You can't Judge a Book by its Genre

This New York Times article has gotten people in the YA community stirred up, and for good reason. The author states, among other things, that adults should read adult fiction and that young adults should read young adult fiction. I infer (indignantly!) from his sarcastic mockery of the genre that he determines young adult literature to be less intellectually stimulating than adult fiction. 

Firstly, I have a problem with this writer because, like so many critics of YA literature, he didn't even read the books he is criticizing! So how does he know?

Let's try it out.  And I'm only going to discuss books I have actually read.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein vs. Castles By Julie Garwood

I enjoyed The Hobbit. It is packed full of detailed fantastical descriptions, the characters are lively and memorable, and the world of Middle Earth is really one that a reader can get lost in. There are lessons to be learned about greed, vengeance, bravery, and cleverness through the characters. There are in depth analysis of the created languages to be studied. It is a book that can be read and reread, with new meaning and details to be found each time. It has been studied by universities and enjoyed by readers young and old for decades.

I also enjoyed Castles. It is a formulaic romance novel, and with enough adult content to have been forbidden to me as a teenager. It's quick, easy, and has a happy ending with plenty of steamy encounters between Alessandra and Colin before it gets there. It doesn't require a lot of thought or a large vocabulary to enjoy Castles. You probably have never heard of it before now unless you are a prolific Julie Garwood reader.


Both books have their merits if they are read purely for entertainment. If they are read for intellectual stimulation, however, I would have to vote that The Hobbit wins. That's one victory for YA.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card vs. Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Now don't get me wrong, I am a huge Dresden Files fan. I've read all of the books and have even had the pleasure of shaking Jim Butcher's hand. But on literary merit and intellectual stimulation, I have to vote for Ender's Game, giving another victory to YA.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery vs. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Again, I love both of these books for different reasons. Anne of Green Gables is an endearing story which depicts life on Prince Edward Island in the early 1900's with beautiful, cheerful descriptions. Oryx and Crake is a sometimes terrifying apocalyptic meltdown story that can give anyone with any political sense goosebumps. While I might cast a tie on literary merit, I have to give the victory to Oryx and Crake. The Adult book wins for intellectual stimulation!

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot vs. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen


Do I have to explain this one? Pride and Prejudice wins for being the most awesome and classic romance story of all time. Lizzie and Mr. Darcy's love is IMMORTAL.Mia Thermopolis, while entertaining, is also kind of annoying.  P&P wins.

And the winner is...neither!

So that's a 2-2 tie. My point is that it depends on the book. Some YA is better than some adult literature and some adult literature is better than some YA. Categorizing a genre and slandering it is small minded and makes one look like a fool.  Especially if the slanderer hasn't read any books in that genre! Books necessarily must be taken on a case-by-case basis. Genres are only useful as guidelines and marketing tools. You never know what you might enjoy, or find intellectually stimulating, until you try it!

I could go off on the rest of the logical fallacies in that poorly written opinion piece, but it would take me the rest of the night. Major fail, NYT. Major fail.

What I've Been Reading

Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

This is the  memoir of a mommyblogger who I've been following for a while. Mommyblogs, especially since I got pregnant last year, have been a sort of guilty pleasure for me. Since I'm the only one of my friends who has a  baby, it's kinda nice to see what other typical moms do and how they manage the day-to-day life with babies and kids and housework and stuff. Nielson's life (and blog) went from typical to exceptional, however, when she and her husband were in a plane crash and almost died. Her book begins with her life before she was a mother, and continues to tell the terrifying story of the crash, the painful physical recovery, and the long journey towards emotional healing. The only downside to the book is how often Nielson talks about her faith. Though her recovery was miraculous, I got a little bit tired of hearing about how miraculous it was. She is also the type of mommyblogger who takes utter, absolute joy in being a mother and a housewife, something which I can't exactly relate to. (Not saying that I don't love my son...I just love other stuff to.) Overall it was a good read and very inspiring. I definitely cried a few times and laughed a few times, and I she really sounds like an amazing person. I recommend it to anyone who likes miracle stories.


Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

The first book in a long epic fantasy series, it was recommended to me by my brother John. As a fan of Butcher's Dresden Files series, I gave it a try. As far as epic fantasies go, this one didn't disappoint. It was quick moving and action packed, and the world was unique and interesting. It kind a bugged me that each chapter switched to follow a different character, building towards a climax in which all the characters meet because I felt like I didn't get to know any one character as well as I would have liked, but as it went along I started to like all the characters and it wasn't as annoying. The book was pretty good but not exceptional. I think I'll wait for final judgement until I read more of the series.  John lent me the next one already, so I'll be giving that a try next.

 Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
 
Some comfort rereading over spring break while I was visiting my parents in Austin. Still some of the best, most classic books of all time. I still want to go to South Dakota and visit De Smet. <3 I can't wait until I have a little girl who I can read these with. I'll just have to introduce the to Jack before he's old enough to realize that they are about a little girl.

I also read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, but that can be it's own post since it's such a Big Deal lately. What else...I feel like I read something else recently too but I can't remember what.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

YA Book Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
By John Green and David Levithan

I was impressed with this book, even more so because I loathe alternating first person narrations. Loathe. As in, I almost put the book down when I saw that chapter two was from a different Will Grayson's point of view. But then I started reading chapter two, and I then I decided that I might be able to put my preferences aside and see what was going to happen.

The book is about two teenage boys who share the same name, but who are as different as could be. Green's Will (I could hear John Green's forceful, fast-talking voice in the narration from the first sentence) is a slight underdog of a guy aspiring towards normalcy who is overshadowed by his confounding best friend, the giant, gay, Tiny. Levithan's Will is an emo-ish closeted gay boy with few friends and a secret internet boyfriend. When the two Wills meet, their lives become strangely intertwined through their relationships with Tiny.

More than romance or homosexuality, I felt like this story was about friendship, and understanding what it means to accept your friends for who they are, instead of trying to change them into who you want them to be. It was funny at times, serendipitous at times, sad at times, but in the ways that real life is funny and serendipitous and sad. The issues that the characters deal with are difficult but relevant. My only criticism is that the characters didn't have enough difficulties.

Overall, this was an endearing page turner that I highly recommend.