My first foray into the world of modern Young Adult Fiction was much the same as most other 30 something women at the dawn of the 21st century, through the loved/dreaded Twilight series. I was repulsed by the character of Bella Swan, yet I read all 4 of the damned novels. I liked them enough to try to read another series The Vampire Diaries. (I small confession here; I watched the first episode of the Television Adaptation and was taken in...I blame the presence of Ian Sumerhalder.) I made it through the first book, which was actually a double threat featuring books 1 & 2 of the series. It was the absolute worst thing I have ever read. I barely made it through. I willed myself to finish. After that experience I was a little afraid to read another YA title.
I somehow managed to give Beautiful Creatures a try. I'm about 65% in. I confess that I really liked the book at first. I liked it a little less the more I read, but I began liking it again last night. I am fickle like that. Much more mercurial than I would like to be.
Essentially I don't care about the world of YA fiction, and I am perplexed why some women prefer to read this genre. I guess I don't crave the teenage riot anymore. The adult world is an interesting place, even if it slightly less populated with supernatural creatures. Although let me introduce you to Lestat; he's a much more mature vampire, and he doesn't sparkle annoyingly.
Maybe it is because my 40th birthday is fast approaching, but I think I'll leave the YA novels for the YA's of the world. Interestingly enough as a YA myself I remember reading The Stand, Interview With A Vampire, Rosemary's Baby, and Harvest Home. Back in the day it was just called horror and there was no age designation. The quality of the work seemed better, and while maybe I wasn't protected from the vileness of profanity and the evilness of teenage sex in the written form, I survived.
I somehow managed to give Beautiful Creatures a try. I'm about 65% in. I confess that I really liked the book at first. I liked it a little less the more I read, but I began liking it again last night. I am fickle like that. Much more mercurial than I would like to be.
Essentially I don't care about the world of YA fiction, and I am perplexed why some women prefer to read this genre. I guess I don't crave the teenage riot anymore. The adult world is an interesting place, even if it slightly less populated with supernatural creatures. Although let me introduce you to Lestat; he's a much more mature vampire, and he doesn't sparkle annoyingly.
Maybe it is because my 40th birthday is fast approaching, but I think I'll leave the YA novels for the YA's of the world. Interestingly enough as a YA myself I remember reading The Stand, Interview With A Vampire, Rosemary's Baby, and Harvest Home. Back in the day it was just called horror and there was no age designation. The quality of the work seemed better, and while maybe I wasn't protected from the vileness of profanity and the evilness of teenage sex in the written form, I survived.
Update: I finished this book. Didn't like it enough to immediately go out and read the sequels, but didn't hate it enough to say I will never read them. I can however think of probably 500 books I need to read first.
ReplyDelete