Classic Literature vs Contemporary Fiction

soothsayer

It would be very difficult to exercise any preference. Classics are rich in prose and presentation but tend to get top heavy if one lingers too long during a day with them. In contrast, contemporary books are light, equally absorbing and easier to finish even within a single day. The beauty of classics remains unmatched and they continue to attract readership in the same way as they did when they were written, being read and re-read any number of times without creating boredom for the reader whereas most contemporary stuff does not make the same impressions. But both are necessary to all of us to strike the right kind of balance while building up a collection of books  

b_mayukh

cynic 23-6-2018 02:53 PM
Interesting discussion about the education system. It is indeed about rote-learning than analysis an ...

Really good of him. This pushes a young mind to think and then frame that thinking into speaking out and then again be ready for being questioned

viksorion

I have studied in a non-english school and have been fed on Hindi and Marathi literature.
Loads of books were read then. I moved to english for one simple reason - It requires more time to read english than Hindi/ Marathi. I used to finish 2-3 books a day then and library was not close to the house. So I started on English.
My first authors were Sidney Sheldon, Jeffery Archer, Irving Wallace ( I think The Second Lady was my first proper English novel).... This was in my medical college days. Then moved to Robin Cook, Forsyth, Follett, Grisham, Segal novels. So have actually not read any classics in real sense unless have read the translations.
Trying to catch up slowly. Have been reading all children's classics along with my son.... But its no longer the same. Maybe I will never develop a taste for the slow leisurely narratives of the classics.
But yes as everyone pointed out You pass through phases different styles of writing, different genres. I wouldn't compare Apples with Oranges. Both are tasty in there own way