saucymoustache

SETUP: I will be discussing these articles, if you feel like reading them. I would love to hear your opinions at the end, so please comment! (There are lots of counter argument articles against the Slate, so if you just google it plenty will come up.)

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2014/06/against_ya_adults_should_be_embarrassed_to_read_children_s_books.html

http://www.nerve.com/books/a-young-adult-authors-fantastic-crusade-to-defend-literatures-most-maligned-genre

I read several articles recently angry about the fact that YA novels should be read by whomever and it shouldn’t matter. To this I agree. It is the point at which they absolutely RAGE against the concept that Slate would talk out against anyone who proudly reads the twilight novels as 40-50 year old adults. This is where I don’t agree with the majority of the Young Adult novel argument, so let me lay out my opinion and rules in this debate:

1) Read whatever you want, I genuinely don’t care.

2) If you are an adult, try to branch out and challenge yourself with your reading.

I read lots of crappy books, all of the time. I read regency novels, which are the modern adaptations of Jane Austin novels. Essentially they end with the main characters holding hands and planning their marriage, which is about as risque as they get. Because yes, they are romance books.

But here is the way I balance it out to feel better about myself– I read intense award winning novels in between all of my popcorn novels that I read as brain-cleansers. Currently I am reading Catch-22, a book that is odd and crazy and funny and interesting; but trust me when I say that a 6th grader could not read it. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be read. I enjoy it on a challenging level, and not just relaxing on a summer afternoon. I laugh more than I have at any popcorn book, but it can be harder reading to get through and understand.

This is where the debate falls apart in my head. The Slate article accused those of reading YA that they should be ashamed of themselves. Although I don’t personally ready YA, it doesn’t mean those who do should be ashamed. The Slate article brought up a few good points, but it ended up being mostly aggressive. But all of the counter-attack articles that I have read have only gotten worse. Blatant attacks on the article, no real arguments, and even one article that I read managed to make fun of the YA that they so adored by writing it in every cliche style and trope that are overused in YA all the time. Odd. Not all of the articles are like this, some site famous YA authors, and studies conducted, etc. But the issue is they still miss the target- Read YA, read whatever you want, but CHALLENGE YOURSELF. There are YA novels out there (see Sherman Alexie’s work) that ARE challenging and ARE worth reading, but YA is such a massive category that often it is hard to sift out the wheat from the chaff.

I personally don’t read Young Adult novels because I don’t like the writing in many of them. If you try to convince me that Twilight is a timeless classic I may or may not punch you. Hunger Games is a good book worth reading, but I couldn’t get through it because it is obviously written for a different audience. It was written from the perspective of a poorly educated main character, and that’s all well and good but I couldn’t get through it myself because it is required reading for 7th graders at my old school now. Not as much for parents or adults. A Wrinkle in Time is often brought up by pro-YA people as a timeless young adult classic. They are right- but trust me when I say I enjoyed it a whole lot more when I was in middle school than I would now. There are some things that are better read when you are in that age group, and that is true even of the good YA books– same goes for Judy Blume.

Again, I don’t want to say people SHOULDN’T read it, I simply want to point out that there are so many other beautiful books out there that you are cutting yourself off from if you are an older person reading YA. They can be fun reading, but they don’t challenge you at all. Take up a book from time to time that sounds like fun in a challenging way. Let me give you an example:

Before I read Catch 22 I picked up a book called Hyperion by a friend’s recommendation. This book was based on Chaucer’s Canterbury tales, following the path of pilgrims on their way to a religious haven to request the help of these all-powerful beings called the Shrike, where few are likely to return (if any at all). Each character gets a chapter to discuss their lives and why they have been chosen for the pilgrimage and their interactions with the Shrike. The first story was riveting and I stayed up late trying to finish it- but once I did I couldn’t sleep it was so terrifying. One of the stories I could barely stop crying through, as a father watches his daughter age backwards forgetting more and more of her life. These stories are beautiful, scary, interesting, and ADULT. It has murder, slaughter, and sex– certainly not for kids! But I would absolutely recommend it to anyone because it was fantastic reading. If you just read YA all your life, it is your choice. But you are missing out on experiences like Hyperion, which transports you with its story. I have never been transported by a YA, folks. It is supposed to be the lead in to all of these other wonderful books, and you are missing out on such beautiful tales if you ignore them.

So in conclusion, just remember this: The Slate article didn’t mean for you to read Shakespeare. He’s better on stage, anyway. It didn’t mean for you to read long bland boring books like the Odyssey that you simply feel accomplished for reading, but not satisfied. It means for you to read books like Hyperion– interesting, thrilling, and majestic AND TO YOUR OWN TASTE. Then there are series like the Dresden files which are absolute smut, but a whole hellofalot more fun than just any YA novel. There are so many books out there, that why confine yourself to something your 14 year old reads? “Ugh mom/dad, that’s SO uncool.”

Read whatever you want, but make sure that you are having fun. Finish it in a day not because it is easy reading, but because you are so gripped by the plot line you can’t put the book down. If YA does that for you, keep chuggin’ my friend. But if it doesn’t and you are just reading it because “whatever;” please stop. Books are meant to transport you, to draw you in and help you pretend you are living in this universe, in this place. If you don’t feel that, then put the book down and try something else. You’re wasting your time.

Saucy Moustache

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