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February 22, 2005

The Classics

Alesia, from warm and rainy Florida...

I’ve been re-reading the classics lately and thinking about how well some books translate into whatever generation reads them. As I sat up until two in the morning one night last week, reading Cyrano de Bergerac (and crying at the end), I wondered about the elements that these books have that make them endure . . .

Here are a few things I came up with:

First, they have characters we care about. Cyrano was fierce and brilliant and tragically in love, but he was never a figure of fun (Steve Martin movies aside). We ached for his loss and his nobility and his ultimate sacrifice. In Pride and Prejudice (and the literary chicks have some very cool news on that front – stay tuned!), we so wanted to see Elizabeth triumph over Mr. Darcy’s reserve. (I’ll save any ode to Colin Firth for Lani – she wins for biggest Colin fan, definitely!)

Second, they have stories to which we can relate. Love, sacrifice, and nobility; or the darker side of emotion – jealousy, betrayal, and vengeance. They are larger than life (whose true love has battled 100 men with only a sword lately?) but reflect on our own passions and pain. Characters who battle their way through to a better life, love, or version of themselves.

Finally, they’re the ‘more’ books. More funny, more tragic, more romantic, or more poignant. Books that make us dig deep into the emotional core – that same core that is often left untouched in today’s more cynical world.

I want to write books that are ‘more.’ More funny. More emotional. Books that make you care about my characters and whether or not they achieve their goals. Some writers I know tend to avoid the classics of literature, because reading great books makes them feel insecure and inferior. I’m just the opposite – to me, they give me reasons to work harder. To dig deeper. To give my readers ‘more.’

And, hey – Edmond Rostand was a lapsed lawyer, too.

Hugs,
Alesia

Posted by Alesia at 9:48 AM | Comments (1)

Comments

Posted by: Alyssa at February 23, 2005 1:03 AM