Is This Book a Classic?

In this episode, Grace and Liz read Toni Morrison’s Sula and discuss why it’s been considered a classic. First published in 1973, it follows two friends, Sula and Nel, as they grow up in Medallion, Ohio. Bound by a shared girlhood and a firm longing for adventure, their friendship takes a profound turn when an unexpected tragedy occurs. As the girls grow, they start to adopt increasingly different philosophies about life: Nel is taken down a more conventional path whilst Sula lives a more defiant and non-conformist existence. What can Sula tell us about the mystery of identity? How are friendships affected when people take different life paths? Why is this book still so relevant today? These are just some of the questions they ask in the episode. Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/⁠All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastMusic: Isla CummingsLogo: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Liz and Grace discuss Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend and talk about whether it will one day be considered a classic. The story follows Elena and Lila, two girls growing up in mid-century Naples. Lila is fearsome, clever and determined but is denied the same educational opportunities as Elena. Elena is quieter and dazzled by Lila’s brilliance. From the start of the novel, the two form a complicated but powerful bond.  What can the novel teach us about girlhood and our understanding of female friendships? Do you consider yourself more of an Elena or a Lila? Will My Brilliant Friend one day be given a place in the literary canon? They discuss this and more in the podcast.Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/⁠All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastMusic: Isla CummingsLogo: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Grace and Liz read Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights and discuss why it’s been considered a classic. First published in 1847, the novel follows the story of Heathcliff, an orphan adopted into the Earnshaw family. Hindley Earnshaw, the eldest brother in the family, grows jealous of Heathcliff and is frequently cruel to him. His sister Cathy, however, becomes close to the orphan and they develop a strong bond. When Cathy decides to marry the wealthy Edgar Linton over Heathcliff, the latter disappears. He returns three years later, intent on having his revenge. Is Heathcliff the villain of Wuthering Heights? Why is he viewed as a romantic hero? Is Nelly the most underrated character? And what makes Catherine so radical? These are just some of the questions they ask in the episode. Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/⁠All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastMusic: Isla CummingsLogo: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Liz and Trudy read Han Kang’s “The Vegetarian” and talk about whether it will one day be considered a classic. The story follows a quote ‘unremarkable’ woman who, following a series of strange and violent dreams, decides to become a vegetarian. The novel tracks how this decision goes on to impact her relationships with the characters around her, resulting in a series of strange and disturbing events. In this episode, Liz and Trudy delve into the novel’s complex – and sometimes confusing – imagery. They ask why Yeong-hye decides to become a vegetarian and why Han Kang doesn’t write a chapter from her point of view. They also discuss the Bastard and Babe of the Book and debate whether or not “The Vegetarian” will one day be considered a future classic. Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/⁠All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastMusic: Isla CummingsLogo: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Grace and Liz read Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and discuss why it’s been considered a classic. First published in 1897, the novel revolves around Count Dracula, a vampire from Transylvania who seeks to move to London. Jonathan Harker, a lawyer, Mina, his fiancée, Lucy, her friend, and John Seward, a doctor with a mysterious patient, all fall prey to the dangerous influence of Dracula. Only with the help of vampire slayer, Van Helsing, can they hope to end the Count’s destructive chaos. Why is Dracula so iconic? What makes a good villain? Is Lucy unlucky, or is she being punished? Does a book have to be a masterpiece in order to be considered a classic? These are just some of the questions they ask in the episode. Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/⁠All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastMusic: Isla CummingsLogo: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Liz and Trudy read Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” and talk about whether it will one day be considered a classic. The story follows Bella Swan, a teenager who moves to the town of Forks and falls in love with a mysterious student called Edward Cullen. He, and the entire Cullen family, are beautiful and enigmatic – they’re also vampires, making the line between love and death very thin indeed. In this episode, Liz and Trudy ask why the Twilight series became the subject of such ridicule online. At one time, fans of the books were the butt of late-night jokes, they were ranted about by YouTubers and in 2009, a group of people actually stormed Comic-Con and shouted ‘Twilight sucks’ over and over again. Despite this, the series has been a huge popular success, selling over 160 million copies worldwide.What does that popular success tell us about life in the early 2000s? Why was the book so successful, and why is Bella so clumsy in the books? Should we be Team Edward or Team Jacob? Will “Twilight” be a future classic? All this will be explored in the episode. Website: https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastMusic: Isla CummingsLogo: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Liz and Grace read Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr Ripley” and discuss why it’s been considered a classic. First published in 1955, the novel follows Tom Ripley, a con artist sent to Italy to bring back the son of a wealthy American. Upon arrival, Tom finds himself charmed by the charismatic Dickie Greenleaf and jealous of his writer girlfriend Marge. Tom doesn’t just like Dickie, however, he actually wants to be him – and it soon becomes clear that he’s willing to achieve this goal at any cost. Is Tom the villain, or the hero of the book? Why do we find ourselves rooting for him? What made Patricia Highsmith so radical? And why are we still talking about her work? These are just some of the questions they ask in the podcast. Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/⁠All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastCover art: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Liz and Lily discuss Donna Tartt’s iconic novel “The Secret History”. In it, they talk aesthetics, immorality and elitism as they debate the book that launched a thousand dark academia books. Why has this novel been such a popular success? What should we make of Donna Tartt’s portrayal of women? What makes dark academia so alluring – and why does it always seem to involve the humanities? These are just some of the questions they explore in the podcast. Described as a “literary giant” and “one of the most revered” writers of her generation, Donna Tartt burst onto the literary scene as something of a sensation. The Secret History is already considered to be a cult classic and in the podcast, Liz and Lily will be discussing whether it will be given a place in the literary canon.   “The Secret History” is a novel about a group of Classics students who attempt to go beyond the boundaries of cognitive existence. Inspired by a love of the ancient Greeks and encouraged by their charismatic professor, the students partake in a Dionysian ritual: a frenzied and mysterious activity with deadly consequences. Website: ⁠https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/⁠All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastCover art: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Liz and Grace discuss Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and why it’s been considered a classic. First published in 1813, it follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters. Their mother, Mrs Bennet, is determined to secure them advantageous marriages, and her hopes are set alight when the wealthy Mr Bingley arrives. Elizabeth, however, finds herself frustrated by Mr Bingley’s friend, the proud and taciturn Mr Darcy. A series of revelations then follow as Darcy and Elizabeth have to face their own shortcomings – and their true feelings for one another. Is Mr Darcy actually the villain of the book? Has Mrs Bennet been overlooked? Why do we love the “enemies to lovers” trope? What makes “Pride and Prejudice” so great? And is it Jane Austen’s best book? These are just some of the questions Liz and Grace explore in the podcast. Website: https://isthisbookaclassic.my.canva.site/All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcastCover art: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Liz and Trudy turn their attention to the ultimate cool girl novel: Sally Rooney’s “Normal People”.Heavily promoted, widely loved and critically acclaimed, “Normal People” is a knockout success. This episode looks at whether that popular success could translate into critical longevity as a classic. Here, Liz and Trudy talk “Sad Girl Literature”, millennial disaffection and difficult relationships as they explore the ups and downs of Connell and Marianne’s relationship and consider Rooney’s book within its wider literary context. Sally Rooney has been hailed as the “first great millennial novelist” and “J. D. Salinger for the Snapchat generation”. “Normal People” is her most popular novel and today they will be discussing whether it could also be considered a classic.All links can be found on our ⁠InstagramCover art: @jinny_lee_photography

