When Will I Grow Up and Read Adult Books?
I get asked this question a lot, and I do mean a lot. At every event, from every person who comes to my house on a visit. Even my own husband and Mother have recently asked me when I will grow up and read some adult books with real plots. Now don’t get me wrong, I like ‘adult’ books too. I recently enjoyed Dracula, My Love, A Reliable Wife, & Silent in the Grave. However, how do any of you get off asking me when I am going to grow up and read real books? Young adult books are not real books? Last I checked they had a cover, pages inside, and typefaces. Looks to me like a real book. I recently read this article from the NYT. Let me start off by saying I was unaware that I was supposed to be ashamed for browsing around the YA section at bookstores, my local indie even has a crossover section that is in the middle of the adult fiction and the YA fiction for books that are widely picked up by many patrons of the store regardless of their age. Guess what I learned? Teens are up in your section reading your precious adult books as well. The Passage, Angelology, and many of the classics were lining that crossover shelf as well. Oh and those YA books are creeping up on your best seller lists. It’s not a ‘trend’, YA has been around since Robinson Crusoe and earlier. Let’s talk about some misconceptions shall we?
YA books are too easy to read. No plot at all.
Sadly I have heard this argument several times. Really no plot, easy to read, not enough pages to be a good book (why is the amount of pages even important?)? Let’s list some plots I have recently read.
- Apocalypse has happened, people are separated into districts and are starving. Two children from each district are chosen to fight in an all out war to the death in order to survive and entertain the people in power.(The Hunger Games)
- A young boy commits himself to a mental hospital in NYC and gets stuck in the adult wing of the hospital. He learns a lot about feelings and life. (It’s Kind of A Funny Story, soon to be a movie)
- A young girl heads to Indonesia with her father a psychiatrist to help children who have been orphaned and have lost everything after the Tsunami. (Sea)
- Two girls make a difference and learn a whole lot about themselves on the way, while volunteering in Mexico. (The Heart is Not a Size)
- A girl gets pregnant and solves the mystery of her sister’s death while fighting her parents to keep her child. (Tell Me a Secret)
- A girl finds out she is descended from Alexander the Great and that Unicorns are real and they are evil and she has to protect society by battling them. (Rampant)
That doesn’t sound like low concept trash fiction to me. These are some high complex plots people.
Old women must want to drool over Edward the Sparkly Vamp.
I am an old woman who reads YA and I think Edward is creepy. We are not all sick and twisted pedophilia obsessed cougars on a mission to page bang every swoon-worthy YA boy that hits the silver screen. Though I do have to admit to swooning ever so slightly over Cassandra Clare’s bad boys. However it is my inner teenager doing so.
You must be too unintelligent to read real books.
Yes that has been said to me. Sad but true. I have to admit to typos and bad punctuation but other than that I think I am pretty intelligent. I read other stuff you don’t see it on this blog because it is marketed towards YA readers. Last I checked the Sookie Stackhouse series was for adults and don’t get me started on those catastrophes.
Don’t you feel immature?
Why? because I read books about teens? Some teens I know are more mature than those of you sticking your literary nose in the air and looking down upon us. You just spent $300 bucks on a pair of shoes. I put it in the stock market.
In the end it is not about intelligence, it isn’t about age. It is about literary bullies and attitudes that border on snobbish behaviour saying it is not okay to read YA unless you are a teen. Tell me why that is? Why can I not enjoy high concept fiction and fantasy from a teens perspective? Are you saying teens are not interesting enough, not smart enough to hold a story line?
Adults read YA, you probably do too in your bathroom with a flash light or under your blankets. Heck that Anna Karenina cover is probably around a copy of Catching Fire. Whether you like it or not YA is not a trend, it’s a reality and adults are going to read great high concept literature. Read some too before making assumptions and NYT, get the hell off your high horse.
By: Travis (@Travis_Pearson)
I’ve had people criticizing me about this too. It upsets me.
By: Zoe (@zoealea)
I know! People even ask me that and I’m 14! I’ve been reading YA books since I was 10, and I don’t plan on stopping soon. People ask me why I don’t read Stephen King or more “serious” books. I think books about teens suffering with eating disorders, depression, and even school are serious.
I liked this post!
By: BB Baker (@BB_Baker)
As far as I am concerned Y/A has been around for a very long time. It is only recently that the public has taken notice of it. If you look at books of the past, there are many classic books that could fit into Y/A. Jane Austen being one of many writers who would under today’s version of writing would be considered Y/A. I read everything. If the subject matter interests me I read it.
By: Catherine (@CatherineHaines)
… aaaaah that photo is from my central library. I know exactly where that is, as I have seen it before. And I WTFed at it.
