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Giants Of Our Time

Happy Friday All,

Thinking back on all the books that have been popular, it makes me wonder what we're going to leave behind.

Some of us grew up reading such literary giants like JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters.

Ray Bradbury and Beverly Cleary come to mind as literary giants (for different reasons than the ones mentioned above) with a more contemporary feel, but ones that will be recognizable for a long time.

Who will this next few decades be remembered for?

I'd like to think folks I've come to know and gotten to be friends with will be mentioned in the same conversations as the success stories of JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer (those authors will go down in history as things that caught the fancy of the late 20th and early 21st centuries...if not, I would be surprised--simply because there's been so much ado over them--whether you like them or not, you can't fail to notice).

There's so many wonderful authors I'd love to name, but can't (because I'd be sure to forget someone and besides, that would make this post insanely long), who I'd hope would be mentioned in the same breath as some of the more popular ones.

So for today and the weekend, let's contemplate that question. Who are the literary giants of the late 20th and early 21st centuries (whether by your opinion and/or by success)?

Have A Fantastic Friday!

Comments

Tonette Joyce said…
Personally,I would love to see that Janet Evanovich is remembered for her cleverness, stories and characters. You know that I am a particular fan of Mary Janice Davidson's, and since I have been reading her YA books lately, I hope that she will be remembered not only for her also clever books but for her YA books done as alternatives for her younger fans, as apposed to her quite 'adult' other works. Except for the couple you mentioned,I don't see a lot of BIG NAMES jumping out as possibilities; I see a lot of romance writers whose books fill the shelves and hearts of their followers.There are so many new authors out there and too many books by celebrities that are on the shelves for that reason alone, that I just don't see another 'Michner'-type, 20th-century author arising,if that is what you asked.
Since you brought up children's books, the Tomie DePaola books are delightful; I can't get my hands on a number of them.
That may be part of the problem; although I am glad that they publishers are putting more new authors out there, between the vast number of new books, the current-event and celebrity type, there just isn't time to read them all and there is just not enough book space on the store and library shelves. So many books are sold-off at our library, and some rather quickly, and so many that should be 'standards'.It is also hard to find many classic books, such as poetry and anything other than the most famous books of the most famous authors,(such as Anna Karinina[even Tolstoy knew it was his worst] and perhaps War and Peace, when he wrote so many; two or three Michners, only Dr.Zhivago...Pasternak wrote so many good stories and poetry).
I think Rowling may have the best shot at being remembered as her stories are timeless. I believe that often writers bind themselves in by too many current,(at the time),fads , slang and cultural references, which dates their work rather quickly.
TMI? LOL!
Thanks for listening!
Bethany said…
Tonette,

Thank you for dropping by. I, too, am a Tomie De Paula fan (Gotta love his "Strega Nona" stories) and MJ Davidson's YA "Jennifer Scales" novels written with her husband, Anthony Alongi are really good.

I have a sister who really enjoys Janet Evanovich.

In terms of YA I hope Lesley Livingston makes that list...her WONDROUS STRANGE trilogy is incredibly good :-)
Tonette Joyce said…
I just got my hands on "Adventures of the Teen Furies" that Mary Janice wrote by herself for 'older' teens.I know she plays a tough gal,(she isn't a wimp, that's for sure), but her heart comes through all the time.
Thanks,I will have to check outLesley Livingston when I get a chance.
My niece just had me read "Ghostgirl"...I will have to read the next one...
Bethany said…
Tonette,

Sounds like you got quite a stack of To-Be-Read...that's great! (Always good to have lots of choices). Have fun :-)

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