modern books that will be "classics" in the future (and why you should read them)

[@camilogonzales7048]

the hunger games being on a penguin classics cover altered my brain chemistry

[@jenniferkate7167]

it looks so good. i can't wait for that day to come

[@Lunairium]

Need to see an edit for The Song of Achilles

[@lourdesmariasanchez8388]

I know.. It's so sick 🔥🔥🔥

[@TheParadoxDestroyer]

Not Penguin Classics. Scholastic, Inc. is the publisher of this edition though it does look like the venerable Penguin black spines.

[@portaldolphin13]

it literally says penguin classics ​@@TheParadoxDestroyer

[@setrakpap]

If It Ends with Us becomes a classic I’m shredding my nonexistent literature degree

[@jshasan865]

It will be the biggest joke in the book community

[@SophReads.]

Lmao when he showed it to the camera, I burst out laughing

[@aziz6652]

@@jshasan865this whole video shows the literary void that we have reached

[@morningstarrss]

Lmaoooooo

[@ocean3262]

@@aziz6652 i mean he's not wrong. its extremely popular; and it's not like there aren't bad classics. all it has to do is stand the test of time and continue to be popular, which it likely will

[@gogirl709]

The Book Thief is already showing up on school reading lists here in the US so becoming a classic already. Great list.

[@edwin-jq4dp]

Not only in the US. For instance, it's officially been in the obligatory foreign literature reading list in school program in Ukraine from 2018

[@camiverge691]

The book thief was my grade 11 essay book.

[@praenoto]

the book thief was on my school reading list 10 years ago

[@jeanneg6004]

It has historical inaccuracies though. It should be treated as fictional literature but not a representation for the second world war, Germany or God forbid the Holocaust

[@corinneeaglebridge]

I’m Dutch, and it was on my school reading list (which has a lot of options of what we can pick to read for English book reports - VWO, which I did, requires 2 per year in the “upper classes”, so year 4 to 6)! The hunger games was there as well, though you could only do it for year 4. The Book Thief I think was a book you could do in all years. (The books I read for book reports are The Book Thief, The Maze Runner, Frankenstein, A Christmas Carol, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and Emma)

[@MeetFrizzie]

I reread the hunger games recently after being obsessed as a teen and I did not realize then how brutal it was. It may be written for a young audience but it does not hold back.

[@MoviesEater]

It's so poorly written... I could say it's effectist and there is the brutality.

[@AndreA-dl5po]

@@MoviesEater Have to disagree. On the most basic levels of writing skill it's very well done. It flows, builds suspense and knows how to end chapters and doesn't have a lot wasted verbage. Therefore a well-written book. A work that is a confusing slog to read with loads of obscure and difficult dialogue and descriptions doesn't define quality in any way.

[@magnamedicinals]

This was my exact experience rereading it as an adult as well, I feel like the impact it’s had on the younger generations is so important and all of the death and fear and sacrifice in it really feels like a mirror held up to our current societies. Even though it’s ya it’s still haunting and it feels like it’s only become more accurate over time

[@abbb4460]

I only read the original series once and it burned into my brain. Mind you, I'm from a visual artistic family, been brought up encouraging imagination and creativity, and am somewhat artistic myself (haven't been physically practicing for a few years), but still a good chunk visualisation sticks. It hurt reading it, AND having family and friends in military and first respond; IT HURT 🤕

[@danielaroscerocervantes9142]

Yes! I remember crying and sobbing soooo much more when I re-read the series as an adult. Also, I liked Mockingjay a LOT more after that!

[@claude7529]

I think perks of being a wallflower also has a big chance of becoming a classic, it’s written so beautiful it shows how PTSD feels like so well. As someone who has PTSD this book means so much to me

[@julemeyer]

I‘m a simple person: I see the hunger games, l click

[@user-xi6xi6di7n]

I'll feel so badass when I'm super old and I'll tell all the kids that I read that dystopian classic BEFORE it was cool. 😏

[@Josandy]

Literally same.

[@_haru007_]

Overrated

[@albasapri3265]

Yes.

[@perryjones7771]

Literally my favorite book series ever. Suzanne DID THAT.

[@Rachel-sv9pq]

What I loved about The Book Thief is that they tell you in the beginning that a character is going to die but still when it happens it's a gut punch like you can't believe it. That's because of great writing.

[@hhah23]

Thank u for the spoiler

[@TheGremlinInTheLibrary]

Is it really a spoiler when it tells you in the book? Well before it happens? And that's kind of the point? I have bad news about what happens in They Both Die At The End...

[@Rachel-sv9pq]

@@hhah23 Sorry I ruined Chapter 1 for you 😂

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Very Shakespearean

[@hikaru1675]

@@hhah23 Chapter 1 basically spoils all major plot points, if you have read it. And even regardless of that: this is a book set in Germany during WW2 and narrated by Death himself. How could you possibly assume that nobody will die?

[@suyareads]

I would also add The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, two absolut masterpieces!

