Opening salvo

Five years ago I realized there were a lot of so-called great books that I hadn't read. Some call these "classic" books, and there are several definitions of what makes a classic. To some, classics are books that have stood the test of time, that people still talk about (although most often in school).

As I've read some of these books, I've decided that for me, a classic is a book that changes the way I think. Although sometimes difficult to read or get into, these books change the way I think, or at least have made me go "hmmm" at one point or another. Recently, I've decided another definition of a classic is a book that people only talk about, that think they know what it's about, but really don't since they've never actually read it.