Mission

Bibliophiliac is the space where one passionate, voracious reader reflects on books and the reading life. You will find reviews, analysis, links, and reflections on poetry and prose both in and out of the mainstream.

A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us. Franz Kafka

Saturday, November 27, 2010

The Literary Blog Hop November 25-29

Welcome back to the Literary Blog Hop, sponsored by Connie and Ingrid at The Blue Bookcase.

This week's question asks us to ponder and write about a book we would consider a modern classic.  Here are a few I would like to consider:




Cry the Beloved Country is a classic, to my mind, because of subject (South Africa in the years just before apartheid was institutionalized), theme, and writer's craft.  It is a whole, polished work of art, with whole passages written entirely in iambs.  The pieces of the book fit together as perfectly; the book is a beautifully constructed whole in which theme dovetails with language dovetails with character.



Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my favorite books of all time.  Zora Neale Hurston wrote it in a white hot blaze of creative inspiration, and the characters and images of this book are burned into my brain cells.  Hurston had a fascinating life with many ups and downs, and she ended her life in obscurity and poverty, but her book will live on, I believe.



I'm not sure about much, but I think it's a safe bet that anything written by Toni Morrison will continue to be read as long as there are readers reading novels.  Sula, Paradise, Beloved, Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye.  When you can remember actual lines from a novel a decade after reading a novel, that's some pretty good writing.

Those are my choices.  What are yours?  If you had to choose a book or a writer that will be a classic (some day in the future, soothsayers) which would you choose?

8 comments:

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I'm not very good at predicting what books others will love in the future. What I like isn't always what others like.

Here is my post: http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2010/11/literary-blog-hop-contemporary-and.html

Bellezza said...

I usually stay away from books Oprah picks, as I know the first two were, and I've never been a fan of Toni Morrison. Needless to say, I haven't read your top two choices, but perhaps I should. I do hear good things about them.

@parridhlantern said...

Not read any of these, although Cry the beloved country sounds interesting. My choices were one by Roberto Bolano, one by Shusaku Endo & one by a book nominated in this years Man booker prize (although it didn't win) by Tom McCarthy.
Enjoyed your selection thanks
Parrish

IngridLola said...

I always look forward to reading your answers, Lisa. I definitely agree when it comes to Toni Morrison ... gah, I just love her.

bibliophiliac said...

@readerbuzz-I look forward to reading your always eclectic answers to the literary blog hop questions...
@bellezza--was Cry the Beloved Country an Oprah pick? I never knew that. It is a book I expect to last. Hurston's book is one of my all time favorite books--I think TEWWG is worth reading Oprah or no Oprah.

bibliophiliac said...

@parrish lantern--I'm heading over to read your post right now. I still haven't read Bolano, but he is on my shelf.

bibliophiliac said...

@IngridLola-thanks for continuing to host the literary blog hop. I'm on my way to check out everyone's posts...

Melody said...

I love finding books/authors with that lasting feel. I need to put your books on my TBR--thanks!