[@DumiNihi]

A thousand splendid suns BROKE my heart

[@svgerd]

i think he didnt add them bc theyre already regarded as modern classics by most people :) for good reason too!

[@sarahfigueras6008]

Yes I read the Kite Runner in my high school English class so it’s definitely being taught in schools!

[@luna20_63]

i was looking for this comment!!

[@gabbyalivio5692]

a thousand splendid suns was a required read in our school !! it was v heartbreaking TT

[@Emerora]

The Hunger Games has had a magnitude 8 impact upon society, certainly my generation. It was the first book introducing many of us to mature subject matters - addiction, PTSD, the misuse of power in governance, the list goes on. Although written for a younger demographic, these key themes have become increasingly prolific with time and I have fallen in love with it more with my own maturity and deepened understanding of the world around me. I fell in love with it as a competitive 12 year old who loved anything adventure, and that love has only deepened year on year with my own tribulations and narration of modern day governance/ society as a whole. The universal approach Collins took when writing opens it up for everyone who can find literature overwhelming. With my ADHD I struggle with concentration, this was the first book I ever read and returned to read multiple times. It’s a forever kind of obsession.

[@hannahclarerose9857]

People keep saying books are dead, and as an avid reader I push up against that. I know so many people watching less TV, watching less movies, but reading more than ever. There are so many high level working authors right now, it’s such an exciting time to be a reader!

[@Tay-wj9et]

I agree! Books are more accessible now than they've ever been, with libraries and kindles, it's so much easier for people to read. Also books get a lot more attention and hype online, which makes more people inclined to try them out.

[@lukeluke4043]

It's not about people not Reading, it's about people Reading lots of shit.

[@SingingMagick]

I almost died inside when you held up It Ends With Us

[@paulinagala_]

I was literally about to lose all hope.

[@samantha004]

My heart jumped out of my chest i swear

[@cyankalis]

I'm actually shocked he even has a copy of it lmao

[@cassandrakaguitla]

@@monaeckle28:07 !

[@jenn9049]

girl the life had been sucked out of me

[@astridpizarro-martinez2557]

Books and Time Stamps 2:14 “Girl, Woman, other” by Bernadine Evaristo 3:16 “There, There” by Tommy Orange 4:13 “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller 6:21 “The Book Thief” by Markus Züsak 7:19 “Outline” by Rachel Cusk 7:59 “Normal People” by Sally Rooney 9:16 “This is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El Mohtar and Max Gladstone 11:29 “In Memoriam” by Alice Winn 12:59 “Black Butterflies” by Priscilla Morris 14:30 “The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray 16:11 “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell 17:17 “The Promise” by Damon Galgut 18:30 “The Island of Missing Trees” by Elif Shafak 19:38 “Small Thing like These” by Claire Keegan 21:19 “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins 22:46 “My Dark Vanessa” by Kate Elizabeth Russell 23:54 “Shuggie Bain” by Douglas Stuart 25:28 “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver 27:03 “Open Water” by Caleb Azumen Nelson 28:08 “Home Fire” by Kamila Shamsie 29:30 “The Girl with the Louding Voice” by Abi Daré 30:19 “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith 31:26 “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara 33:40 “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke

[@bambersanbourg]

thank. uuuu🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@quinni241]

thank you so much !

[@RosieDao207]

thank you, just what i need

[@glossy2141]

youre that GIRL thx

[@SAN_DRA.33]

My new reading list ❤

[@LaVictoireRosee]

If you live to 80 and continue doing this KZbin channel, please revisit this video and see if your predictions came true.

[@makhfi9578]

The Hunger Games is DEFINITELY a modern classic. Recently, my friend and I (in 12th Grade rn) did a presentation on the trilogy (combining both the book & the movie) for our Sociology class. A thorough sociological analysis, we drew comparisons and conclusions of the book to real life that shocked even our Sociology teacher. The Hunger Games definitely served as strong material for us to understand and apply our sociological theories and we genuinely were so surprised at the depth of the novels. Truly, a modern classic!

[@naantikka101]

Being a sociology student, I find this so cool!

[@Eggiweg]

I love how you can tell that jack reads books. Like his metaphors are so wonderful and magical that only an actual book reader could say them so perfectly.

[@savannah4439]

I had to read the The Book Thief in English class in middle school, and I literally thought it was (already) a classic for YEARS! I was shocked when I found out it was published in the 2000’s haha

[@ghosttpants]

this was me with The Kite Runner! I read it in high school and I never knew it was contemporary until years later!

[@trayvixk4642]

As a big classics reader, I think about this all the time. It doesn't necessarily have the prizes but some books were so influential and popular they become classics because they impacted books down the line. For sure Gone Girl (influenced so much of the mystery novels we see today), Secret History (already a classic?), and Harry Potter (really set the trend for teen fantasy as a huge genre).

[@CaptainThugRdx]

TSH is on its way to being a classic but idk if it's considered that now.

