Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week the theme is Modern Books You Think Will Be Classics In The Future (submitted by Veros @ Dark Shelf of Wonders). I was having a look at some lists of classics and it seems I am not great at even recognising what a classic classic is let alone looking at modern books and thinking it will become a classic in the future. So I am turning the theme on it's head and instead sharing 10 classics I haven't yet read.
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque - Not too long ago we watched the recent German adaptation of the movie and then an older English version. Remarque was clearly something of a celebrity in his day as he was involved with Marlene Dietrich and married to actress Paulette Goddard
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin -- Mile Franklin, real name Stella has given her name to not one but two of the major awards in Australian literature (Miles Franklin award and Stella Prize) but I haven't read anything by her. The book was published in 2001.
The Tree of Man by Patrick White - Patrick White is the only Australian winner of the Nobel Prize for literature.
The Fortunes of Richard Mahony by Henry Handel Richardson - I had this book on my shelves for a long time but at some point it didn't survive a cull. Like Miles Franklin, Richardson is using a male name but is actually a female writer.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - I haven't actually read any of the books by the Bronte sisters.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank - You would think I would have managed to read this given how much I read about WWII.
Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien - It's not like I haven't tried! I have read and loved The Hobbit at least 3 times. I have started the first book int he Lord of the Rings trilogy several times but I have never made it through to the end.
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - I did get this on audio a few years ago, mainy because Richard Armitage was one of the narrators. I didn't get very far though.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne - I read Around the World in Eighty Days a couple of years ago and really loved it but haven't read anything else by him yet. According to Goodreads there are apparently 6726 different editions of this book! Made choosing a cover a bit of a challenge.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle - I have known lot of people over the years who name this as a childhood favourite but I never read it!
I am contemplating using this as the basis to maybe join in on the Classics Spin next year, but we will see. I would have to find another 10 classics to add to make a full list. What's your favourite classic?
I've had the same experience with Tolkien - loved The Hobbit, but could never get very far with The Lord of the Rings. I enjoyed Jane Eyre and David Copperfield, but haven't read any of the others on your list!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how that works right? You would think both books would work!
DeleteI've read The Hobbit a couple of times and never progressed further!
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to my TTT post
https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/%f0%9f%93%9a-toptentuesday-10-modern-books-that-might-be-future-classics-tuesdaybookblog-booktwitter-bookx/
One day, maybe
DeleteGood twist on the topic. It's sometimes hard to find time for classics when authors keep writing new books 😄
ReplyDeleteHere's mine for this week: https://portobellobookblog.com/2025/11/18/top-ten-tuesday-18th-november-ten-books-which-might-be-classics-in-the-future-toptentuesday-amreading-bookrecommendations-tuesdaybookblog-booksky-%f0%9f%92%99%f0%9f%93%9a/
There has to be a conscious effort to read the classics I think.
DeleteI haven’t read All Quiet on the Western Frontier either.
ReplyDeleteI think I might try to read it next year
DeleteI've read only one of your first five (Jane Eyre) and all but one of your last five lol (David Copperfield). My TTT
ReplyDeleteYou are 5 ahead of me!
DeleteJane Eyre is the only Bronte book I've read, but I can't tell you anything about it as it's been over 30 years since I've read it. (YIKES it's been a long time since I was in high school)
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/what-nonfiction-books-have-i-read-in-2025/
We didn't read that in high school! But of the classics I did read in high school it's been closer to 40 years. Yikes indeed!
DeleteI've only read 2 of these! I fear some of the rest are definitely gaps in my reading. Particularly The Diary of Anne Frank and My Brilliant Career.
ReplyDeleteI have some gaping holes too!
DeleteI didn't read Wrinkle in Time until I was over 50--I was the generation it was written for, but I loved it. I would have hated it as a kid. I'm not the one to ask about Dickens or Tolkein but many people are devoted fans. Enjoy all if/when you read them.
ReplyDeleteI am that generation too. Maybe I will get to it eventually!
DeleteIt's been ages since I've read The Lord of the Rings - I'm thinking I should do a reread one of these days.
ReplyDeleteI try to read one classic per year. I hope you find one you love on this list! ~Carol @ ReadingLadies
ReplyDeleteI remember reading The Diary of a Young Girl in school. And I love Lord of the Rings. Aside from that I haven't read any of the other ones on your list. Here's my list: https://darkshelfofwonders.com/top-10-modern-books-that-could-be-future-classics/
ReplyDeleteMy brother recommended All Quiet on the Western Front to me. It did not sound like a book I'd like. I was wrong.
ReplyDelete