How do you feel about reading YA, as an adult?

[ZoeRat]

I realised something last night ... over-all, I don't feel that embaressed by being open about reading YA. But why? Probably 'cos I was at University when I first got into the Potter series (most of my mates were on at me to read it...) Expectations of 'acceptable' behaviour at Uni aren't so ...short-sighted and constricted. I felt free to be myself. ANd of course, by the time I left Uni, the Potter series had become a phenonenomenumum ...
Like kyektulu said, the amount of adults I've seen reading Potter on the way to work is more than enough to make me feel okay about reading books aimed at younger readers. And it was 'adults' who first got me into the Potter books. If it were my kid sisters who got me interested I reckon I'd be far more embaressed. But as it goes, my sisters aren't even that bothered by the phenonenomenumum ...it seems that YA books, or at least the Potter series are more readily accepted among adults. You tend to it see on fan-sites ~ younger fans prefer the films, older fans prefer the books ...

I feel the same way, I got into the HP series in high school, and all my friens were into it too, so I didn't feel weird. Then I went off to college, and even more people love Harry Potter in the 20-25 age range than when I was in high school! A lot of my friends parents avidly read the series as well, so it's really cool that some books like that can bridge the age gap and attract all readers. I read a lot of other YA books too, but I don't feel weird about it, because I am, after all, an English major (creative writing to be specific) at the university here in CO.

 

[BookStop]

You know, I even read kids(the under 12) books for fun sometimes. The books that make the Newberry list are usually really, really good and you can read 'em in an hour or 2. Recently I've read, and passed on to adult friends: Holes, The Giver(sci-fi), A View from Saturday, Bridge to Terabithia ....

When a book is very, very good, it should be read. Doesn't matter what age you are. Good is good.

 

[edott]

as i have small kids i spend a lot of time in the Children's section and the YA section. also one of the better books i have read recently was the giver which is YA. and you know what i still like dr seus.

 

[star_song]

I know exactly how you feel! and im only 19! i cant get away from the YA section its just wats interesting to me. I recently went to my local library and looked with longing at the "teen" summer reading program, then, the man behind the desk asked if i was still in high school, when i solemnl replied "no" he mentioned the adult one which doesnt look appealing at all. thats when i started being self conscious for what i read (it doesnt matter though i will never stop reading YA). Its funny though but I really still am a "teen" i mean technically. :'(

 

[carrie221]

Well at 22 years old I have to unfortuantly admit that I am classified as an adult now.

I do feel uncomfortable looking in the children's section or the young adult section for books like Harry Potter and others. Not that it stops me, as I was there at midnight for the last two Harry Potter books with all the little kids.

But like yesterday when I was at a bookstore I did get a few looks when I stopped to read a children's book. It was one of the Harry Potter fan books.
My mother and some of my friends have teased me about reading kid's books but they are still some of my favorites like a wrinkle in time or the lion, the witch and the woredrobe. I started reading young adult books when I was eight and they are still a ton that interest me so I don't see myself stopping anytime soon.

 

[Patrick Mahon]

Well at 22 years old I have to unfortuantly admit that I am classified as an adult now.

I do feel uncomfortable looking in the children's section or the young adult section for books like Harry Potter and others.

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I'm 37, and I do have the excuse, I guess, that I've got two kids to buy books for. But so what. I read adult books, I read YA books. I read "literary fiction", and I read fantasy. They're different, and that's one of the many joys of reading.

If you get funny looks from other people, I'd take that as a good sign, personally. After all, who wants to be part of the crowd?

 

[carrie221]

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I'm 37, and I do have the excuse, I guess, that I've got two kids to buy books for. But so what. I read adult books, I read YA books. I read "literary fiction", and I read fantasy. They're different, and that's one of the many joys of reading.

If you get funny looks from other people, I'd take that as a good sign, personally. After all, who wants to be part of the crowd?

That is why I need to have kids, then I will have an excuse to be in the kids department of the bookstore.

I don't want to be part of the crowd they are to freaky for me. The crowd doesn't like to read a lot of the time. I just don't understand that.

 

[Alia]

That is why I need to have kids, then I will have an excuse to be in the kids department of the bookstore.

I don't want to be part of the crowd they are to freaky for me. The crowd doesn't like to read a lot of the time. I just don't understand that.

I have a kid I'll spare you so you can visit the kid's section...


