Nov 6, 2011
It’s OK for adults to read from the Young Adults section of the bookstore
From a shelf at Orca Books in Olympia, WA…
(via Uteruses, Sarah Henni)
* * * * *
© 2013 Abuyo. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
Nov 6, 2011
From a shelf at Orca Books in Olympia, WA…
(via Uteruses, Sarah Henni)
* * * * *
I can think of only a hand full of YA novels that are worth anyone’s time… young adult or not.
well obviously you are not reading enough of them. I have read dozens of great YA books. Charles DeLint, Terry Pratchett write books for all ages, the Diana and Tim Wynn Jones both are interesting, Donald Dahl, Phillip Pullman, Sue Townsend, and Brandon something, all have written great YA books. If all you are reading is teen romantic pap then of course they are not worth anyones time.
Exactly, Sarah. You named a few good ones. One I would like to throw in there is Garth Nix. His Old Kingdom series is fantastic. Robin McKinley is also one of my favorite authors, I intend to buy all of her works for our collection. True, she writes fairy tales a lot of the time, but they’re somewhere between Disney and Grimm. Not overly sweet, and not disturbing, the perfect balance without losing the heart of the story she weaves.
Add David Almond to that list
Sorry, but I’ll wait to read YA novels after I finish reading the 2000+ years of adult literature that actually teaches me something, causes me to think critically about the world, is grammatically correct, and uses proper language. Maybe then I will be able to sit down and read Twilight and get something out of it, but after reading all of that adult literature, probably not.
You completely ignored Sarah’s point. Not all Young Adult literature is like twilight. In fact there are plenty of books that fall under the YA category that do everything that you’ve listed.
But, of course, it’s OK.
@Photographer Leia….then you aren’t looking in the right places.
Yes! I’m an adult and always read from the young adult section, unless it’s an older classic. I always do feel a little sheepish checking them out, but it’s worth it!
The Book Thief. One of the most brilliant books I’ve ever read, young adult or not.
I agree!! Everyone should read the Book Thief and I am the messenger.
YESSSSSSSSS! I agree… The Book Thief’s prose is so beautiful and it’s from the point of view of death! that’s pretty mind boggling.
YES! This is one of the best books I’ve ever read and that’s saying something. I actually didn’t know it was YA.
Just bought! Love hearing of new books!! Thanks for the recommendation, I’m sure it’ll be great…
The defining difference between YA and adult fiction is that the main characters are usually teenagers in YA fiction. That’s because they’re aimed for a younger audience. I’ve read from both YA and adult fiction and can tell you people that the YA fiction can be fantastic, whereas adult fiction is usually more realistic. Not always, but usually. If you’re looking for fantasy where sex isn’t the main focus, don’t go to the adult section.
It is increasingly difficult to find a fantasy adult novel that doesn’t revolve around some sexual theme. I find myself reading more YA fantasy novels because of this.
My problem is that “young adult novel” is synonymous with “Twlight” and “The Hunger Games.” I hope we can all agree that the Twilight series is literary and cinematic garbage, and The Hunger Games is a blatant ripoff of Battle Royale, an earlier Japanese novel of the exact same plot (very much aimed at adults, however). I’m sure there are good books out there, but the over saturation of those two has tainted the term for me. I have read the Harry Potter series and I’m a big fan, so I’m sure there is other books that are worth anyone’s time.
If those three series are all you think of when you hear ‘young adult novel’ you need to get your head out of the sand and media. There are hundreds of fabulous books that outrank all of those, even if I did love Harry Potter and Hunger Games.
This makes me happy. I know YA books can be wonderful, but I sometimes feel silly reading them, even though I’m still pretty young. I suppose what irks me is the way children are often seen as less intelligent, or immature, somehow, for their imagination and creativity. Especially considering how closely intelligence is tied into creativity and imagination. I particularly enjoy good YA literature, because it usually involves people learning that actions have consequences, and that everyone has responsibilities, and that everyone is valuable. Adults forget this, I think, and assume that because they’re a certain age they’re ‘mature’ or ‘responsible’ and don’t even try to be a decent person anymore. And that makes me sad, because it often means that those people stopped learning and growing. ‘Childish’ is not the same as ‘child-like’, and I think people would be better people if they maintained the curiosity and sense of wonder they possessed as children.
YA authors I love, and always will:
Diana Wynn Jones
Garth Nix
Charles de Lint
Francessca Lia Block
Neil Gaiman
and soooo many more! I think a lot of times, if it’s fantasy, but not “high fantasy”, it’s classified as YA
Bordertown. It is Bordertown in the corner. I approve.
im the opposite, im a young adult and i really enjoy reading adult novels as much as i love reading novels considered in my age group :)
Abarat by Clive Barker
The Thief of Always by Clive Barker
The Maze in the Heart of the Castle by Dorothy Gilman
Am I really going to be the first person to mention The Fault In Our Stars, John Green?
I don’t understand, why does it matter what other people think about what you read?
I’ve been an avid bibliophile my entire life (first job was at a library) and I’ve read everything from young adult novels to classics like War and Peace and then on to anything non-fiction. Never have I ever felt the need to explain my book choices to anyone or to apologize.
As long as you enjoy what you read, who the hell cares?!
Phew. I wish bookstores had more signs like these. I’m a college senior, and I’d be embarrassed to tell my friends that I like to read about fairytales, etc.
And besides all that, your body can grow up, but your sense of wonder doesn’t have to.