You all know how much I love YA books. Some I read because I’m trying to find good stuff for A, but to be honest I read most of it for myself.
Is this silly for a 42-year-old?
It’s not that I don’t like grown-up books. And not just chick lit, either.
And yet, when I’m on the train, I find myself surreptitiously covering the title of my YA books in case someone (adult) sees what I’m reading. I don’t do that if I’m reading a “real” book.
Is this just me?
3 comments:
If it's silly, then all of us are partners in your silliness. I think some of the most interesting writing is happening in young adult books (just like I think TV these days is doing much edgier, riskier, and far better written material than movies are.) YA novels may be shorter and easier to get through sometimes, but I think they also are less pretentious about what they are trying to do. Is it by chance that "adult" writers like Michael Chabon, Rick Riordan, Sherman Alexie, etc. are creating young adult texts? I don't think so. And the lines are becoming more and more blurred, I think.
Yet, there are people who dismiss YA books as a genre (just as they dismiss books with chick lit type covers or books that Oprah recommends or thrillers) but I suspect they're often folks who care more about what others think of their reading lists than those who "love" reading. I think that those of us who love stories will look for good ones wherever we can find them--in whatever genre. I, for one, like how crazily eclectic my list of books read is on goodreads (and wish I could range more widely . . . give up my job and just read for a living . . .).
Okay, now I have to go to work but thanks NJ for getting me thinking. :)
Doc Jen
No, not silly at all! And as Doc Jen just said, we're all right there with you.
I agree, there are even more adult authors than ever that are treading into the YA world. Whether it's their own fond memories of YA lit or for money, it's obviously become a very lucrative genre, considering we're supposedly raising a nation of non-readers.
It's rare that I don't have a book with me. Although I don't hide the covers at somewhere like the ortho's office (and thank goodness, my time there is coming to an end quickly--J's only got another month or two), I have been known to leave one in the car when I get to work. Yet, at other places, I'm pretty open about explaining my interest in YA. Of course, it helps to have the right age kids!
Just had coffee and conversation with 3 fellow alums of our year, all of whom read YA books, both to find books for their kids, but because they are good books. I have sent them all the link to fertileplots, so I invite them to comment here!
I know many people who read YA stuff - I agree with doc jen that they are less pretentious. Stories are great, and even better for someone like me, they aren't too difficult to get through if you can only read for 10 minutes before you go to bed....
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