[@lalalalala198]

I feel like Harry Potter is already like a classic in a way but it wasn’t really the 2000s this is about 2000 books

[@annefloorlanting5147]

​@@CaptainThugRdx my local bookshop has copies of TSH in the 'classics' section, and I've seen it shelved in that section in other bookshops as well, so I geuss its already considered a classic by booksellers..

[@oliviasmith1416]

I'm surprised TSH isn't mentioned here but I'm assuming it's because Jack sees it as a classic already? He included it in one of his ranking classic novels videos. I think its a given that it is or will soon be considered a classic, but idk if its old enough yet, maybe?

[@daisydog]

​@@oliviasmith1416TSH came out in 1992. Jack's list is about books from this century.

[@Ida2170]

every video where jack mentions small things like these, he refers to the protagonist as bob furlong. and under every video i’ve been pointing this out cause his name is actually bill furlong. but at this point it’s the longest running joke on the jack edwards channel that jack himself isn’t even in on 😭😭

[@jack_edwards]

oh.... my god.....

[@jack_edwards]

he's bob to me

[@phirion6341]

Imagine jack Edwards interviewing Cillian Murphy on what it was like to play "Bob" 😭😭

[@Ida2170]

@@jack_edwards BAHAHAHH we will collectively be referring to him as bob (ironically) from now on

[@MayaMickaMicak]

​@@jack_edwards Bob's your uncle

[@helenie09]

Elif Shafak has such a unique ability to utilize a metaphor to its fullest extent. I read The Bastard of Istanbul for my BA thesis and at a certain point I didn’t know what to focus on anymore bc it’s so layered and complex. Her stories guarantee a broken heart with their themes of generational trauma and family, situated in (mostly) Turkish history and politics. She is a force in the Anglophone world in spreading more awareness and knowledge on Turkey and its incredibly complicated history.

[@luciagrillo5480]

You described these books so passionately that I genuinely took notes and noe I want to read them all

[@hollym7878]

100% agree with This Is How You Lose The Time War as a modern sci-fi classic. It pushes the boundaries of the genre while building upon the works that came before it, and it's absolutely going to go down as a classic. If it doesn't, I'm rioting.

[@TheGremlinInTheLibrary]

I absolutely thought "this will be a classic," when I finished it.

[@jennyabrahall6961]

i feel so stupid for hating this when i read it but maybe i’m just not a sci-if girlie

[@mysuitcaselife]

Haven't hated a book more in a long while...🙈🙈🙈

[@ashleyschreiber7115]

I actually read the book thief for english class in middle school! I think it is already considered a modern classic

[@talikup]

Me too! It was summer reading going into freshman year of high school and it utterly wrecked me

[@sugaudacity]

I truly admire and appreciate how eloquently you speak about books… I feel like every sentence you speak is thought provoking and should be quoted

[@wildfern]

Piranesi has my heart 🌊 so happy to see it on this list!

[@asahdo]

Definitely agree with the Book Thief, Normal People, My Dark Vanessa and Hunger Games. Hard disagree on A Little Life, Song of Achilles, and Hamnet for me. Soft disagree on Piranessee.

[@BOOcketMan]

i know LOTS of people hated a little life, and i hate it too, but it holds such an important place in my life. i went thru similar things as a child as jude did and as i was reading a little life i kept getting SO MAD at jude. He had a successful career, people that loved him deeply and showed that love daily, but he couldnt see it! he REFUSED to see it! And that's when I realized, oh. im doing that exact same thing. from then on, i've lived and thrived, not just survived. so that book sits on my shelf to remind me of that powerful moment where i chose to Actively Live. I still glare at it for how it ended, but it means so much more to me than a storyline that ended shittily.

[@tessaisntreading]

I don't like it but I think in the future it will spark so much conversation about the author's responsability when writing about heavy topics and other controveries such as hanya yanagihara herself saying she did no research while writing it, which could lead to discussions such as if she should, as a cis woman, have written it in the first place and if an author has any responsability to the truth in their work

[@sarahclegg7548]

@@tessaisntreading exactly!! its CRAZY to write a book detailing that much CSA and have done no research on it. irresponsible and dangerous.

[@sn0wflake]

This is the only comment I've ever read that made me interested in reading A Little Life. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you!

[@MsInsanityMadness]

I’m glad your experience was positive at the end of it but imagine so many people whose thinking is reinforced or even influenced by this book. That is why I cannot recommend or like this book. I thought long and hard about how A Little Life writes about mental health. Mental health should be talked about but not in this way and she is very misinformed and stubbornly believes herself to be right. It is unfair that someone like that can write a book without much respect to such an important topic and still have it become popular.

[@anaisbentley8826]

I'm glad you were able to take away a positive message from this book- that's a good way to approach it. Personally, I felt that it was very irresponsible and gross of her to write this with no personal experience or research. She has also stated that she feels some people are so damaged they do not have the capacity to be happy and that they should be able to just die, and that therapy doesn't work (bear in mind, she has said she doesnt have any personal experience with mental illness and this type of trauma). You can really feel this perspective coming through in A Little Life, and, as someone who has struggled a lot with mental illness and suicidal ideation, it's very disheartening and I could see this message being very harmful for younger readers. It's okay to write about trauma and mental illness, but at least do your research and think about the message you are conveying with your story. Plus, it just felt like trauma for trauma's sake- seemed like she just wanted to write a story about a person with as much trauma and damage as she can think of, and then the rest of the plot and characters are just there to support the whole trauma thing.

