: Webster's Dictionary defines literature as:

: writings in prose or verse; especially : writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest

: What does or does not constitute excellence of form is a matter of opinion. For myself, I have read many of the 'classics', and yet I consider all but a few of them to be absolute crap. Dickens in particular makes me cringe, as does Dostoyevsky. I would rather read the driest commentary by Tolkien than the greatest works of either of these authors.

I've had similar feelings toward other "classic" authors. When I began to major in English I thought it would be a breeze since I loved to read. I now understand why these books were often read at bedtime as they have the curious effect of putting me to sleep no matter when I read them. But I want to be careful not to lump all the classics into the boring category. That's certainly not true. But it really depends on the tastes of the reader. I don't have a big problem with Dickens, but I'm unable to get past the first few chapters of Moby Dick.