Ep 172; What Makes A Modern Classic and Giving and Receiving Books

Simon is joined by special guest (and listener) Russell from Ink and Paper blog, as Simon and Thomas’ diaries crashed, but he is back next episode promise. Russell and Simon talk about what makes a modern classic and the joys of giving and receiving books.

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What Makes a Modern Classic () Simon and Russell debate what makes a modern classic, which was a topic that Russell has wanted to be discussed on The Readers for a while. They look at some books which have been called modern classics and ponder why they became so and if they should have become so. They also contemplate some books they think should be modern classics.

The Joys of Giving and Receiving Books () As two people who like to send each other books, Simon thought it would be nice to chat with Russell about why they enjoy giving books and receiving books and why giving can be better than receiving books, imagine.

Other Books Discussed on the Show () Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin, Tin Man by Sarah Winman, Christodora by Tim Murphy, How To Survive A Plague by David France, My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier, The Beguiled by Thomas P. Cullinan, Funny Girl by Nick Hornby, The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow, Pages for You by Sylvia Brownrigg, Pages for Her by Sylvia Brownrigg, Stoner by  John Williams, Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Buddha for Suburbia by Hanif Kureshi, White Teeth by Zadie Smith, Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Woman in Black by Susan Hill, I’m The King of the Castle by Susan Hill, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Cats Eye by Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, Trespass by Rose Tremain, Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner, The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood, The Proof of Love by Catherine Hall, The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon, Instructions for a Heatwave by  Maggie O’Farrell, The Year of the Ladybird by Graham Joyce, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, Ill Will by Dan Chaon, Theft By Finding by David Sedaris, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, Here Comes The Sun by Nicole Dennis – Benn, A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James, How To Survive a Summer by Nick White

Next time on the Readers () Simon and Thomas will be reunited in two weeks when they will be back with more book based banter.

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