[@susmitaa248]

I would add Life of Pi by Yann Martel. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles also reads like a classic. And let’s not forget The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon!

[@Guus-]

I will start today with The Shadow of the Wind. I am excited to read this book.

[@moon_xwasntavailable]

I did get given Life of Pi as the extract for my English Language mock exam so that’s gotta count for something

[@Korilian13]

I think Shadow of the wind is already a classic, though maybe especially in the Spanish speaking world.

[@christiancandler5988]

I came here to say Life of Pi as well!

[@Emma__O]

Life of Pi isn't a classic? It should be

[@IbizaToniTL]

I’m kind of sad that you didn’t include On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, but ngl your list is packed with absolutely amazing books, so not too sad it wasn’t included

Yes!!!!!

[@ckellyisme]

Before I clicked on this video I said to myself, “remember that video when he forgot On Earth We’re Briefly gorgeous? I bet it’s the first book he grabs”

[@jack_edwards]

i love ocean's writing -- i think one of his novels will become one of my all time favourites, OEWBG just isn't 100% there for me!

[@Christine-jg2ch]

Nah, horrific animal cruelty - I’m sick to death of it in modern books

[@i_wishyou_back]

same!! i was waiting for it

[@juderocco5767]

love this!!! In my opinion i feel like Circe will end up having the most longterm impact between it and soa. Don’t get me wrong i LOVE song of achilles but Circe’s themes and style is far stronger and thought provoking. It also provides a lot of commentary on relevant issues. I feel like Soa will maintain a respected reputation but will age how something like twilight has aged.

[@esmeraldagamgeetook2454]

I haven't read soa so can't compare but I think about Circe every few months after reading it years ago. Super powerful story

[@readinginenglish8868]

I agree with most of your recommendations as a current high school English Teacher. I currently teach The Book Thief in my humanity Unit, but I would like to recommend some changes/additions. Instead of There, There, I would recommend LaRose by Louise Erdrich. It is a better captivating read for students and has beautiful prose. Louise Erdrich is a modern genius, and is Ojibwe herself! I'd also highly suggest you read and add White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi and On Such a Full Sea by Chang-Rae Lee. These two are taught with seniors and college students, and they are life changing! Thank you for all your great recs!

[@lukechurch5842]

I’d add Never Let Me Go. But I think that the popular consensus has long established that it’s a future classic.

[@Greanbean4816]

Remains of the day as well! Ishiguro simply can’t help but release bangers

[@hilary3219]

It honestly has such a similar feel to A Separate Peace so I think it's a easier school classic.

[@sarahmarie3029]

I think Klara and the Sun by Ishiguro is also a potential classic because of its representation of ai and computer interactions. But i was exposed to both in my lit course so i guess they’re already almost there

[@Illyriamars]

Agree on Never Let Me Go!! A perfect high school essay book.

[@akirebara]

Id replace A Little Life with Never Let Me Go in a heartbeat. Also, followed by watching that movie adaptation. Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Domnhall Gleason, Charlotte Rampling, etc. Andrew Garfield screaming his heart out is devastating and will always make me cry.

[@maetamonxg7718]

I'm still surprised by how many people love and uphold The Little Life, I remember loving the book in the first half but it just did not hold up at the end. After two years, I barely remember anything from it apart from key plot twists, and I have absolutely no desire to go back to it. I guess a lot of classics are like that too lol

[@cordeliaistheone]

It definitely reminds me of a lot of "classics" I've had to read that are just offensive and make me angry lol A Little Life is so abelist and homophobic, I recommend Owl Criticism's video on it, Euthenasia Fan Fiction

[@eliascelis1632]

Also like straight up trauma p*rn

[@joemps]

The second half basically became torture porn, took me months to finish it.. I guess writing something that extreme automatically makes a book good to people

[@_kaleido]

What made me dislike the book is that the author 1.) wrote it to “prove” that some people shouldn’t be saved and should just be allowed to die and 2.) despite that incredibly heavy, sensitive subject, is not neurodivergent/has not experienced trauma or depression, and also did little to no research on anything she wrote about in the book… I think people should have the right to do whatever they want with their lives, but she way she tried to spread that message was just so bad

[@abbyburns3127]

@@cordeliaistheone 100% agree regarding the absolute ableism of it all. As a disabled person this book was infuriating and I am so mad that this is the kind of representation we're getting in main stream literature.

[@maya2805]

having read ‘Piranesi’, I absolutely agree that the less you know going in, the better! what I wouldn’t give to read this again for the first time

[@drew1564]

One of the best books I've read in recent years

[@khloelee3505]

it was a literal masterpiece 🩵

[@ianviviTV]

I love ittttt

[@JohnOmarqa]

There's a book called Hidden Time Wealth, and it talks about how using some secret techniques, you can overcome procrastination and accomplish anything in life. It's not just a bunch of empty promises; it's the real deal.

