The Hot 100 ( books )

The Providence Journal editorial this Sunday morning ( August 2 )

    " Brewing up book battles " made me recall an old " Freshmen English "

    essay : " What is a classic ? " . I can look up the author ,if anyone

    is interested.

           The essay made the excellent point that what makes any book

    a CLASSIC is not its fleeting popularity - its BEST SELLER qualities -

    but the love of a passionate minority. The CLASSIC has succeeded in

    profoundly touching a PASSIONATE MINORITY in every generation. They

    keep it ALIVE with their enthusiasm . Recall Tinkerbell in " Peter Pan " ?

         When people stop believing in his delightful LIGHT, he fades

    and dies.

           I could compose my own list of Hot 100. Sometimes the

    passionate  minority numbers only ONE .