And I have to admit I use my kids as an excuse to visit the kid's section of the library and book store.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

You can always smile sweetly if strangers are staring and say something like, "I'm looking for a birthday present for my little brother." That is, if it actually bothers you that they know you are looking for books for yourself.

Although frankly, if the only time that people give you odd looks is when you're searching the YA book shelves, you're a lot less eccentric than some of the rest of us here.

 

[GOLLUM]

I've been trying to generate some discussion of Blaylock around here for ages -- but as fine a forum as this is, and as highly as I esteem the members, there don't seem to be enough of them who even know who James P. Blaylock is. Strange as that may sound, since (as I am sure you know) he is not a minor author.

Now, now some of us do at least know.... How could one forget the wonderful William Ashbless inpsired by dual collaborators Powers and Blaylock, esepcially in that Powers classic Anubis Gates...

 

[carrie221]

I have a kid I'll spare you so you can visit the kid's section...


And I have to admit I use my kids as an excuse to visit the kid's section of the library and book store.

I may just have to take you up on that offer to borrow a kid, especially when the next Harry Potter movie or book comes out.

You can always smile sweetly if strangers are staring and say something like, "I'm looking for a birthday present for my little brother." That is, if it actually bothers you that they know you are looking for books for yourself.

Although frankly, if the only time that people give you odd looks is when you're searching the YA book shelves, you're a lot less eccentric than some of the rest of us here.

It doesn't bother me that much. I try and hide at least some of my eccentricness as my mother really doesn't like it but it is partically her fault she married a man who is into SF which is how I got into it.

 

[littlemissattitude]

I'm in my mid 30's, but don't have any kids to use an excuse.

One question...how would anyone else know that you don't have kids?

But, no, it doesn't bother me to read YA books, or to browse for them in the YA section of the bookstore. I'll read anything that is well-written, and I don't feel any need to apologize for it.

 

[star.torturer]

same her litlemis, good hypothesys, i read cause i want to, thats the greatest freadom we have, over freedom itsself and obviously life. books are great things even if they are for younger readers, who cares, why are you ashamed of reading books for a younger audience, some are better than others.

 

[Nesacat]

I've recently found myself heading first to the young adults section and the children's section of bookstores. I think it's because there's so much being written in these sections now and I find myself picking up more and more of them. And they put out the most gorgeous, painstakingly illustrated books for children. They really are amazing works of art and I've a whole cupboard of them which I have no problem telling visitors are mine.

Admittedly I do get funny looks from people sometimes but I've got used to it and it does not bother me anymore. I've been asked a few times about who I'm buying the books for and I just tell them the books are for me.

I'd really not wish to have missed out on all those wonderful books. Can't imagine my world with a bear eating marmalade sandwiches and an elephant with a little gold crown and a suit and a bouncing Tigger and daemons.

 

[star.torturer]

maybe the best fiction is childrens because children ahv more vivid imaginations, so they will apreciate it more (if they can apreciate it)

 

[carrie221]

maybe the best fiction is childrens because children ahv more vivid imaginations, so they will apreciate it more (if they can apreciate it)

Even if the children don't appricate it the adults that read the books do... if writers of adult books would understand that not everyone loses their imagination when they hit adulthood then it would be better

 

[the smiling weirwood]

It's not so much their imagination they lose, but their willingness to experience new things. I've noticed that children are far more open-minded than adults.(unless they've been brain-washed to be just like their parents, which is unfortunate but happens)

 

[GOLLUM]

Admittedly I do get funny looks from people sometimes but I've got used to it and it does not bother me anymore. I've been asked a few times about who I'm buying the books for and I just tell them the books are for me.

Huh? You getting funny looks dear, well I never!...

Actually I agree, there's some really excellent stuff out there supposedly targeted towards the so-called YA market but that can be enjoyed by YA and adult alike. It's always struck me as a nonsense people refusing to read YA material purely on the basis it's supposedly written for or should only be consumed by younger people.

 

[Nesacat]

Huh? You getting funny looks dear, well I never!...

And this from the keeper of the basement who consumes books. I really don't understand this refusal to read a whole category of books simply because they are supposedly written for a younger audience. What do you suppose is going to happen if you do read it? A book is a book is a book and if it spins a good tale then anyone should feel free to read it and not have a go at others for doing so.

 

[Joel007]

Children are more demanding and therefore get the best fiction