[@annagoosman3705]

i’ve seen like 6 of these comments today. seems sketchy

[@VibinWithBantu]

Checked it out, it is sketchy don't trust this guy

[@scubacat22]

Thank you for championing In Memoriam! I work in a bookstore and can't even convince them to carry it. It's such an amazing, life changing book and yet it's really hard to elevator pitch it to people. I hope more people read it.

[@sahala3788]

i love the way you speak like you term everything so perfectly and in such crisp manner its insane. i mean its not insane because its basically what you do, but i find it incredibly amazing how you word everything out in a way that makes it sound 'oh wow that actually makes perfect sense'. like do you get what im saying, (or maybe its because i've been listening to you talk since forever now)

[@avelleneblah]

I completely understand what you mean! I think after watching Jack's videos and also a few movie youtubers reviewing movies, I'm so amazed by how they're able to describe things so perfectly. I've been trying to write but never find the right words to describe things they way they do - hopefully it'll get better T.T

[@abbiehannah_]

One of my greatest wishes in life is to have a genuine, detailed, conversation with someone about what books we believe will become classics and effect people for decades to come but I can't because no one near where I live likes talking about things like that :(

[@Kat_Treasure]

there will be someone!! you just have to find them

[@COOKING_WITH_FOUZIA]

ikr

[@momoz1]

from my experience ... I think most people are too scared to bring up books of fear sounding stupid when trying to convey their points

[@inhobiswinecellar9571]

@@momoz1apps like fable has a very welcomkng community of book lovers at all stages.

[@rosegardenmadisonsquare]

The Hunger Games is already a classic. I’m 25 and had to read this back in high school as required reading before the first movie even came out!!

[@Theomite]

Did it replace _Animal Farm_ on the curriculum? Because _Animal Farm_ replaced _1984_ on the same list.

[@rosegardenmadisonsquare]

@@Theomite We still read 1984, but didn’t read Animal Farm!

[@Theomite]

@@rosegardenmadisonsquare Oh nice. _1984_ used to be high school reading back in the 80s and 90s but then _AF_ replaced it around '00 and I wondered if people didn't read it anymore. It's terrifyingly more relevant now than it was then.

[@Hungarycloud]

We did Animal Farm for our curriculum in the 2010s!

[@Theomite]

@@Hungarycloud Okay, so if @rosegardenmadisonsquare had to read _THG_ in high school, and it came out in 2008, then _AF_ was in your curriculum in the '10s, then either some districts replaced _AF_ with _THG_ while some kept _AF._ Yours kept _AF_ I guess.

[@danabroqueza6973]

currently reading a little life. I'm glad to see it on your list. I also agree with the song of achilles, this book is my all time fave! also, now I have most of these books on my TBR lol

[@charmeezy76]

This list was so great and diverse! Thank you for at least 6 new recommendations.

[@newyorknerd7472]

Our leader has posted

[@dipsspable]

😅

[@walkerpricereads]

Reading my first classic right now (Frankenstein), and it’s thanks to you that I wanted to expand my reading taste, to things other than YA!! Thank you Jack!

[@suyareads]

Have fun! Frankenstein is my favorite classic, its so layered and deep and makes me think for days and days!

[@jil8091]

Omg I love Frankenstein. I hope you have a lot of fun reading it. This book definitely makes you think and it's beautifully written too!

[@fruiteend]

Not sure if this is how most people read it, but I found Frankenstein... incredibly funny. It's just Victor Frankenstein feeling so incredibly sorry for himself and having to deal with the consequences of his own actions. A true comedy imo

[@meikusje]

​@@fruiteend a lot of 19th century literature is funny like that, it's part of why I love it so. People had BIG emotions and loved to talk about it 😂

[@cathys9470]

​@@fruiteendit definitely is 😅

[@maddiecourtierlewis568]

for me the kite runner and a thousand splendid suns have to be on this list !!

[@TofuDinoNugs]

I said kite runner too mostly because I did read that in high school for AP lit. It was a bit graphic for my taste but already a 21st century classic

[@burnt-croissants]

the kite runner was on my syllabus in high school, so i can totally see it become a modern classic! ngl teared up as i read it.

[@wokeupnew]

i was really hoping a thousand splendid suns would be there. i havent read the kite runner yet but i will

[@naomicarmen2405]

no cause i will stand by the idea that hungergames will be considered one of the best works of dystopian literature ever. (and suzanne collin’s first hints about sunrise on the reaping have me knowing it’s gonna continue the legacy of genius)

[@strawberrysultan]

I think the Kite Runner would be a modern book I can see becoming a classic... that book stuck with me.

[@officialblimp]

great, now i have to add all these books to my already massive tbr list

[@heatherbocks]

Naw, I think A Little Life is going to age terribly. This video seems like my sign to finally pick up This is How You Lose the Time War. I grabbed it at a secondhand store ages ago but am intimidated by it.

