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Newsweek releases '50 books for our time' list
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Newsweek released a new book list, but it is not like others. This is not just one more list that reminds readers of t
he greatest classics, and makes the reader feels inadequate. Instead, this list focuses on books that need to be read today, because they are relevant to readers today. The books listed come from a wide variety of genres and were published in different periods. However, what they share is that they address concerns of the contemporary reader. Some examples from the list are The Looming Tower, about 9/11; Random Family, which explores urban poverty; and Persepolis, the graphic novel about life in pre-revolutionary Iran. The list also includes a solid collection of fiction, from Faulkner's The Bear to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and even features some YA books like The Dark is Rising series.
Perhaps the most significant inclusion on the list is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The novel, published in 1818, is taught in schools around the United States. In fact, it tops the list of works included in school curriculums. Shelley's novel is often considered, at first glance, a "monster story" or a horror novel, but the work goes much deeper. A tale of obsession, of science and technology getting out of control of the creator, and of injustice, Shelley's classic is a mix of philosophy and warning. As we move further into the 21st century, Frankenstein becomes more and more relevant. This is rarely the case for classic fiction. Subtitled "The Modern Prometheus," Frankenstein shows us a world in which human arrogance as it relates to science can destroy that which makes us most human.
Although readers are likely seeking escapism as they head into the 4th of July weekend, the Newsweek list serves as a good reading guide for the future. Readers deserve more lists like this.
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