Explore every episode of the podcast Is This Book a Classic?

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.

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Music: Isla Cummings

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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. 

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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. 

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All links can be found on our Instagram: @isthisbookaclassicpodcast

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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: @isthisbookaclassicpodcast

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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.

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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.

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“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?”

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