[@crystalchampagne]

why do you think that?

[@studywtha.m4012]

@@crystalchampagnecan’t answer for the person who wrote this, but personally I think because once the hype dies down people will realise how bland the writing actually is. I always hear in reviews how moving the relationships are in the story, but every important and great relationship she refers to is only told, not shown in the book. You read about 34 times how close Jude and Willem are and how amazing the friendship was between the 4 of them, but you barely have dialogues or scenes where they act together. I am all in when it comes to talking about childhood abuse and it’s atrocious long lasting effects especially on men, but the taste in your mouth goes bad once you hear the the author admitting to only writing about it to see how much she could shock and "traumatise" her audience, not because she wanted to start a conversation or work through something that was important to her. I once was a huge fan of the book and defender it hard, got super angry when people accused it of being trauma porn, and I still don’t think the text itself should be considered as such, but in combination of what the author said in interviews it just doesn’t age well. In the end she exploited the character of Jude just as much as all the horrendous people in his (fictional) life.

[@kiwii5463]

@@crystalchampagnetheres a really good video by the channel owl criticism about a little life! its super scathing but the video is super good

[@crystalchampagne]

Ah thanks for your replies, I'm not planning to read it but I am really interested in the hype and cultural conversation around the book so it's fun to hear the perspectives. I'm open to hearing more and will check out that video you recommended

[@moonsigil]

Agreed. ALL is an atrocious and irresponsibly written story told by a woman who has not a single bit of concern or care for the material she is handling.

[@colleennewey]

Such a good list!! I’d definitely add kazuo Ishiguro and “never let me go” to this list

[@susanrobertson984]

I always think about the sleeping giant. Such a weird book.

[@annathirlaway1242]

I was thinking this too. I studied never let me go for my GCSEs nearly a decade ago and still think about it ALL the time.

[@albasapri3265]

YES was about to comment that! It's a book that I haven't stopped thinking about personally ever since I read it

[@jolienvandamme2909]

I think because a lot of people consider it a modern classic or at least it is mandatory to read in my English literature master class

[@Theomite]

Good catch.

[@sofialuna1723]

I love when people talk about The song of Aquilles because it's my all time favorite book (that I read based on your recommendation actually) and I'm thinking of reading it again. Thanks for this list! Definitely going to check as much books as I can from it😊

[@jazminesflour]

SO excited to see Piranesi on this list. One of my all time favorite books, I loved experiencing the mystery & the unique imagery. And the only other people I know who have read it are those I have recommended it to 😂

[@Pavedtheway777]

it ends with us was a jumpscare😭

[@lestrange7310]

Timestamp?

[@Pavedtheway777]

​@@lestrange7310 28:08

[@newton4010]

Whats up tho? Is the book... "bad"?

[@Pavedtheway777]

@@newton4010 yup ,it is.

[@jibby1986]

Did Jack turn his home library into a Zoom background? This is the first video where the background looks fake.

[@maypasifiki9360]

I also think it is. Maybe he is out of the country.

[@e1enit4]

it isn’t, look at the reflections in the background @ 32:47

[@jibby1986]

@@e1enit4 good eye!

[@officialblimp]

i don’t think it is because of the light on the bookcase in 32:51

[@carsonknighten6804]

I think he just blurred it more this time

[@angelicaaltaf]

No Khaled Housseini?!?! A thousand Splendid Suns or The Kite Runner? Both books are literally mirrors reflecting the world we are living in today.

[@gigirai1297]

I was just about to type this. Kite runner or thousand splendid suns

[@jolienvandamme2909]

I think it’s because they already are considered modern classics

[@anastasiaarlow6701]

I can't believe it, you read my mind

[@anastasiaarlow6701]

I genuinely cried for 30 minutes after finishing that book....I read it for school....

[@katherinefernandez8358]

I think for schools, out here in New Mexico, The Kite Runner is definitely agreed upon as a classic. A Thousand Splendid Suns though, does deserve to have the acclaim as well. Khaled Housseini is an insanely talented writer

[@mtritt1296]

Thanks!

[@lindat.6743]

You have such great quips about each of the books. So clever, I loved watching this video!

[@Day-dw2cs]

Jack Jack Jack!!! Could you please do a video on a book you would recommend to each country you have read from (if that’s where the author was from or the story based there)? You have such an amazing repertory, I know it would be precious!!

[@avra4u2870]

OMG ....I think he just did that

[@jaki9331]

Thank you for talking about My Dark Vanessa...I've been waiting for more people to talk about how significant and phenomenal that book is and how important such a topic is to discuss! It's defnitely worth rereads.

[@jenniferkate7167]

I've only read 6 of them but so many of these are on my TBR! Loved the concept of this video. So fascinating and fun to think about which modern books will stand the test of time.

