Ever wondered what makes a book a classic? Find out here.
CBC Books senior producer Ryan B. Patrick shared his thoughts on classic novels, emphasizing their ability to reveal universal truths such as love versus loss, identity, power struggles, and good versus evil.
According to Patrick, classic novels offer layers of meaning that evolve with each reading, resonating differently as life experiences change.
Ryan B. Patrick highlighted three modern classics by Black Canadian authors: Dionne Brand’s What We All Long For, André Alexis’s Fifteen Dogs, and Ian Williams’s You’ve Changed.
Redefining Canadian literature
Patrick praised Dionne Brand’s What We All Long For for its realistic portrayal of second-generation Canadians navigating life in Toronto, offering a fresh perspective on Canadian literature by focusing on urban and Black diasporic experiences.
Dionne Brand, a highly acclaimed queer Black writer, has received numerous awards for her contributions to literature, including the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Blue Metropolis Violet Literary Prize.
A compelling philosophical exploration
Patrick recommended André Alexis’s Fifteen Dogs, a captivating exploration of consciousness and identity when 15 dogs are granted human intelligence by Greek gods, leading to unexpected consequences.
The book’s accessibility and profound philosophical themes make it a standout in Canadian literature, showcasing Alexis’s talent for blending complex ideas into engaging narratives.
An innovative take on relationships and race
Patrick also highlighted Ian Williams’s You’ve Changed, which delves into the complexities of marriage and race, offering a nuanced exploration of evolving relationships and personal growth.
Williams’s innovative use of form and structure, including redacted text to signify intimacy, adds depth to the narrative, showcasing his mastery as a writer.
Ian Williams, an English professor at the University of Toronto, has received critical acclaim for his works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with his debut novel, Reproduction, winning the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Quotations have been edited for length and clarity.