Reading the Classics: Introduction

I have always felt a great urge to read the books defined as classics. I mean, they’re classics, so they must be good, right? And who doesn’t love a good book? This urge to read the classics has wavered over the years, because often I find myself not liking (and sometimes even detesting) these books. So is it me or is it them? I mean, it’s probably me, let’s be real, but often I wonder why a certain book is considered a classic. 

So I have decided to start up with the classics again. I took to Goodreads and found several lists with “classic” books. It is hard to pick a conclusive list as the term “classic” is rather subjective and not all books on various lists are universally thought of as classics. I will use a variety of the available lists to guide me in my choice of books. 

At first glance the lists almost all have a lot of well known books listed, and I have actually read quite a few of them. Most of the ones I read I have given 1-3 stars, but some of my absolute favorite books are also on the list, such as “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque and some of Jane Austen’s books. So there is still hope that I will find some more classics I will like.  

But what constitutes a classic? Below is a quote from the Goodreads website which I think sums it up pretty well: 

A classic stands the test of time. The work is usually considered to be a representation of the period in which it was written; and the work merits lasting recognition. In other words, if the book was published in the recent past, the work is not a classic. 

A classic has a certain universal appeal. Great works of literature touch us to our very core beings--partly because they integrate themes that are understood by readers from a wide range of backgrounds and levels of experience. Themes of love, hate, death, life, and faith touch upon some of our most basic emotional responses. ( Quote from Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/genres/classics )

In my opinion this means that the book should still be relevant to our lives today. It might be set in a totally different time and place, but the underlying story should still have relevance today.

For this series I will read and review a book considered a classic, and do a bit of research as to why this book is considered a classic, and whether I think it should still be considered a classic today, or if time has run away from it. 

I feel like some books have made it onto the classics lists solely because they were groundbreaking for their time and not necessarily because they had great meaning. Are these books still relevant today, or could the classics lists do without them?

I will confess I don’t consider myself a very intellectual reader. I like plot-driven books usually and not long philosophical rambles about anything and everything. So the opinions stated about the books I read for this series should not be taken too seriously. They are just my uneducated thoughts on books considered classics, and whether I feel they have any relevance in my life today. Finally, it is important to remember that everyone has different tastes and that’s okay. What’s a classic to you, might not be to me and that is completely fine. Not everyone has to like the same books, even if some are considered classics by most of the world.