What novels published since the turn of the century will become classics?

Cafe Society
1

I happened to look over my copy of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, and I notice that one of the author blurbs on the back avers that it will become a classic on the order of To Kill a Mockingbird in time. Now, while I don’t agree that TLB is on the order of TKaM, I will agree that it is quite beautifully written and destined to be honored in posterity.

Which brings me to the thread question: what other novels of this century* do you think will be accorded such honor, and why?

For purposes of this thread, pretend the 21st century began in 2000 rather than 2001.

2

Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle.

3

*The Road *by Cormac McCarthy.

I really believe it will be studied in lit classes for decades or longer.

4

I came in to say just that. A true case of a series that transcends its genre, whatever the *hell *that genre is.

5

I liked it but I didn’t get nearly as much from it as some people on here seem to have. Interesting choice.

6

I recommend History-of-Science Fiction with fantasy elements.

7

McCarthy’s The Road is probably the highest quality I’ve read from this century. Not sure it’s real classic material, but it does have that extra dimension of timeliness and resonance of the era that separates it from the merely excellent.

Am I allowed one from 1996? (sorry!). I’d bet the farm on Infinite Jest being regarded as a classic in future times. It was headed that way anyhow, but DFW’s tragic death will probably propel it into the pantheon at speed.

8

I was going to suggest A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry but it was published in 1997. Maybe The Kite Runner?

9

Atonement by Ian McEwan, published in 2003. Powerful and moving.

10

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, which was published in 2000 and so makes it into Skald’s millennium. Brilliant, fun, expansive, and very well written.

11

(edit for reading comprehension) :slight_smile:

12

Tain’t MY millennium. I was just trying to forestall the inevitable argument. :slight_smile: My New Millennium Party was on Dec. 31, 2000; nobody would have come if I didn’t always provide hookers and blow at my parties.

13

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon.

14

The first book I though of was The Road, but that’s been done in this thread so I’m going to go to another favorite of mine.

World War Z by Max Brooks. The author outdoes George Romero with a story of zombies overtaking the Earth which is really an examination of the real world. I doubt it’s in the top ten novels of this century, but its critical acclaim and geek credentials (Zombies!) guarantees that it will be read for decades to come and will make its way into a few classrooms.

15

I haven’t read it but The Boy In The Striped Pajamassounds like it might be a classic.

16

Chris Ware’s Rusty Brown, still in the process of being serialized in his own Acme Novelty Library series, will come to be regarded as one of the major classics of the comics medium, toppling Maus and Watchmen.

17

If there’s any justice left in the world, English Passengers, by Matthew Kneale, (first mentioned and recommended here on The Dope by twickster).

18

Maybe The Time Traveler’s Wife?

19

This was the book I thought of first.

20

Odd how tastes and opinions vary - I thought The Curious Incident of the Dog, etc., was okay but nothing more.

I agree with A Fine Balance being a candidate for immortality. Amazing book.