I was standing in the YA section of a bookstore when I was asked a question that really challenged me. A member of staff approached me and, since it was the middle of the day on a weekday, asked "should you not be at school?". I don't look anywhere near my age so I get questions like that a lot. When I responded, as I always do, with "no, I'm 22!", he looked up at the sign stating 'Young Adult' then asked "if you're 22, why are you reading kids books?".
I haven't thought a lot about why, as a 22 year old, the majority of the books I read are targeted towards a younger audience. As far as I'm concerned, I read the books I read because that's what I like. However, when directly asked I was challenged to think about why exactly I do read YA. I have decided to share the answer I gave that stranger in a bookstore questioning my taste in books.
The majority of adult books are about, specifically chick-lit as that is what I read most in adult books, are about people in their late 30s/40s who are married/divorced/desperately trying to find a man before it's too late and have however many kids. I am in my 20s, single and without kids, I can't relate to their experiences.
YA books, on the other hand focus a lot on teenagers in high school. They deal with discovering yourself, experiencing love for the first time, coping with your first heartbreak. I have been a teenager, I have fallen in love and had my heart broken. I have been through a lot of the experiences the characters are going through and can relate to how they are feeling or reacting.
Of course there is New Adult as well, but something I have been noticing recently is that I can't seem to find any NA books in bookstores. I have to buy my NA books online or as an ebook. So when it comes to bookstore browsing I spend much of my time in the YA section.
So why do I read YA? Well other than the fact I enjoy it, I guess I read YA because I can relate to it more than I can adult books.
Why do you read YA?
Sophie :)
I am 37 and I still read a ton of YA. Don't worry about it. I agree - read what you like. I read YA because it's so different from my everyday life. I like to remember being in high school, and all the drama and feelings. And the books are short and quick. I also read a lot of adult books. I like to relate to characters my own age or older in situations I may face now or in the future. Reading is an escape too, so I read whatever stories interested me.
ReplyDeleteI think that's the best way to read, just read what interests you. I don't know why people feel the need to criticise what others choose to read but, like you, I will continue to read YA and adult because that's what I like.
DeleteI really don't think age should even be an issue, reading is for enjoyment and if people who aren't teenagers enjoy reading YA then who's to say they 'shouldn't' read it. I'm 20 now and pretty much all I read is YA. I enjoy the writing of YA books more than adult books as a whole, adults books can sometimes feel really boring to me, even if they're about an interesting topic. I just get on with YA better and currently I couldn't imagine not reading it. I feel like this whole 'you shouldn't read that' conversation needs to be put to bed! People can read whatever they like and if other people tell them they can't and try to force them to read something they don't enjoy, then people will just stop reading all together, which is heartbreaking!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, everyone should have the choice to read whatever they want to regardless of age. It was quite discouraging to have a bookseller tell me I shouldn't be reading something, as I would expect them to be encouraging reading, no matter what I choose to read. I definitely think, as you say, if people continue to try and dictate what others can and can't read, it will discourage reading altogether.
DeleteBeyond answering the question with PLENTY of good reasons YA isn't just for children (or teens, though I guess he sees no distinction), I'd be tempted to look him up and down and ask what kind of sales associate discourages people from buying the store's merchandise. (Briana @ Pages Unbound)
ReplyDeleteThe store has just opened recently so I'm hoping it was just his lack of experience and he has improved since then. I couldn't believe what I was hearing!
DeleteWow that's a pretty brassy thing to ask! And your answer was great. Makes perfect sense. I read both adult and YA books and for me it's just about whatever looks good. For example, I read a lot of fantasy and SF and I honestly think some of the best stuff in those genres is happening in YA. Not all, of course, but there's some good YA out there. But this does seem to be a topic that comes out, as some apparently feel older people out of their teens can't read YA. Silly.
ReplyDeleteExactly, I just pick up whatever I think sounds interesting and I think most people do the same. If I'm intrigued by the premise, I don't care whether its YA or adult so why should anyone else.
DeleteWow, I'm not sure that I would have been able to answer this guy without ALL the sass. Your answer was great, but mine definitely wouldn't have been so polite haha
ReplyDeleteI read YA for a lot of reasons, but definitely agree with your reasons too. One thing I find I have to remind myself sometimes is how harshly I judge the actions of the teens I'm reading about - I'm an adult in my late 20s, and I sometimes find myself expecting the teens I'm reading about to think just like me. But as soon as I remind myself of how I was in my teens, my judgment of them changes haha
I was so taken aback, I couldn't actually believe what was happening! I'm hoping my answer was enough to stop him questioning what others choose to read in future, though I impressed myself by managing to stay reasonably polite.
DeleteThat's definitely something I find myself doing more now, I judge characters for their "immature" actions but when I look back at myself at that age I would probably have done the same thing.
I agree. I feel like characters in young adult books are easier to relate to. Not only that, but I feel like the story lines are way more fun than adult books. Adult books seem to have more romance or mysterious, whereas young adult books are battling monsters or fighting magical witches and such. I find the plots way more interesting and engaging. Adult books just seem so.... dull haha. Awesome discussion :D
ReplyDeleteAmber @ Escape Life in the Pages
I have read some great adult books but I definitely agree that more often than not I find YA books much more fun and exciting. I don't really see myself reading adult fantasy or sci-fi as they always seem to complicated for me, but I would happily pick up a YA fantasy/sci-fi for that fun element. I think it just depends what you want out of the books you read. Thanks for getting involved.
DeleteFirst of all, what an a-hole bookstore employee! I'm 30 and I've read YA almost exclusively for the last 10 years. I read it because I like it and they're good! I do have a husband and kids now, but I don't read many books about that because I'm living it. I'd rather have a nice escape. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping it was just because the store is new and he wasn't very experienced, I'm a give the benefit of the doubt type of person, haha. I love thinking of reading as an escape! I often find myself reaching for a fun YA contemporary when adult life is getting too much and I need to take myself back to high school when things weren't quite as stressful.
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