In this episode, Liz and Grace discuss Thomas Hardy’s “Jude the Obscure”. First published in 1895, the story follows Jude Fawley, a working-class man who dreams of becoming a scholar. These dreams are derailed, however, when he falls in love and marries the wrong woman. Why was this Hardy's most controversial novel? Why do depressing books matter? How was Hardy ahead of his time? And why did he gain a place in the canon? These are just some of the questions Liz and Grace will be asking in the podcast.All links can be found on our InstagramCover art: @jinny_lee_photography

“Misery porn” or a bona fide classic? Liz and Trudy discuss love, trauma, and friendship as they debate the book that has shaken both critics and the internet. “A Little Life” follows four friends who, after graduating, move to New York City and attempt to navigate their adult lives. As they grow and their complex relationships evolve, Yanagihara grapples with one key question: can anyone truly recover from the trauma of their past?In this episode, we talk about how we first heard about the book, the mythology surrounding it, and the questions Yanagihara seems to raise. We discuss the controversial nature of the book, its critical and commercial success, and whether it should be dismissed for its relentless depiction of suffering or praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions. Finally, we consider why the book has struck such a chord in recent years and whether it will one day be regarded as a classic, using the criteria outlined by Italo Calvino in his seminal essay, “Why Read the Classics?”All links can be found on our InstagramCover art: @jinny_lee_photography