[@carolcvargas1]

i LOVE your description of normal people, thats exactly why i loved it so much! the author just sits with the characters and doesn't try to put in the balance if they're good or bad

[@shnugglebugs5524]

Omg I’ve only ever read A little Life and ofc hunger games. After reading a little life I found it was really hard to continue reading other books because it just affected me so much and I didn’t want to read anything else. You sell these ones very well though so I’m excited to start reading again, and I will be making a list from this video🙏❤️

[@platonsergiu9454]

I remember reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina some years back, and I was taken aback by how beautifully crafted it was. A novel about people, their relations, emotions and desire. Imust say I never read something remotelly similar until I read Sally Rooney's books. She's the closest thing to literary art that I ever read, after Tolstoy.

[@ВалерияСухина-ч7э]

Thanks for recommending. Try to read War and Peace. It's quite long but absolutely worth your time.

[@Theomite]

That's a bold statement.

[@annestjohn4017]

I totally agree. Our book club read conversation with friends soon after it came out and when sally rooney became mainstream we heard lots about fresh new voice etc whereas for me her voice felt reassuringly familiar.

[@oay2201]

Thank you so much Jack for the wonderful video. It's really an interesting topic. I suggest also adding Ian McEwan's "Atonement" and George Saunder's "Lincoln in the Bardo" to the list of future classics.

[@kirstyfairly4371]

So happy to see someone mention Atonement. It's one of my favourite books, & that ending is still one of the most heartbreaking endings I've ever read. The movie adaptation of Atonement is incredible as well.

[@oay2201]

​@@kirstyfairly4371I totally agree; it's truly a wonderful book👍

[@alli_in_wonderland]

I have never clicked on a video notification faster lol

[@t0dd000]

What will still be taught in a hundred years? _Kite Runner,_ half of the works of Cormac McCarthy and Toni Morrison. Probably all of their works. More recent, Claire Keegan's works for sure. They are almost ideal for even grade school levels. Hmm. Who else. Everyone else is less obvious. I would agree maybe with _The Book Thief._ As for more juvenile fiction, yeah, maybe _The Hunger Games_ What else. _James_ if nothing else because it is juxtapositioned with _Huckleberry Finn._ The best book I read in the last couple of years may make the list ... _Prophet Song._ if we all lived for a hundred years further, I think we'd be shocked at what is forgotten. My big hope: that students return to reading books. Today, we are headed towards reduced reading of literature. At least in the US. And that's really sad.

[@ligiaabm]

Excited to read some of these! ✨ My list would definitely include Olga Tokarczuk! And Latin American writers!!! I understand the language barrier and bias but tbh I was a little surprised that not a single one appeared on the list - so many potential classics!!!

[@joakimanshelm]

I actually read The Book Thief for the first time in 10th grade for my english class and I'm so happy my teacher made us read and write about it because it's stuck with me ever since. To this day it's one of my favorite books, and I think it definitely deserves classic status in the future.

[@pnkfaith]

My heart dropped when you pulled up It Ends With Us.

[@edasavaseri4406]

Piranesi really lives with you forever. I also highly recommend Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell to anyone who enjoys some magic and great literature and historical retelling and there is even a British tv series made from it which is also great.

[@JS-mz5zu]

thank you, great list, great recommendations!❤ I would add Han Kang's Human Acts, Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner and Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch

[@jillneil7190]

I am making a reading challenge with these books next year! Read a handful already, thank you for this!

[@briemartin01]

I’ve had My Dark Vanessa sitting on my shelf for months and this video has finally convinced me to start it. Going to read it on my flight to Florida 🫡

[@CL-jw4ei]

It’s amazing but be careful, you might start crying on that plane!

[@lapvona]

i was the same, it sat on my shelf for ages but my god was i in love when i finally decided to read it

[@Dovewhite60]

It’s wonderful, and I went to a boarding school where this happened

[@officialblimp]

i’ve been binge watching your content like crazy and i’ve been craving more so this was posted at just the right time!!

[@fridaterrazas96]

Omg I never knew how much I needed this video until I saw it

[@bradyparkin25]

This is the video I’ve been looking for!! Many years I have pondered what a modern classic is, and this explains it and gives great examples. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Finally!!!

[@cherrybirde]

The way I was waiting the whole time for you to mention Piranesi and really thought it wasn't going to make the list. I've told everyone I know to read it after reading it because of your recommendation.

[@loukamorel63]

I definitely agree with some of these, especially Hamnet and Piranesi. I actually bought Piranesi after hearing you recommend it and then I read it and wrote an essay about it for my English Literature class at university.

[@doughamilton9459]

i loved every book on your list that i've read, so i'm immediately purchasing (second hand) the ones i haven't read!

[@sophiaisabelle027]

We appreciate how well you've articulated your insights. Keep doing your best.

[@sophie__bou1256]

Piranessi was my first thought for this list! Such a great book 🤩

[@MaelDaniels]

A book you didn't include, but i think should be, is Code Name Verity. It's a wonderful historical fiction novel about a British spy caught by Germans during WWII, and her pilot. It's told in 2 parts, the confession of the spy, followed by the accounts of the pilot. The story is a masterclass in teaching about unreliable narrators, the constraints of writing to your audience, and the bonds of war. I think it has a solid chance of being viewed as a classic of this generation.

