BlogHer - Do People "Graduate" to Adult Books? - Comments

I've read a lot of authors who said

sassymonkey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:08:17 -0600

That the wrote the book, submitted it and were told it was being published as YA.

And it's not like "adult" books are exempt from badly crafted works of fiction.

Graphic novels

sassymonkey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:05:09 -0600

I've been increasing the number of graphic novels I read over the past few years. There are a lot of fanastic ones out there. I just wish they weren't over so quickly!

I think that anyone who reads a specific genre runs into the same thing - romance, sci-fi, urban fantasy, mysteries...

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

That seems to be a common trend among readers

sassymonkey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:02:58 -0600

That parents argued to get them access to the adult reading section. My parents didn't but then no one really questioned by book usage, aside from the number of books that I took out.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Completely agree

sassymonkey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:59:16 -0600

I seem to have lost all my childhood books (mostly to nieces and nephews) so I've slowly been recollecting my favourite children's books.

I think people who turn their noses up at young adult titles clearly haven't read any.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Hah!

mashadutoit — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:23:06 -0600

Jeez that does get my blood boiling:

"and fiction that draws on the full resources of the language in portraying complex human relationships."

This guy clearly does not read what he calls "Young Adult" literature. Or maybe he reads only Williard Price and Ian Flemming on the sly and bases his judgment on that.

From the interviews I've read of authors who write Young Adult books, they tend not to classify themselves like that either. They write books about subjects they are passionate about, and if these books contain an element of fantasy, or the characters are not all adults, the books get classified as Young Adult fiction.

Graphic Novels and Comic Books

MLOKnitting — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:59:23 -0600

Those of us who read grapic novels and comic books run into the same thing. But, luckily for us, a lot of A-list genre writers - from Neil Gaiman to C.E. Murphy - are writing comics now.

MLO / Melissa

A good book is a good book

Emsxiety — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:13:01 -0600

I agree, nothing is off limits for me. Nothing has ever been off limits for my kids either.

My mother was one of those mothers that argued with the library to get me an adult borrowers card so I could read adult books long before they thought I was old enough to, thanks Mom for that. I still read from young adults and still do.

A good book is a good book.

http://emsxiety.blogspot.com/

http://onesnap-atatime.blogspot.com/

A reader IS a reader and

Denise — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:02:50 -0600

a good book IS a good book.

People who turn up their noses at young adult titles don't know what they are missing.

And because I realize a good book IS a good book, I don't bat an eye when my kids pick up an old favorite from the children's shelf - or pick up a book from MY children's collection that they never read when they were of the age to read it.

Harvey's Hide Out is in my car right now because the 10 year old grabbed it from the shelf a few days ago, to read again - and again - and again. I understand that. I appreciate that. I enjoy reading it every now and then, too.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Do People "Graduate" to Adult Books?

sassymonkey — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:02:06 -0600

I read young adult literature without shame despite the fact that many people look down their noses at it. Oh don't lie, you know it's true. When people ask me, as they often do, about a great book I read lately their eyes glaze as soon as the words "young" and "adult" pass my lips. I do believe they are expecting me to name Booker nominations. Because I should have "graduated" to that by now shouldn't I? At least that's what one of Dennis Drabelle's recent Washington Post articles implies.

There comes a time in every reader's life when he or she graduates from kids books and young-adult titles to nonfiction with no holds barred and fiction that draws on the full resources of the language in portraying complex human relationships.

I had a bit of a Grey's Anatomy moment when I read that. Seriously? Seriously! Seriously. The progression of books is supposed to be from children's books, to young adult, to adult non-fiction to some kind of magical perfectly crafted adult fiction.

I sat and thought about it for a bit and came to only one conclusion - this is someone who does not read young adult fiction. I mean, of course he's not "supposed" to, having "graduated" beyond it and all. The only logical explanation in my mind is that the author had to be someone who sees Stephenie Meyer's Twilight (addictive but certainly not masterly crafted) and the Gossip Girls climb up the best-seller lists and decides that's the best of young adult literature.

But even with that in mind I couldn't get past how the article ended:

Send in your own recollections of those transitional books that got you reading as a grownup.

Thankfully for me I was able to go read Libarilly Blonde's response to the article and then I was able to breathe again.

I don't think readers should read only children's and YA books all their lives. I certainly enjoyed my fair share of adult books when I was a teen and I expect that most of you reading this did as well. I do think, however, that children's and YA literature is not to be dismissed by any reader, especially those who think enough of their own maturity to call themselves grownups.

Yes! Yes!

And then Liz B at A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy chimed in with her two cents about what book made her an "adult" reader.

Harry Potter.

Because that was when I realized: a good book is a good book is a good book. I didn't have to hide reading kids books or YA books. These books weren't "less" than adult books; there is no "graduation", rather, there are simply books.

Again I say, "YES!!!!" A reader, is a reader, is a reader. I'm tired beyond belief of the implication that their are "readers" and then there are "Readers". I'm just plain excited when I meet someone who reads. I actually dated a guy once who didn't read. I mean he could, but he didn't. (I know, y'all are shocked and stunned that the relationship didn't work out.) I just love it when people read. Sure, I may occasionally push someone in the direction of a book that they think they don't want to read, but only when they are wrong about it. Just ask my friend Cat whom I've forced to take books home and read. (She generally thanks me in the end.)

Earlier this year the Christian Science Monitor posted an article about write Matthew Kneale. The article can be summed up with the title - Read what you like, not what you think you should like. When advising people on how to read more books Melissa Howard says to read books you like because "if you like reading, you won't stop."

A reader is a reader is a reader. I don't care what you read, I'm just thrilled that you're reading. If that means that I don't graduate into the "adult readers" club, I'm more than fine with that. I have all the books I need right here.

The book that Contributing Editor Sassymonkey a reader is The Cat In the Hat. She blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.