The Jason Salas Experience

I've often wondered what the great literary works have been, are, or will be during my lifetime. The last great book I can think of is likely Catcher in the Rye, but that's before my time. Even more so for Jane Austen. So what will our contribution be to the great symphony of life? Where's the Shakespeare for Gen X?

Is there anything that even remotely qualifies as a great accomplishment of literature, or has society degraded so much that we've got to consider the following titles from recent history, which are known more for attaining pop culture notoriety than for having a profound impact?

- Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
- Chicken Soup for the Soul (and its derivatives)
- The Satanic Verses
- The DaVinci Code
- Dianetics
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Almost everyone my age (33) has read Pet Sematary, and it wasn't required reading at any school I know of. Most frightening thing I've ever read. I was a member of the Stephen King Book Club, so I've got all his works on hardcover.

Anyone got any ideas? 'Cause I sure don't.