I've been reading lots of classics lately. Okay so maybe I read classics all the time but it's for a good reason. If you're interested I am currently reading The Grapes of Wrath, The Count of Monte Cristo, (which is my favorite so far) and Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. As aforementioned, it is not at all unusual for me to read time-honored tales, but it got me thinking, what makes a classic a classic?
It's not all about growing riper with time; many of the old novels that remain beloved today were considered "instant classics" at the time of their publication. But why are they so beloved? Classic books must contain, a theme, moral or aspect that transcends time. It's not all about how well-written and clever they are, though that may certainly earn the book success in the time they are written. Pride and Prejudice though witty and romantic, teaches a lesson more valuable: people aren't always what they seem, and love comes in many forms. Likewise Lord of the Rings shows us the that the right thing isn't always the pleasant thing, yet justice sometimes demands sacrifice.
If you want your book to withstand the ages and changing trends, you must communicate those themes that are poignant so long as humans walk the earth. While good stories are not only wanted but needed, they should reward the reader with something valuable. Even though right now it seems that readers are eating up anything so long as it is thrilling and entertaining, we must consider what truly matters, and last a great deal longer.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
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