Old authors vs New Authors

[Trina Higgs]

With the changing of the times and how we, as a society, view the world around us, what do you think are the bigger differences of old authors compared to new authors? The range is up to you but I am curious on what all of you think. What are some things you like better about the old and the new authors? How about the things you don't particularly care for in the different generations of authors?

[Angela Stripes]

I think the swing for me is world view. Modern literature (interpretive fiction) is honestly the last thing I would pick up to read. Even anything written in the past 150 years or so. Escapist fiction (Hunger Games, Warriors, The Squire's Tales) is my go to for enjoying a read.

Times change culture, and yes world view, but ultimately the human heart is the same. From the first moment in time, through the Roman Empire, French Revolution, and to today all people still desire love and respect. So world view can really only change so much--even though we may call similar views by different names in separate periods of time.

What the majority of culture values may shift and swing, but there are always minorities, and eventually those minorities grow and shift the balance. Soon, there are new minorities, and they'll have their day, too.

It's how these ideas and desires are expressed that's changing. Honestly, sometimes the modern vernacular is disappointing. Don't get me wrong I love a good funny easy read, but when Tolkien, Lewis, or Austen weaves a sentence with high-level words with a dash of eloquence... there's just nothing like it.

[AliceofX]

The only real difference that I've noticed in my life is that when I'm feeling down I tend to gravitate towards 19th century literature and older books in general. It's a bit hard to explain, but there's just something gentler about the language and style of writing. They don't pull on my nerves as much as more modern literature does.

[ebethina]

One thing I notice about the old authors verses new authors are the updates in technology in the books and other fun things that were not known in the past. Sometimes I like to read books from the old authors from something different. You might learn something you would not have known before.

[KlareAllison]

When I want a little bit of the historical, I search for old authors because their writings often detail happenings of their times. On the other hand, when I want a feel of the modern/present time, I look to new authors. It's a question of my reading preference and mood at any point in time. However, generally, I love well-written books no matter the categorization of the author.

[bakimono13]

Old vs New authors? Hmm sounds interesting anyways, old authors are great since they have lot experience in writing and in views of life that also used in their writing skills. The creativity and imagination of old authors are beyond compare to new authors. Anyway we do not have always the same perception but it is what I saw. But what the good thing about new authors is that they were the one who can make new generation readers relate to what is currently making New generation readers to interested.

[Gifty Naa Akushia]

Old vs new author, such a great topic to contemplate upon. I think author's of old did humanity a great service with their almost flawless write ups as well fine language and good vocabulary.

[deana73]

When I started reading books for about 10-15 years I only read old authors. I never read anything contemporary. Now I am on the new author kick. The old authors definitely gave you enough. Those novels would be twice the length of these new ones. I like that part. I guess I'm undecided.

[Trina Higgs]

Old vs new author, such a great topic to contemplate upon. I think author's of old did humanity a great service with their almost flawless write ups as well fine language and good vocabulary.

Hi Gifty Naa Akushia,
Thank you for thinking and adding upon this topic. I didn't see anything like this on here and it was something I am interested in. The great thing about this topic is that there are no wrong answer. Old, new, even in-between, it's all good. The old brought us what we have today and the new just keeps adding and growing. The thing I like most about both is that you get to see and experience the world and life that the authors had in their times. What was going on around them, their dreams, hopes and imaginations; it's truly my favorite thing.

-- 03 Oct 2017, 21:30 --

When I started reading books for about 10-15 years I only read old authors. I never read anything contemporary. Now I am on the new author kick. The old authors definitely gave you enough. Those novels would be twice the length of these new ones. I like that part. I guess I'm undecided.

Hello deana73,
I am undecided as well. The old authors way of writing is something that I feel is a lost art but I love the flare the new authors have. Yep...undecided is the right way of putting it.

[Cindy864]

There is an observable evolution of authors and their writing style, its difficult for me to pin point.

[Star88]

I have seen a change in the values portrayed by authors of different time periods. Sometimes, older books seem to have more conservative language.

[aby johnson]

When we say old i take all the classics and even though i have read only a few, what i understood is that they lay the founding stones of certain genres. And they did a good job. And the new authors take a new division and make extra awesome stories on top of it.