Saturday, June 7, 2014

That Time YA Saved Me from Giving Up on Reading

So. You've probably heard about a certain online article that basically says adults have no business reading YA books. I'm not even linking to the article because, seriously. Normally I don't chime in on these things; there are always plenty of people who say what I'm thinking a hundred times more eloquently. But this one happened to catch me in an already cranky mood, and I think I'm just done with anything that tells anyone how to read, how to blog, how to review, how to sneeze. You get my point.

I'd like to share a little story with you. I've often previously mentioned the reading burnout I experienced right after finishing college and how hard it was to find my passion for books again. What I haven't gone into detail about was my attempt, and an epic failure of one, by the way, to "read like an adult." As a newly minted college grad, I got the now ridiculous notion in my head that I needed to read age-appropriate books. Not really knowing where to start, I turned to the New York Times bestseller list for some guidance. Of the books that I gave a shot to, and there were quite a few, I can count on one hand how many of them worked out for me. I enjoyed Atonement by Ian McEwan and the first two Bridget Jones novels by Helen Fielding (the movie adaptation of book 1 was in theaters at the time). Those books still sit on my shelves, but most of their one-time shelf neighbors have been donated. There were quite a number of books that were garnering critical praise and selling like mad but which I found unsatisfying, and in some cases, just plain crappy. I can't even remember most of their titles because they weren't memorable reads.

Now, I'm not bashing adult lit. I don't even like making that distinction because personally, I think a good book is a good book and stands on its own merits regardless of who it's marketed to. I just happened to really find my reading haven in the YA section, and even sometimes in the middle grade section. If I hadn’t started reading Harry Potter and Twilight, there would be no blog today because I wouldn’t be picking up any books. And that’s a fact. And if I had continued avoiding YA because I was too old for it or whatever, I would be missing out on authors like Maggie Stiefvater and Melina Marchetta; gorgeous prose transcends everything.

So read whatever the hell makes you happy and take pride in it. I’m turning 37 this week, and I have absolutely zero intentions of giving up YA. Ever. Because you know what? It’s my time and very often my money that I choose to invest in a book, and I have every right to enjoy that book guilt-free.

8 comments:

  1. That was a stupid article. I haven't had much of adult, but from what I have read, it kind of lacks the wonder of YA. In YA, anything is possible, but in adult, it just seems like sometimes, people are set in their ways and everything is a little more bleak. Idk tho. I'm 17 so I'm starting to read more adult (or else I'm planning to) but I'm also still enjoying a lot of the YA I see.

    Totally agree though: a good book is a good book.

    -P.E. @ The Sirenic Codex

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    1. I'm also of the mind that as long as someone is reading, no matter what the book, at least that person is reading, and, with any luck, will keep on reading.

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  2. I very much doubt ANYONE else could have said what you just said ^^ more eloquently than you did. Like you I suffered a reading burnout in my post university days. And, like you, Harry Potter and subsequently Twilight brought my reading-habits back from the dead. I despise age-distinctions on books for the very reason you mentioned: a good book should stand on it's own merit regardless of what age group it was intended for! Some of my all time favorite books are children's,middle-grade, YA and adult. I literally have favorite in ALL age ranges. So kudos to you for speaking out! VERY well said and I agree: as long as people are reading and enjoying what they're reading, pundits should just SHUSH.

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    1. I just don't get why some people feel the need to criticize what people read. I mean, sure, not everyone likes the same books, but we do share a love of them, so why can't that be enough? And what about adults who read what their kids read so they have that shared experience? I don't think that's something that's worth missing out on just so the adults can stay within an "age appropriate" boundary with their reading choices.

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  3. You put that very eloquently! I feel like many Adult books are unsatisfying too, or even pretentious or just trying too hard to be more than just a story if that makes sense - I just want a good story well told - and definitely gorgeous prose transcends anything! It's sad that the author of that ridiculous article needs to feel like she should limit her reading just because of her age - it makes reading seem like a chore.

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    1. That's exactly what picking up a book felt like when I tried sticking to adult books- a chore. I'm glad I realized how badly I was limiting my reading horizons and that I ventured into trying YA and MG as an adult.

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  4. Since you're sharing, I used to read a lot of YA when the blog was just starting. I wasn't aware of the labels then, PNR, UF, YA, etc., I just liked YA coz it's easy to read. Then a pair of people started making fun of me coz I kept on reading YA. It made me feel defensive and pissed off because what I read shouldn't be anybody's business esp if it's not harming anybody.

    Anyway, I eventually got tired of the genre, it was one insta-love and romantic geometry after the other. It left a stigma although I'm slowly going back to it now. I'm happy that authors finally heard out complaints and stopped making heroines that are borderline slutty. LOL

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    1. I get pissed, too, at reactions like, "You're reading THAT?!" There was a time when it would make me feel self-conscious, but not anymore because, you're right- nobody's getting hurt just because someone's reading YA, MG, or whatever.

      I get frustrated with the insta-love and love triangles, squares, etc. sometimes, too, but in the end, it's not enough to keep me from going back for more YA, lol.

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