There is something cliquish about those who only read literary fiction or who like to proclaim that it's the only fiction worth reading, and this desire to be part of the "in" group and look down on everyone else always strikes me as adolescent.
The Shaming of Adults who are YA Readers/Fans
- Thread starter The Bluestocking
- Start date
J Riff
The Ants are my friends..
I like OI too, Mouse. It's the category of the future - Old Idiots. * )
This article is... wow. I'm sort of laughing and crying at the same time. Which is an accomplishment of sorts...
YA and Middle Grade stories have a unique feeling that is extremely rare in "adult" stories, which too often are filled with conniving or cynical "players" moving through a world which is a thin analog of American middle-management. Nor are they more unrealistic than your average romance novel or spy thriller.
In short, I've read enough adult fiction to be comfortable being seen in public with *almost* any book. And besides, adults aren't supposed to be learning from reading anyway... we're supposed to be out living it.
YA and Middle Grade stories have a unique feeling that is extremely rare in "adult" stories, which too often are filled with conniving or cynical "players" moving through a world which is a thin analog of American middle-management. Nor are they more unrealistic than your average romance novel or spy thriller.
In short, I've read enough adult fiction to be comfortable being seen in public with *almost* any book. And besides, adults aren't supposed to be learning from reading anyway... we're supposed to be out living it.
Karn Maeshalanadae
I'm a pineapple
Hahaha. Living it?
*Shakes head* I only wish more adults would learn from reading. Or learn in general. And read in general.
It's just scary how...I shouldn't finish this sentence.
*Shakes head* I only wish more adults would learn from reading. Or learn in general. And read in general.
It's just scary how...I shouldn't finish this sentence.
SloppyJoe
Very Relaxed
If you are a parent I think it important to read what your children are reading either before or while they are reading. If you happen to enjoy it at the same time, that is a bonus. If you disagree, give your tween or teenager Forever, a book by an well published YA author, and see how that works out for you.
AnyaKimlin
Confuddled
I read Forever when I was about ten or eleven. My Mum kept lines of communication open so it wasn't a problem. I certainly wouldn't be uncomfortable with my eleven year old reading it. I'd read my first bodice ripper about six months before... "Her Royal Destiny" about Katharine Parr. Fantastic book with what would now be three rather tame sex scenes. I was consuming two or three books a day at that point so there was no way Mum could have kept up and Dad is more a Wilbur Smith man.
I don't consciously set out to read a particular genre (I just read what takes my fancy at the time) but I did read Robert Silverberg's Across A Billion Years a few years ago and this, apparently, is YA. Well, if that's the case, I was quite impressed (despite it being a bit dated) and enjoyed it thoroughly. Perhaps people should worry less about what genre they're reading and just simply enjoy the story.
Yes, I tried to read what my children were reading -- not because I had any idea of censoring it, but so that if certain subjects came up we could also discuss them. As it happened, just about everything they read was too mild to worry about.
Meanwhile, since I'll read YA as readily as anything, and I read a lot faster than they do, I read a lot more of it than the four of them combined.
Meanwhile, since I'll read YA as readily as anything, and I read a lot faster than they do, I read a lot more of it than the four of them combined.
AGraceMartin
AGraceMartin
As a teacher, it is imperative for me to reader YA literature to keep up with the times of what my students are reading.
Even if I were not a teacher, YA Lit is suitable for all ages! Just because we grew into adults doesn't mean that we should be reading scholarly articles all of the time. We grow old when we STOP feeling youthful. YA lit helps us to keep our imaginations and creativity strong. Without creative adults, we don't have creative solutions for the problem-solving in the workforce.
Even if I were not a teacher, YA Lit is suitable for all ages! Just because we grew into adults doesn't mean that we should be reading scholarly articles all of the time. We grow old when we STOP feeling youthful. YA lit helps us to keep our imaginations and creativity strong. Without creative adults, we don't have creative solutions for the problem-solving in the workforce.
clovis-man
Prehistoric Irish Cynic
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- 2,415
When I was a young lad (age about 10 thru 13), I read some of the Winston SF novels for young readers. My basic memory of them at this point, 60 some years later, is that I very much enjoyed them. Specific details have been lacking in my brain.
