# What novels published since the turn of the century will become classics? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121 "2009-01-06T19:43:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/81 "2009-01-08T16:19:16Z")
Our list is still too short. A prophet is without honor in his own country, and a book is without honor in its own _time_, I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/82 "2009-01-08T16:23:37Z")
I’d also like to add Jonathan Franzen’s **The Corrections** to my short-but-sweet list. That’s a novel so good it made me weep with jealousy. Even if Franzen does come off as a bit of a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/83 "2009-01-08T16:25:09Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > This thread is sort of confusing. When we say turn of the century do we mean the 20th or 21st? It’s the 21st century, year 2000 inclusive. **Skald** shouldn’t have put that in the tiny print. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/84 "2009-01-08T16:27:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s the 21st century, year 2000 inclusive. **Skald** shouldn’t have put that in the tiny print. 😉 Someone mentioned Larry McMurtry. I hadn’t realized he was still publishing. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/85 "2009-01-08T16:28:09Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Thanks, I’ll check it out. It doesn’t give any insights into the Judge or into the ending, does it? McCarthy is notoriously reticent about ever explaining hs work. It does give insight into the historical basis of the Judge as he was portrayed by Samuel Chamberlain in My Confession, McCarthy’s main source material for Blood Meridian. He also explores the Jungian implications of the Judge as an archetype (the be all and end of archetypes, as it would seem), and explores the significance of the tarot scene. As far as the ending goes, the author has his own idea of what happened (and I think he is probably right) but he only mentions it offhandedly. The best part about Notes on Blood Meridian, however, is realizing the sheer amount and depth of McCarthy’s research for it; if he said the Glanton Gang was at _x_ doing _y_ on _z_ date, they were. Also, McCarthy left a trail in Blood Meridian for anyone to follow if they wanted to know what HE had read to write it; even his spelling mistakes in Blood Meridian were purposeful. If Blood Meridian blew you away half as much as it did I, then I couldn’t recommend Notes enough. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/86 "2009-01-08T16:31:54Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Literature is not as important now as it was then. They didn’t have movies or television. Burn the heretic! 🆒 I hate 9 out of 10 television shows I happen to see, and 7 out of 10 movies ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/87 "2009-01-08T16:33:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s the 21st century, year 2000 inclusive. **Skald** shouldn’t have put that in the tiny print. 😉 :: shrugging :: Look, I gave up the evil schtick months ago; you can’t expect me to give up my squirrel abuse too. But if you’ll like I’ll say “the 00s decade.” ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/88 "2009-01-08T16:33:30Z")
“Tree of Smoke” by Denis Johnson is a definite (although I prefer “Angels” as his best work; unfortunately published too long ago to make the list). “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Díaz is also a strong contender. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/89 "2009-01-08T16:51:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > I’d also like to add Jonathan Franzen’s **The Corrections** to my short-but-sweet list. That’s a novel so good it made me weep with jealousy. Even if Franzen does come off as a bit of a dick. I thought it was a very well written book, and I kind of liked Franzen for scraping off the Oprah stickers, but I ultimately found the book unsatisfying only because I hated the Caroline character so much (the bitch wife of the brother named Gary), and she never gets any kind of comeuppance in the book. Franzen wrote that whole relationship masterfully, though. They felt like real people. I wanted to call Caroline on the phone and chew her out. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/90 "2009-01-08T17:03:25Z")
> [@Jettboy](#): > > “Tree of Smoke” by Denis Johnson is a definite (although I prefer “Angels” as his best work; unfortunately published too long ago to make the list). > > “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Díaz is also a strong contender. My wife met Junot Diaz through work, her and her boss read this talked about how awesome it is and told me I could read it and the book has never been delivered to me. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/91 "2009-01-08T20:28:22Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I haven’t read it, but it seems to be a book that will go the distance: > > [The story of Edgar Sawtelle](http://www.amazon.com/Story-Edgar-Sawtelle-Novel-Oprah/dp/0061768065/ref=pd_ts_b_26?ie=UTF8&s=books) I’ve read it. I think it has problems, but its originality might compensate. It’s a book that people will be talking about for awhile. I’ll nominate _The Book Thief_ by Markus Zusak. It’s this century’s _Diary of Anne Frank_, sorta. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/92 "2009-01-08T20:40:00Z")
[QUOTE=SuntanTigerTamer] Seconded. Blood Meridian will be remembered as his finest work, and an American classic. The Road will be remembered as the book that got people reading him. [/QUOTE] I think _Suttree_ is the one that will be seen as his masterpiece, given time. _Blood Meridian_ blows the 'kin doors off, it just demands superlatives and bludgeons you over the head with its brilliance. But Suttree is the one he poured his heart and soul into - deeply personal and sad, an amazing tour de force. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/93 "2009-01-08T23:57:27Z")
_White Teeth_ by Zadie Smith. I can see it being taught in high schools. It deals with adolescents, it’s multicultural and it’s kinda funny. _Sacred Games_ by Vikram Chandra. An epic of modern day India. _White Tiger_ by Aravind Adiga. Another modern day classic of India. ---
**Author:** ![statij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@statij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statij)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/94 "2009-01-09T00:52:03Z")
Roberto Bolano’s 2666 is getting ridiculously good reviews and being lumped with the greatest literature of the past 100 years. Haven’t read it yet but will soon. ---
**Author:** ![Anna\_Nimity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Anna\_Nimity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anna_Nimity)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/95 "2009-01-09T08:11:45Z")
I second "A Fine Balance"by Rohinton Mistry. I also agree that while “The Road” was great, “Blood Meridian” was far better. Maybe just personal taste though. I love everything I’ve read by Cormac McCarthy. I also would add “Beloved” or “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/96 "2009-01-09T08:28:00Z")
**[House of Leaves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_leaves)**. Every time I re-read it, I come away with a different impression. Still not sure what to make of it. But any book that makes me think as much as this must have some enduring quality. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/97 "2009-01-09T08:58:17Z")
_Riddley Walker_ by Russell Hoban: Nobel-worthy, century-defining literature. ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/98 "2009-01-09T09:06:51Z")
_Riddley Walker_ was published during the early eighties. It’s a great book, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/99 "2009-01-09T16:02:30Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > **[House of Leaves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_leaves)**. Every time I re-read it, I come away with a different impression. Still not sure what to make of it. But any book that makes me think as much as this must have some enduring quality. I love that book. I picked it up expecting it to be a fairly light horror-suspense novel, which it is in part, but it somehow managed to provide a lot of valuable insight on the nature of fear, which has (surprisingly) had a very significant and lasting effect on me. Sounds goofy, I know, but there it is. I’ve read it three times, the last of which was while I was studying for the bar exam. And I was nowhere near as anxious over the exam as the vast majority of people who took it with me (and passed it as well!). ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121/100 "2009-01-31T18:38:04Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I haven’t read it, but it seems to be a book that will go the distance: > > [The story of Edgar Sawtelle](http://www.amazon.com/Story-Edgar-Sawtelle-Novel-Oprah/dp/0061768065/ref=pd_ts_b_26?ie=UTF8&s=books) I’m reading this right now (I just finished _The Road_, which I also was quite moved by) and I have to say that so far, it is a terrific book. Simply wonderful. I also really liked \*A Thousand Splendid Suns \*by Hosseini, although I haven’t read \*Kite Runner \*yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-novels-published-since-the-turn-of-the-century-will-become-classics/480121.md?page=6)