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Thanks so much, Lydia, for having me here today! I’m super thrilled to have this opportunity. Feelin’ the love. I wanted to share a topic one of my Goodreads groups debated recently.
Classic vs. Contemporary
What’s the difference? What makes a book a classic? A contemporary? Everyone has an opinion, and there’s no real wrong answer. According to Webster, ‘classic’ is the first or highest quality, class or rank, while ‘contemporary’ is of the present time; modern. My focus today is on romance, one of the genres I’ve been lucky enough to have been published in.
The Classic Romance
In my opinion, there are two types of classics – those you should have read and never did, and those you’ve read five times and still put back on your to-read list. A book that falls under BOTH categories is a rare jewel. Two such books pop into my mind immediately.
Books that have stood the test of time. Wonderfully written romances, timeless stories that engage the senses and transport the readers to another era and place. Themes that are universal.
The Contemporary Romance
‘Contemporary’ when dealing with the genre of romance is anything that takes place after World War II. Think Nora Roberts – even her paranormal fence-riding novels are mostly contemporary. Danielle Steele. Nicholas Sparks. There are thousands out there. Think too, of Fifty Shades of Grey. Never read it – probably won’t, but I’m pretty sure just about everyone has heard of this book.
So where does my favorite subgenre of romance, historical fit in? Under the subgenre of historical romance, of course. But but but but! Tons have been written during this modern era, and they’re classics in my mind! Lisa Kleypas and Stephanie Laurens, my two favorite authors, line my shelves with tattered paperbacks. Both have a few I would consider classic although they were written during my lifetime.
o_O *scratching head*
And then there’s the contemporary classic. ??? Ones over say, twenty years old, written during the contemporary era, but classics in that they have made history in readers’ minds. The one argued about in my GR group was Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. I’m sure most of you have heard of that one. While I loved the book, and read it twice, I’m not sure I’d consider it a classic.
Argue all you want, but like I said above, there’s no real wrong answer. Each book should be evaluated by the reader and snuggled into whatever category they want.
What’s your favorite classic book? Contemporary? What’s that one gem of a book that falls under both categories for you?
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About the author:
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her two young daughters allow. When not playing with toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.
Contact links:
website
blog
goodreads
About "Sacrificial Oath" in the Make Believe anthology:
With an impossible choice in front of her, she searches for ways to undo the oath, and in her quest, finds not everything in her life is as she expects.
Where to find it:
J. Taylor Publishing
Amazon
B&N
Goodreads
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Thanks so much for being with us today, Terri!
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Thanks so much for having me here today Lydia!!
ReplyDelete:)
My all-time favorite book is The Great Gatsby. My favorite contemporary book is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It's a refreshing perspective of the Holocaust, if there can be such a thing, narrated by death. It's not a typical concentration camp story. There's mention of the camps and the main character and her family hide a Jew (eliciting reminders of Anne Frank), but it's also a story of daily life and survival during that time period.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of The Book Thief - I'll have to check that out!
DeleteI don't read much romance, but it was fascinating to read all the categories, Terri!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by & commenting, Damyanti. :)
DeleteI try to read classics once in a while... But can rarely get through them. Language, I think, has changed so much in writing that I find older texts distracting. A good recently written historical is fun though ... But not memorable enough to name just one.
ReplyDeleteromance is what makes the world go round, this book is reality intresting. in my 5 years in the field of love and relationship coaching this book has added to my experience in these fields. thanks
ReplyDeleteRomance is what makes the world go round.this book is really intresting.In my 5 years in the field of love and relationship coaching, this book has added to my experience in these fields. thanks
ReplyDelete