When I consider
what makes a book a classic, my thoughts immediately drift to books that have
stood the test of time. The great works of Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S.
Lewis, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and the solitary work of Harper Lee have
all stood the test of time. Despite the age of their works, they still manage
to find their way into the hearts of many readers picking them up for the first
time. They leave you with a sense of knowing the characters and caring about
what happens to them. Some of their works (such as C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles
of Narnia) still entertain young readers and guide them into imaginative worlds.
I was in my thirties the first time I flipped through the pages of Harper Lee’s
To Kill a Mockingbird; the issues of racism and prejudice grasped my heartstrings,
and pulled me into her realistic world. The
subject matter she tackled still resides in my heart to this day.
On a personal
level, I feel that the style of writing by such authors is more to my taste. I
enjoy well developed, well-rounded characters. It is more difficult in modern
days to find stories that do not immediately jump into action before allowing
you to know your characters when calamity comes into their lives. Of course, I
am not saying that you cannot have bits and pieces of action while developing a
character. I am also fully aware that there is a large audience in search of
books with fast paced plots. For my taste, I appreciate an author taking time
to steadily develop their characters and plot line.
When I think of a modern work that fills both
shoes for me, I think of The Gateway Chronicles by K. B. Hoyle. Hoyle
introduces us to her characters and does a magnificent job developing them
before rushing into action in the first book in her fantasy series, which allows her to
create a cycle of trials, tribulations, and conflicts in the books that followed and the ones that are still being drafted. I appreciated that about her, and I admire her for it. I truly cared
about everything Darcy and her friends were facing because I felt that I knew
them. I also believe that her works will
stand the test of time and one day be considered classics.
I'm glad when someone mentions a book or series I haven't heard of. That's what makes these hops so special. I couldn't decide between To Kill a Mockingbird and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for a while, but I chose the latter because it spoke a little louder to me than the other, but they're both great books and classics because they stayed with me for thirty years. Nice post. New follower. Java With Jambor
ReplyDeleteThank you for the follow, A.L. Jambor. I haven't read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Sounds like I need to check it out! I definitely agree...the books that stick with you are the ones that become classics.
DeleteGreat post Schledia.
ReplyDeleteAgree with all the authors you have mentioned. Judging by the posts I've read in the hop it looks like Harper Lee might be the most popular choice so far.
She's definitely one of the top authors for sure. I didn't mention Ms. Eudora Welty, but I've had my writing style in my novel, Plain Jane, compared to her works.
DeleteSchledia, thanks for introducing K.B. Hoyle - I never heard of her before, another author to check out. Since you also like some of the classic authors I do , like Heminway my favorite, I trust Hoyle will be great too. Happy new year.
ReplyDeleteHer stories are great! I hope you check them out. Happy new year to you!
DeleteThat's a great post, Schledia, and I love the fact that a very contemporary book made your list. Thanks for taking part in the hop!
ReplyDeleteMy best,
Terri
Thanks Terri. I enjoyed participating. Looking forward to reading your book!
Delete