Recently I was able to pick up a few of them (for nostalgia's sake) and decided to read some. The third one in my perusal was Five Against Venus by Philip Latham. Mind you, a book written in 1952 for youngsters is not going to be cutting edge. Not to mention the predictable technical errors due to the passage of time and our current knowledge about the second planet. The description of the Venusian environment might as well have been about Kansas. But, of course Burroughs and Barsoom don't exactly ring true either. Moreover, the post-war social mores exhibited have to be taken with a large grain of salt.
All of this considered, the story of a "modern day" Swiss Family Robinson on an unfamiliar planet with unknown dangers, challenges and adventures was entertaining to me even now in my dottage. The kicker is that, about half way through the book, I realized I had read it before -- when I was 12. The scene in which our young hero's father is cured of a wound infection by a mysterious "super penicillin" mold jumped right out at me as part of my not so porous distant memory. Although most of the rest of the story seemed new to me, this one aspect stood out in bold. Antibiotics derived from mold: a fascinating concept for a pre-teen and one which obviously imprinted itself on my subconscious.
So if the rest of all that I read back then was just entertainment, I have to still credit those mid-century YA authors with the ability to put something of lasting value in a young brain that has been somewhat preserved to this day. I feel that much of that is still true of current authors in the sub-genre. And hey, I enjoyed it even in this century.
Hope I'm marginally on topic.
Recently I was able to pick up a few of them (for nostalgia's sake) and decided to read some. The third one in my perusal was Five Against Venus by Philip Latham. Mind you, a book written in 1952 for youngsters is not going to be cutting edge. Not to mention the predictable technical errors due to the passage of time and our current knowledge about the second planet. The description of the Venusian environment might as well have been about Kansas. But, of course Burroughs and Barsoom don't exactly ring true either. Moreover, the post-war social mores exhibited have to be taken with a large grain of salt.
All of this considered, the story of a "modern day" Swiss Family Robinson on an unfamiliar planet with unknown dangers, challenges and adventures was entertaining to me even now in my dottage. The kicker is that, about half way through the book, I realized I had read it before -- when I was 12. The scene in which our young hero's father is cured of a wound infection by a mysterious "super penicillin" mold jumped right out at me as part of my not so porous distant memory. Although most of the rest of the story seemed new to me, this one aspect stood out in bold. Antibiotics derived from mold: a fascinating concept for a pre-teen and one which obviously imprinted itself on my subconscious.
So if the rest of all that I read back then was just entertainment, I have to still credit those mid-century YA authors with the ability to put something of lasting value in a young brain that has been somewhat preserved to this day. I feel that much of that is still true of current authors in the sub-genre. And hey, I enjoyed it even in this century.
Hope I'm marginally on topic.
clovis-man
Prehistoric Irish Cynic
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2007
- Messages
- 2,415
That does it. I'm going to officially enroll in "Thread-Killers Anonymous".
The Bluestocking
Bloody Mary in Blue
I'm trying not to laugh here but failing miserably.
Perhaps you should start a thread called "Thread-Killers Anonymous"?
The Neon Seal
Well-Known Member
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- May 19, 2015
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- 52
Hiya everybody! I'm new to this forum -first post!- and this is the first discussion I shall wade into. I have read many 'Adult' novels over the years, and the odd YA novel/series. I am currently enjoying the Throne of Glass series very much, and while perusing my local Waterstones a few weeks back -looking for Redwall novels- I was struck by a revelation... YA books seem way more interesting than Adult novels. They just seem more inventive, imaginative, and adventurous. This encapsulates what I look for in a book -hence my love of Arther C. Clarke- and why should I be ashamed of feeling that way? Not to mention reading of that age range because of that reason?
I believe those who think the contrary should feel ashamed for being so close-minded.
I believe those who think the contrary should feel ashamed for being so close-minded.
