What is a Modern Classic? Part 1: Defining the term

Recently I had a book club meeting for The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak. During our discussion the moderator called The Book Thief a modern classic. I argued that I did not think it was and then questioned; what is a modern classic and what books do I think can be classified as such. So this is part 1 of a few where I will discuss what a modern classic is and what I think could actually be considered one. First however it is important to define the words "modern" and "classic".

Modern: of, relating to, or characteristics of the present or immediate past. That is the definition of modern according to merrian-webster.com. Classic: Serving as a standard of exelence: of recognized value. Again from merrian-webster.com. So those are the definitions according to the dictionary. Do they apply in this context? Together with this definitions the term Modern Classic means this: A piece of recognized value of excellence from present time. Personally I think that by that term any book that is critically acclaimed is a modern classic. The Hunger Games is critically acclaimed but is it a modern classic?

Now I am going to define "modern" and "classic" in my own terms. I think the combination of these four definitions might actually give us an idea of the term. I will start with classic. When I think classic I think older. I think Mark Twain and Shakespeare. I think Jane Austen and Poe. So if I was asked to define classic I would say a substantial piece that has timeless themes that make it survive the test of time. Now for modern. When I think modern I think new. I think Rowling and Stephen King. I think Dan Brown and Rick Riordan. So if you asked me to define modern I would say something similar to the dictionary definition, something of recent time.

Now can we define modern classic? Well use my definitions and you sort of get an oxymoron. However take out the idea of it having to stand the test of time and I think I have it. Modern Classic: a piece that has come out in recent times that has themes that are timeless and will stand the test of time. So let me explain that, a piece that has come out in recent times, here is where we hit road block number 1. What is recent times? For the sake of this we are doing from 1970 to Present. Why 1970? This gives us the last 4 decades to work off of. Anymore and it is half a decade, at this point it has survived the test of time in my opinion. Now road block number 2; what themes are timeless? This is more up for debate and many different things can be used for this.

Finally I want to show the differences between "modern classic" and "destined to become a classic". The determination is simple the first has timeless themes and can be considered classics without a doubt when they reach the age. The second however is a bit more complex. These books have themes that may be considered timeless but need to stand the test of time to completely determine this.

Over the next few weeks I hope to post about books that I consider to be modern classics as well as books that others have said our such. Keep an eye out for that and keep reading.

Book Review: Ship Breaker

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Grade: B+

So this is the book that won the Printz Award and if you go back to my first book I stated that I would read the book that won or was an Honor Award book. This is a good book set in a future that seems to be much different then the world today. The book follows a boy as he tries to help a rich girl he found half alive on a ship to find her way home. The characters are great but they are also missing something. Combine that with the weak ending that this book had and you get the B+ you see up as the grade. I recommend it but at the same time I think the book could have been better. A great light read for sure.

Review: Watchmen and The Prophet

Hey so I have not posted a review for the project in a while so here is two of them. First up is Watchmen by Alan Moore, Art by Dave Gibbons.

Watchmen 
Grade: B-

So I have to say first off that this is not a bad book, but it is also not one I would recommend to people. Why? Because it is depressing. Let me clarify, this book is not sad, I have read books that have made me sad, it does not evoke a state where I feel the loss of a character rather it evokes a state where I am just deeply sad about everything while reading it. To me a book can be strong without giving this emotion as it is not one that I truly like. Even sadness in a book I can understand when it has some hope to it. However this book had no hope to it.

Now for actually about the book and what was good about it. The book follows a group of superheroes most of whom are retired after the death of another superhero. Now one important thing to note is that these "superheroes" are vigilantes like Batman with no powers, in this alternate world came after the release of Action Comics (with one exception of one who has powers.). Maybe the tone that I discussed before is set in the first chapter when the superhero The Comedian is killed and characters remark that is the reason for a lack of laughs. This causes many different reactions from the heroes. Most just let the police look into his murder. One however, Rorschach takes matters into his own hands believing their is a mask killer. He is the main character of the book and narrates through his journal. In addition to the superheroes that we see in the novel their is a cast of supporting characters who appear from time to time. To me the most interesting of these are Bernard and Bernard. One is an old man who runs a news stand and shows the public's uninformed opinion on the events of the book. The other is a young boy who is mooching of the man by sitting at his stand reading a comic book. That book is "The Tales of the Black Freighter" a fictional series in the book. The book is very well written and the art work is beautiful. At the end of each chapter is a piece of non fiction form the universe. These pieces vary from very interesting to extremely boring. The fictional comic book is a stand out in this book in my opinion, it has a narrative just as interesting as the actual one. If this book was less depressing it would probably be a A or A- but I can not give it that grade.

The Prophet by Kahilli Gibran
Grade: A+

This book was an emotional read for me. This book was given to me by my grandfather but I never could get through it and earlier this summer he passed away. I took the book with me to read on the way to Nevada as we were going their for his funeral. On the plane ride I finished the book. I want to steal words from Uncle and say that this book is the thought on thought. Each chapter is a thought on a different aspect on life. Whether or not you agree with the thought each one is interesting and makes you think. Thinking is the most important thing about this book. If you read this book, think about it as you read. This is the only way you will truly understand it.

New section: Comic Review- DC 52 preview

Hi so I have not posted in a while and will be posting more very soon. However I have a new section that I am starting. Comic Review, a look at comic books that I have read. This one however is a little different. This is focused on DC's relaunch- The New 52 which starts today with Justice League #1. In this post I am going to list what I think will be the top 20 (well technically 21), ranking in terms of both quality and sales (A comic of the new 52 that I think will sell well but not have the best quality may rank high) and then I will talk about the comics I will be buying.