[@dianeyoung2666]

Great list! I would like to add Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to this list. You could also make the case for Purple Hibiscus, but I think Americanah is so relevant to current discourse around racial equality, that it will stand the test of time and will be seen as a book that represents the racial tensions of our time. Also it is just a great book.

[@phoebeel]

I am ACHING for her to release another book

[@cowgurlche]

I saw your title and immediately thought of Normal People! It genuinely changed the course of my life

[@gracerose3189]

My nomination for this list is the perks of being a wallflower. i would die for that book its so good.

[@frozendonut722]

I thought it was already considered a modern classic. But either way, I agree, it deserves to be on there

[@JosephManning-xz6lx]

I think cause it came out in 1999 so it wasn't eligible (he said it related to the NYT best books of this century)

[@luisabolado]

YES. it has had SUCH an impact, i wouldnt be able to imagine my life without it

[@anneschlter1337]

watching your videos is so dangerous... by tbr just grows and grows still love them

[@caityc7033]

Outline is such an incredible novel and I feel it has been deeply underrated and dismissed. It was wonderful to hear you include it on your list, thank you!

[@allyjean7020]

A little life kinda sucked for me. Not a great book and did not hit me like everyone else. Felt shallow and unrealistic.

[@Apfelkirsc]

I actually liked the book because I found it shockingly realistic. I worked on a psych ward for severely traumatised patients for a while and reading the book felt like talking to these patients and even worse, like what I imagine it feels to be them. It was heartbreaking but from my perspective unfortunately definitely realistic.

[@itss.mfkntori]

@@Apfelkirsc this was probably not an accurate representation of how your patients felt as the author admitted to doing no research into the topics she was writing about

[@allyjean7020]

@@Apfelkirsc I think that’s some peoples gripes with the book. It feels real to those who’ve see it from the outside, but not necessarily accurate to what it feels like on the inside.

[@tyedyepie]

i reread the hunger games series once a year and plan to do so for the foreseeable future. your description of the plot gave me full body chills just thinking about how compelling of a story it is. imo it already is a classic, it changed the way i think when i read it for the first time in junior high (secondary school)

[@ilse1]

I recently reread Song of Achilles and i sobbed just as hard as the first time. I knew EXACTLY what was going to happen, but it's so masterfully written it just completely grips you

[@Theomite]

The Folio Society has a really nice hardcover edition on their website. It's pricey, but if you like it enough and if it goes on sale...

[@ilse1]

@@Theomite omg thank you for telling me!! Absolutely a book i'd get a really nice edition of 🫶

[@Wonderish]

This is such a great list. Helped me bump some titles up on my tbr. Homegoing would be my addition.

[@nosfreaktu4703]

16:10 If you love this PLEASE read the marriage portrait! It’s based on Brownings “My Last Duchess” and re-imagines the Duchess’ life from her childhood to her death by her husbands hand- with a brilliant plot twist. It’s sooo beautifully written and I love O’Farrells characterisations of not only the Duchess but also the Duke. I ALWAYS hear ppl talk abt Hamnet and it’s great too but this book is just 😫😫 unforgettable

[@fulya6679]

I'm Turkish and I dont think anybody in Turkiye is this passionate about Elif Şafak books so it was interesting to see her name in this list. I'm curious about what you would think about her other books.

[@Marie-oh8es]

Love the video! Just a suggestion: maybe you could turn the volume of the background music down a bit. I love the music itself bc I associate it with your channel so much, but especially when you talk about very serious books I find it a bit unfitting. Maybe if it was a bit quieter it would blend better with what you´re talking about :)

[@kristinawitt376]

I thought the same thing!

[@DhOptional]

You have the best ideas for book vids

[@aporajitabangali3827]

5:49 “News flash buddy: that’s the future” is now my favourite statement

[@needinthemorning1541]

jack always has so much to say about a little life and i love it.

[@marta3215]

I don't wanna seem like I'm just hating on the book cause I didn't enjoy it as much as I would've liked to, but I don't think The Song of Achilles can turn into a classic. The reason has nothing to do with whether it's famous/well written/enjoyable, it's because if you think of some students studying greek mythology in the next 100 years, I don't think the first thing to come to mind is reading a book written in the 2000's, but the original texts and myths from classic authors. I just think that's a more "typical" way of teaching or remembering mythology and it's a bit crazy to say a book written today is a great representation of it.

[@lthecatt9667]

Ha, not me waiting to see whether White Teeth was on the list. This novel is SO good, and is so telling of the time. To me, it functions as a bridge between the hope of the 90s and the fear that to me symbolises the 21st century thus far

[@divaldoenzo4742]

Nobody falls in love with the characters in a Little Life.. sometimes I think you read a different book, cause ain’t no way.

[@zacharyhenderson2902]

Jack, you have a special way of making me fall in love every time one of your videos pops in my feed.

[@zacharyhenderson2902]

*with the books _awkward cough_

[@myrrhee8831]

I read the book thief as an assignment in my English class and it was BY FAR my favorite book we read. So good