, I feel like this book has great potential to be studied more in schools because the first time I read this was actually through school (nearly 5 years ago)!

THE BOOK THIEF BY MARKUS ZUSAK

the book thiefI honestly have no doubt in my mind that this will become one of the more recently published books to be a considered a classic, even though it was published nearly 10 years ago. Not only is this an absolutely phenomenal book, but there are so many messages hidden throughout the story, and you honestly do have to read into the characters and understand them. Following Liesel throughout her journey of moving to a new home and living during World War II leaves a huge impact on the reader. Plus, this novel has the unique aspect of being narrated by Death, which has so much symbolism itself.

I also read this for school at the very end of 2014 and it has to be one of my favorite books that I’ve read for school before. I get so excited when I hear about someone reading this for their class, because it’s something that I feel everyone will have the ability to relate and discuss.

The most exciting aspect of books becoming classic is that more students will have the chance to read some book such as the previous examples. This is so important to me since I’ve always felt reading for school is more of a chore and I can’t fully enjoy it. Also, having students read more recent novels (really mid 20th century and up) allows them to understand and relate to the novels in a more precise way, instead of trying to google what Shakespeare meant.

What books do you consider to be a classic and why? Let me know in the comments, I’m very curious to see your spin on the definition of a classic novel!

25 thoughts on “Modern Day Classics | Tea Time Talk”

  2. I love thinking about books that’ll be considered classics one day! I like to think in my fangirling mind that the ToG might be a classic fantasy one day (but let’s not lie that’s like 90% hope 10% has a legit chance haha). HP, Hunger Games and Book Thief are all for sure modern classics! Great post 🙂

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      1. I plan to force my future kids to read ToG AND THEY’LL HAVE TO LOVE IT!! If kids are reading HP in school one day I’ll be like over here waving Charles Dickens and being like WE NEVER GOT IT THAT EASY!!!

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  6. Mm! I like this discussion because you bring up an excellent point: how do books become classics? I think a lot of that has to do with how they’re received, what social/societal issues they challenge, and the overall enjoyment. Nowadays, a lot of what we consider ‘classics’ are so irrelevant to present-day issues and societal standards that they’re no longer applicable. Most young readers can’t even understand or comprehend what events would make this book so important in that time period.

    That being said, I like the idea of having a new generation of classics. Classics, perhaps, should be divided into generations, kind of like history class, where we can look back on them and see what the societal and social structures were at the time. (This would TOTALLY be a history class I would’ve taken :p)

    Now, in regards to the classics you suggested above: HP, HG, and The Book Thief, I’ve read two. Unfortunately, the biggest problem with these HP and HG being classics is the poor quality of the writing. Now, before you jump on my case, these are GREAT worlds, fantastic plots, and amazing stories, but the writing is sub-par. I’ve tried to go back and re-read Harry Potter now that I’m older and it’s really not that great. In that sense, I can’t help but wonder how these books would be received as classics and, most importantly, what age they should be read in schools?

    Though, I think if these books were used in a school setting, we’d see a greater influx of readers post-high school than we do now because a lot of the books required in general education are dated and irrelevant, as I stated above. That, in itself, would be fantastic. I, and quite a few other people’s desire to read, was destroyed because of required reading. That makes me believe we might be going about teaching wrong.

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    1. I totally agree with this! The idea of outdated classics is the point I was trying to hit and that it leads to the loss of interest in reading, like you said. The quality of writing in HP and HG would be something to consider when assigning readings, but perhaps they could always be read in elementary schools/the younger grades. Looking back on social structures based off of classic works of literature would be such an interesting class which I would also totally take!

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      1. I can’t quite condone HG as an elementary school book simply because of the higher-level societal issues that it deals with. It’d need to be read at a middle school level, I feel. Otherwise, the concepts that make the book a contender for ‘classic’ literature would likely be missed by the readers.

        Though, I think a lot of what kills reading in school is also the study guides and excessive demand of questions to answer during and after reading. Students are so occupied trying to find the answer and not fail their class that they don’t actually have the time to sit down, read, enjoy, and absorb the book. Classes should be structured like discussion posts. (Note what we’re doing here and how we love reading :p). In doing so, readers/students would be able to say what they liked about the book and why and come to talk more freely and engaged(ly) about the books.

        The fact that there are wrong ideas in the interpretation of literature is, in my opinion, crap. That’s like saying everyone thinks the same and likes the same books and no one really knows what the author meant when they made character A’s shirt blue.

        Yay! *forms social structures based off literature class* :p I need to pose this to a university. Hee hee!

        P.s. Sorry for the mild tangent there. The educational approach in regards to literature is quiet flawed, in my opinion.

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      2. I love tangents to be honest, and this is a great reason! Reading in school can be quite flawed because they’re never quite taught right. Perhaps book bloggers should all become teachers since we understand the struggle of reading school assigned books!

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  7. Oh my god, reading HP for school would be INSANELY COOL!! Like, writing character analyses of Hermione, Sirius, Fred, George, Luna, Snape…. can you imagine the sheer amazingness? 😀 I’d be so jealous, though. 😛

    The Book Thief actually does give off that “you’re-now-entering-classical-literature-territory” vibe. Something about the way it’s written… it sets it apart from others. In fact, I hardly thought it as a modern book when I was reading it. But that might just be me.

    I can also imagine students reading Dan Brown for school… oh gosh, that’d be seriously awesome, don’t you think? 😀

    I’m gonna stop before I die from the excitement.

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    1. Wouldn’t it be so much fun! I would love to write an analysis on Sirius, there would be so many option there. OH! And one on Malfoy, that would be so cool.
      The Book Thief really gives off that classic vibe and I think it’s the writing style and the fact that Death narrates it. It creates the tone of a classic! Dan Brown would be great for the higher school levels! I can’t believe I forgot about his books.
      Thanks for commenting, I’m glad you enjoyed the post!

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      1. I would LOVE to write an analysis on Snape. That would make my life. Seriously. 😀 Malfoy would be cool, too — though I’m afraid I’ll be ranting more than analysing there, lol.

        Yep, exactly! And anyone from the future generation studying Dan Brown for school will definitely be getting long “jealousy letters” from me. I’m sure of it. 😛

        This was a great post! Really fun to discuss! 😀

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