Hi, @The Neon Seal ! I'm glad to hear the Throne of Glass series is good -- I have the first one on order from the library and I'm really looking forward to it. Among other things, I'm reading Snow Like Ashes just now, and it's a study in clever, painless worldbuilding. Maybe because writers assume YA readers have less patience, they seem to slip the worldbuilding in lightly, which is how I like it.
And I agree, many YA books do feel more imaginative, and they tend to be more fun as well.
And I agree, many YA books do feel more imaginative, and they tend to be more fun as well.
The Neon Seal
Well-Known Member
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'Snow Like Ashes'... must keep that in mind as I love world building. That way they impliment world building in YA novels though is helping me improve my own writing.
As for Throne of Glass -which is amazing and one of my favorite fantasy worlds- I suggest you read 'The Assassin's Blade' first, which is the omnibus of the prequel Novellas. It was released after book three, and some say it isn't a necessary start, but I approached it as the most epic prologue ever and must disagree with those people -mostly. The books tend to skimp on the finer details of her past, only occasionally referencing events which TAA covers, and a read of it really builds your appreciation for Celaena Sardothian's plight, and adds a lot more depth to the world.
Shaming adults for reading YA novels is a bit like shaming adults for watching 15 or 12 rated films. No difference really. Personally I dislike the titles Young Adult, New Adult and so on, a similar rating system to film may A: Work better and B: Stop this kind of nonsense.
Why not rate books with a recommended minimum reading age, similar to viewing age for films. This removes ambiguity and tells readers what may be involved in the story.
Why not rate books with a recommended minimum reading age, similar to viewing age for films. This removes ambiguity and tells readers what may be involved in the story.
The Neon Seal
Well-Known Member
- Joined
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Exactly. I'm 27, but my favorite film is How to Train Your Dragon, closely followed by The Dark Knight and Ghost in the Shell. Variety is the spice of life!
I agree with the rating system idea too, as some YA novels seem as tame as the books in Waterstones 7-12 section, while other would be a high-end 15 if a faithful film adaptation were made of them. Sticking them all under one label really doesn't work.
Many classic works of literature could be slotted in under the YA label. I have had these books suggested to me before by bookstore staff.
The female clerks tend to get a bit giggly defending their recommendations, but honestly I think there is no need for finding an excuse to read them. Inkspell, Hunger Games, Aragon, Bridge to Terabithia, and more have gone mainstream in their movie adaptations, awakening a whole segment of the population to the quality of writing inherent in these youth directed stories.
Actually most young adult novels exemplify the classic hero's quest story arc. They are a quick read, usually, and if they have a bit more strum und drang then its kind of a good shot in the arm for most of us.
The female clerks tend to get a bit giggly defending their recommendations, but honestly I think there is no need for finding an excuse to read them. Inkspell, Hunger Games, Aragon, Bridge to Terabithia, and more have gone mainstream in their movie adaptations, awakening a whole segment of the population to the quality of writing inherent in these youth directed stories.
Actually most young adult novels exemplify the classic hero's quest story arc. They are a quick read, usually, and if they have a bit more strum und drang then its kind of a good shot in the arm for most of us.
Same here - along with "young people" it's potentially just a way of patronising people as being incapable of understanding the adult world.
Overread
Searching for a flower
The problem I have with young adult is its meaningless.
It covers pretty much every age from around 13 up to 30 and really means that it just cuts out gratuitous sex scenes. Otherwise its a huge hodge podge of different writing styles, focuses, language, themes etc... Some YA are clearly aimed at the lower ages; others are clearly older; whilst others are just adventures without all the sex and such.
It's honestly something that I kind of wish would go away or at least should split itself into young and adult
It covers pretty much every age from around 13 up to 30 and really means that it just cuts out gratuitous sex scenes. Otherwise its a huge hodge podge of different writing styles, focuses, language, themes etc... Some YA are clearly aimed at the lower ages; others are clearly older; whilst others are just adventures without all the sex and such.
It's honestly something that I kind of wish would go away or at least should split itself into young and adult
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