(I’m sorry, I can’t think of anything right now coz… wtf)
By: Lexie C. (@PRationality)
Ahh I have the opposite problem. That is, people who don’t know me or haven’t met me offline, assume I am much younger than I am. Especially in bookstores. I’ll have “helpful” employees constantly asking me if I wanted to look in a more ‘age appropriate’ section since romance isn’t appropriate for my age (this is part of the reason I avoid brick and mortar stores).
I won’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to flash my driver’s license to prove I can buy an Avon Romance.
The only folks who ask me if I’ll ever move on from the kids’ books are usually my family and my younger sister (who’s 17). In my sister’s case its more she wants me to move on so that SHE can read those older books, since she raids my shelves in lieu of buying her own books.
My boyfriend asked me once, I smacked him so hard he never asked again.
By: The Biblio Brat (@bibliobrat)
Reminds me of the time I was told I was good at playing ice hockey because I didn’t have enough estrogen in my system, basically implying that the only reason I was good at a “man’s” sport is because I wasn’t enough of a woman. Yep, I filed that one under “somewhere a village is missing an idiot” and moved on.
What worries me is that they equate the term “young adult” to mean someone who isn’t as intelligent as an adult. A child who cannot grasp complex concepts and possesses poor critical thinking skills. Thus, if a book is targeted toward them, it must also be lesser than those written for an adult.
So if an adult likes such novels…well, you get the picture.
To invalidate you as a YA reader, is to invalidate them also. It is a generalization of the worst kind. Many, many teens are smart, witty, and amazing individuals. I can’t imagine what it’s like to overhear adults talking about their favorite books in the way you describe.
Its a type of snobbery that is unwarranted and unwelcome. Good for you for standing up for yourself in such a eloquent and powerful manner.
By: Rebecca (@imlostinbooks)
I LOVE this, Pam!
I admit that I did not read YA until late last year after much prodding from you, Amy, and others who knew already what I know now: YA of today is not the YA of yesterday.
These are no Sweet Valley High books they have coming out now (which I didn’t particularly love as a teenager either). Like you said, there are complex plots that any adult could get into. The only thing that makes it YA is that the main character is a young adult. I can relate more than I realized because although I am not dealing anymore with teen angst and deciding who to give my virginity too and whether I will pass driver’s ed, I do relate to scenarios of wanting to help people in disaster zones, the bitterness of rejection in all its forms, the delight in falling in love, the complexities of figuring out who you are and what you want out of life, and the enormousness of life not turning out like you planned (whether that’s not getting into the college you wanted or finding out you are a vampire.) :)
I don’t think you lack in intelligence at all and I think people who ask you about “growing up” and reading “books for adults” are probably stuck in the same thought pattern I was before you and my other blogger friends opened up my eyes to a whole new reading world. You can open their eyes too, perhaps.
By: Rebecca (@imlostinbooks)
Oh, and I wanted to add that Edward is TOTALLY creepy. Team Jacob! :D
By: Amanda (@pookasluagh)
It makes me really upset when people talk about YA as if it has no substance. Worse is when I go through a phase where I’m not interested in YA and I’m reading more adult stuff, then people assume I’ve “grown up” and gotten past “that stage.” Ugh.
By: Meghan (@mbookworm)
I think the people who criticize others for reading YA clearly haven’t read any lately and don’t know what they’re missing out on. Sure, some of it might be easier to read, but so are many adult genres, and many of those don’t contain nearly so many complex storylines and complex issues as YA does. Why does something have to be overwritten and confusing to be good?
I do wonder if part of the problem is that there is so much more good YA these days than there was even 10-15 years ago when I was a YA. I upgraded to “adult” books at a young age simply because there wasn’t anything available for me besides horror or endless series of girly books which I’ve never liked. YA has gotten much better in quality, but I wonder if these commentators are thinking that today’s YA is just more Sweet Valley High.
By: April (Books&Wine) (@booksandwine)
I wonder if I still qualify as a young adult. I’m 23, and frankly can barely relate to the plot lines in adult books. I’ve never come under any kind of heat for reading YA, so I count myself lucky. I have a boyfriend who loves The Hardy Boys. My sister is the one who actually got me back into YA, so again no criticism from her. Actually, we text each other all the time about the books we’re reading and MOCKINGJAY and Hunger Games t-shirts. My friends who read, well, we don’t insult each other’s reading choices, rather we geek out over whatever book we’re reading. So yeah, I am extremely lucky I have such an accepting group of friends and family.
Whatever though. Be loud and proud about your reading choices. At least you pick up a book unlike how many other adults?