The top 20 of the new 52.
20. Detective comics
Current readers of this comic might be thinking it is good now so why wont it be good after the reboot? The reason is the writer. Tony Daniels is switching with Scott Snyder from Batman to Detective Comics. From what I can gather by other comments else where on the web Tony Daniels is not a good writer. Yes this is a Batman title and yes it is where DC gets its name from but don't think it will be great even if it sells very well. It is one of the 7 high selling # 1 comics (7 comics have pre orders of over 100k with one over 200k. The other 6 are: Action Comics, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Justice League which is the one over 200,000).

19. Justice League Dark
What is looking to be the main title of "The Dark" set of DC books should be interesting. The concept of a group that is able to use dark powers to fight villains JLA can't handle looks good. It won't be a smash title but it should be relatively good.

18.Catwoman
Catwoman is just Catwoman. I want to leave it at that but I won't. This looks like more of just the same Catwoman we are used to but she is a popular character so I think it can do well.

17. Teen Titans
I know it from the TV show but this is the main title of the young justice. That should give it a good amount of sales.

16. Supergirl and Superboy
Yeah I know I am kind of cheating here. The two only non Superman books of the Superman "family" comics. These look like  interesting re-imaginings of these characters. They wont be smash hits but they should be good.

15. Green Lantern: New Guardians
Green Lantern has become more and more popular. This a new title to that group of comics and looks interesting as it builds on the idea of the different colors of rings. This could do very well. It could also do very poorly or just be in the middle.

14. Batgirl
If I had to name the most controversial of the new comics it would be this. Barbara Gordon, who will be returning as Batgirl, has been the Oracle ever since she was shot by the Joker in "The Killing Joke" or so I have been told by the internet having not yet read the book. This has been a very popular character and it is upsetting to a great amount of people to see the character gone. However she was at one point the Oracle and the comic will deal with how she regained her legs. This is one that could go either way, if they give a great reason for her regaining her legs and show her as a Batgirl while keeping some of the personality of Oracle it will do great. If not DC may face the fury of the fans.

13. Nightwing
Dick Grayson has been Robin and Batman but one of his most famous roles is as Nightwing. Now that Bruce is back as batman he takes up the mantel as Nightwing once more. This one should be good as it does not mix things up to much and instead bring Grayson back to a role that people know him as.

12. Swamp Thing 
Popular character + Rising Star writer Scott Snyder = A comic book that should be fairly good.

11. DC Universe Presents
This comic really interests me a bit. A comic that focuses on other characters than those that have their own comics will be good as the writers can use it as a way to show us main points of characters who may be important for cross over events. This could be one to watch out for.

10. Batman and Robin
If you like Robin this is the comic for you. However the Robin of this comic book is Bruce Wayne's son, adding a true family feel to this book. The father and son dynamic could make this a very interesting comic book. I am not a fan of Robin so I will not get this book but it should be a good one.

9. Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps go hand in hand. With the number of Lantern fans their our this should sell well. It also looks like an interesting comic as well.

8. Superman
With this comic as well as the next few I can say one thing and it will explain why I placed it so high up on the list. Big Six of the DC Universe. I will not say only that however. This is not higher up as it is not the main Superman comic just like Detective Comics and Batman and Robin are not the main Batman books. This will still be a popular one and has the potential to be great.

7. Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is another of the Big Six. The reason her comic is not ranked as high is simply all the others have just a edge over her. It will still be a comic that will sell very well and again has good potential.

6. The Flash
The Flash is another Big Six and there is one reason and one reason alone his comic will be bigger than Wonder Woman: Flashpoint. Flashpoint is the crossover event that is launching the New 52. This event has brought him front and center. Expect big things from this series.

5. Aquaman
While yes Aquaman is one of the Big Six he is the least well known. So why is his comic higher than The Flash and Wonder Woman: Geoff Johns. Johns is the Chief Creative Officer of DC. His name alone will sell the comic. His contribution will also make many 

4. Green Lantern
Green Lantern is not only one of the Big Six he is able to hold his own in a universe that has for years been dominated by Batman and Superman. This is his main title and is again written by Geoff Johns. This will no doubt be one of the best comics of the reboot.

3.  Batman
While various Batman and Batman "family" titles have already appeared on this list this is the biggest of them. This is the main title written by star writer Scott Snyder. I am expecting big things from this one as everyone should.

2. Action Comics
If I had to choose one comic book to read it would most likely be this book. This books first arc is going to be written by Grant Morrison and is going to show Superman as the first Superhero. While this in and of itself is nothing new I think it is safe to say Grant Morrison as a great writer will give us a good twist and keep us on our toes.

1. Justice League
Is their really any other choice for what book will be the biggest. Going back to the formation of the Justice League in it's first arc this book is again written by Geoff Johns. I think this book also needs a mention on the artist. Jim Lee is Co-Publisher of DC and his drawings are supposed to be great.

So what am I buying, The top 3 on this list. I wish I could buy a few more but I think it these 3 will all be good enough that I will buy and keep up with them. Another comic that should be watched out for is Stormwatch. This is a Wildstorm comic that is being brought into the DC Universe with DC characters joining the team. I may post another blog today about what to be expected from this reboot. Until then Keep Reading.