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Well, I don't have an actual list, but I usually choose books I think will still be read 500 years from now.
by bromagosa 13y ago
Well, I don't have an actual list, but I usually choose books I think will still be read 500 years from now.
- unimpressive 13y agoIs that a litmus test for quality, or do you plan on being alive five hundred years from now?
- bromagosa 13y agoIf you had read my words, you would know I obviously "plan" to live around 85 years, and the verb «think» would have suggested to you that I don't have an infallible way to know what the people of the future will enjoy reading. I thought you were asking sincerely, but it seems you're either trying to start a flame with your sarcasm or just not reading through my words. If I want to read good sci-fi or fantasy I'll pick Bradbury, Asimov, or any other brilliant author I _think_ will still be read in 500 years. Go and read whatever you like, I couldn't care less.
- unimpressive 13y agoI was asking sincerely, you gave me a non-answer.
- bromagosa 13y agoIf you were asking sincerely whether I was planning on living 500 years, you've read way too much Harry Potter.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- unimpressive 13y agoI have, in fact. EDIT: Actually, it doesn't have to be like this. I'm sorry for being unnecessarily snarky when you told me how you evaluate books. If I may, I'd like to rephrase my question too: "Keeping in mind specific volumes, what is a book that you could see yourself feeling sorry for somebody having not read before their funeral?"
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- willvarfar 13y agoAha, so the bible, quran, torah etc then?
- bromagosa 13y agoNot quite fitting into the literature category, but I've read the Bible out of curiosity and interest for the origins of our culture.
- willvarfar 13y agoYou don't think them fiction, then? ;)
- hdctambien 13y agoHow do you make that distinction before you've read the book?
- bromagosa 13y agoFor new authors, I follow recommendations by friends whose taste I trust, or reviews from people who have similar standards. For old authors it's much easier, especially for the ones born more than 500 years ago ;)
- lmm 13y agoYou think HPMoR won't be? It has the kind of intensely devoted (not to say cult) fanbase that preserves things and actively recruits new fans. If your view is that Harry Potter itself won't be read 500 years from now, even if that were to happen it's reasonably common for parodies to outlast the original. If I had to bet on a piece of literature from the last 10 years (say) that would last 500 years HPMoR looks like one of the better options.