By: Rikki (@Ailuah)
Great, great post. Kudos to you for saying this. I usually am not a YA reader, even though I read HP, Twilight (I am a big Edward fan) and have “The summer of skinny dipping” on my wishlist, but this needed to be said anyway.
Only yesterday I read a couple of posts about book snobs and they were going on about YA as if it was only for people who have never grown up. Rubbish!
Well said!
By: Pam
Travis: You are a young adult! Why are people saying this to you?
Zoe: Tell them you are a young adult. Geez giving kids flack for reading in their age group is criminal.
BB: Absolutely, those who say YA is beneath them have obviously not read any of the new stuff.
Lexie: You get carded to buy books? I have never heard of that!
The Biblio Brat: You know I love you. I love the way you say stuff :D
Rebecca: Best comment ever! There should be an award.
Amanda: I go through phases as well. My husband was so excited when I started reading 1984 but I abandoned it for Clockwork Angel :P
Meghan: I think it is funny how Sweet Valley High continues to be mentioned here in the comments. I for one loved that series, along with Nancy Drew and The Box Car Children. However today’s YA is a far cry from that!
April: I think you qualify still…
Rikki: Thanks for stopping by and even though you are not a big reader of YA you are not snobbing those who are!
By: pussreboots (@pussreboots)
When I “grow up” I’ll graduate to YA books. Right now I’m engrossed in the middle grade and tween books.
By: Mary (@bookfanmb)
Usually readers, book lovers, etc. claim to be open-minded but you make a good point. I don’t think any of us should have to apologize for our reading preferences no matter what they are. Great post!
By: Tara (@tarawriter)
I have yet to encounter anyone that gives me any grief for reading a lot of YA, but if I ever happen to, I will tell them that I feel sorry for them for being so close minded. They’re missing out on a lot of great books. YA is more than just a reading level. Anyone that was a teenager once, no matter how long ago, can relate. It’s sort of like closing yourself off to anything in life that can be seen as juvenile-I may be an adult, but I’ll never be a boring grown-up.
By: Anonymous
Isn’t it interesting that when it comes to kids lit, grown ups become the bullies? I thought we were supposed to have, you know, grown up…
I didn’t realize until recently how I am totally fed up with elitism.
By: MelissaW (@balletbookworm)
There’s garbage in every age group….plotless, graphic drivel that’s been “marketed” to adult women.
I prefer to be a snob about quality rather than ageist.
As a bookseller, I am surprised the number of times I will show an adult to teen because they’re looking for “fill in the blank” and the customer nearly runs away because I’m giving them a kids’ book. Oy.
And you’re not an old lady; pretty sure I’m older than you :P
By: Pet (@HeadBees)
My mother– intellectual, so fluent in French she can pass for Parisian, skulling athlete, retired Whole Language teacher with no kids in the house– not only is not ashamed to take young adult books out of the library, she takes out award-winning and critically acclaimed (by teachers) juvenile fiction and picture books as well. Why?
“Because they make you think.”
I dare anyone to read Make Way for Ducklings, The Velveteen Rabbit, or Charlotte’s Web and NOT think. Even Bambi: A Life in the Woods is actually about fascism.
By: Yuko86/Marika
Hi! I’m an italian bookblogger and I think your blog is great:)
I’ve read your post and I totally agree with you, I’m bored of people judging others only for their reading habits!It’s very immature, to quote them :)
By: Mollie (@bookfaredelight)
Amen sister! I think I read two of the most looked down upon genres…YA and Romance.
I have a B.A. in English with a focus in Mideval Literature and a Master’s in Library and Information Science. I dare someone to tell me I’m not intelligent. I will cut a bitch! ;)
By: bermudaonion (Kathy) (@bermudaonion)
I love this post and totally agree. Besides all that you said, who wants to grow up anyway?
By: Twitter Digest (2010-08-15)
[...] @bookaliciouspam: When will I grow up and read adult books? http://bookalicio.us/?p=1978 Your answer here literary snobs. [...]
By: David A. Bedford
What makes a good book is the quality of the writing and the importance and universality of what the author has to say. Good books can have characters of any age, they can be long or short, but they must be character driven.
By: heidenkind (@heidenkind)
I love you back. :)
And in all seriousness, the people who bash YA novels are idiots who have no sense of literature or its history. Treasure Island features a young protagonist, is that a YA novel? How about Oliver Twist or Moby Dick or Shane or Pride and Prejudice for god sakes? Or To Kill a Mockingbird, which most people read when they’re teens or younger–I suppose that’s some trash book with no plot as well? The fact is a huge portion of the classic and literary market are books that were written for and/or about teenagers.