The Fayetteville public library is one of my favorite libraries in the world.
They have everything— from a children’s section with large model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and 3D printing machines to a small, local bookstore and a cafeteria where they regularly hold cooking classes for anyone interested.
A public library says a lot about a community’s well-being.
I visited the local bookstore within the library to see if there were any good books available. There was a volunteer adding new books as I was browsing and she seemed troubled. I was right because she asked me something:
“Excuse me young man, have you heard of these books before? Do you know what genre they would be?”
I looked at the books and asked if I could flip through the pages.
“I’m afraid I don’t, ma’am. But they seem quite old.”
“If they’re old, do you think they would be considered classics?” She asked, still concerned.
“I recognize The Outsiders by Hinton, and it’s well-known by people despite how old it is. Maybe that would be a classic?”
“Is that so… I’ll add it to the classics section then. But I wonder what makes a classic?”
I didn’t have an immediate answer because I wasn’t certain, despite how many books I’ve read.
A classic, I feel, is a book that stood the test of time and has influenced a culture. The themes presented in a book are universal, and are relatable, regardless of the book’s age.
But what if there’s a classic that doesn’t fit this criteria? Can it still be a classic if it didn’t survive or it didn’t have any influence? What would the outliers be?
And what if there’s a book that is heavily disliked by one generation and loved by another? How well-known must it be before it’s called a classic? Who even gets to call them classics, anyways?
For all we know, a piece of terrible work today can be a classic work tomorrow.
She thanked me for my help and finished adding the rest of the books.
Here’s my inspiration for the day.