A lot has been written recently about YA novels not being for adults, criticising the choices of those who do choose to read them.
I don’t want to continue that debate, but instead think about what it means to fall in love with a book that you know is flawed.
No book is perfect of course, and reading is a subjective activity: each reader will understand a novel in different ways, appreciate or become frustrated by different elements.
After years as an English Literature student, a book reviewer and a writer, there is always a part of my brain that will approach any story critically. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to switch it off. I can recognise the flaws in a novel, but that often won’t stop me from enjoying it.
For me, the Twilight series encapsulates this phenomenon perfectly. The later books could easily be hundreds of pages shorter, especially if the ‘show don’t tell’ mantra was enforced. At times I’d love to make Bella toughen up a bit and make a decision, or tell her that she has other options apart from dying for love.
But ultimately, I still love the story. I can pick up any of the novels and get lost in that world and that relationship. Those details still frustrate me in an objective sense, but my emotional side always wins out.
It’s like the boys vs. girls quiz scene in Friends, where one question asks what Rachel claims is her favourite film. The answer is Dangerous Liaisons. It’s quickly followed by the second question: what is her actual favourite film? Weekend at Bernie’s isn’t such a high brow response.
Sometimes readers are made to feel that if they take books seriously they should read the classics or immerse themselves in literary fiction, or at the very least those novels that have been shortlisted for the big awards. It’s the same line of reasoning that suggests adults shouldn’t read YA.
If I only ever read intellectual or difficult novels, I’d struggle to maintain my passion for books. Now that I’m no longer an English student, I don’t approach books in the same way so I don’t always get the same in-depth understanding of a challenging text that I would if I was discussing it in seminars or reading critical essays.
But reading doesn’t always have to be about learning or challenging yourself. Sometimes it’s enough to crack open a book for the sheer escapism, the guilty pleasure of reading something that you know is a bit trashy, but will sweep you up in the story and have you frantically turning the pages to see what happens next.
Gemma says
Couldn’t agree more! You make a really excellent point!
Some books you just know are lacking credentials or weak in particular areas, but you fall for none the less. I think, some books just have the power to win you over, something you perhaps can’t quite label, but you can’t get enough of.
It works both ways too. Some highly acclaimed, award winning, ‘popular amongst every blogger on the block’ books fall short. Too much over hype and the joy is sucked out of a book. Not always of course. I mean, sometimes the crowd are right (Harry Potter, Twilight, TFIOS, Hunger Games), but some times the books really are just over rated.
I think you’re absolutely right to enjoy a diverse range of literature, to like what you like, no matter the praise from critics. Plus, that’s part of the joy with books, everyone takes something different from it, experiences the story through their own imagination and perspective, depending on the individual.
I could talk with you for hours over this, but I fear I may have bored you into a dark and dusty coma ; )
Gemma
http://www.fadedwindmills.com
Amy Lord says
Ha, not at all Gemma, I get really excited whenever I have an interesting comment like this! Totally agree about some books being overrated too, I often wonder if certain books that are popular with the critics and the ‘establishment’ but aren’t entertaining for the regular reader are really that good. Sometimes I think people lie a bit about what they enjoy! Although you can appreciate a book, say, with a boring plot that may be beautifully written, and vice versa.
Gemma says
Exactly!
I didn’t actually think about that, but I bet people do fib a bit about preferences and just say what people want to hear! A popular author perhaps, or something ‘in fashion’. Ahh well. At least people are reading I guess!! ; )
Meg says
I completely agree. I also find this to be true about certain classics people are “supposed” to like. While I’ve obviously been familiar with the story for years, I just recently finished reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for the first time, and while I was still able to enjoy the story itself, I was struck by how overly-simplistic and not at all realistic the dialogue and character interactions were. While I recognize that narrative styles have changed over the years, it was not at all what I was expecting out of a highly raved-about classic. To me, it essentially read like “And then she said… and then he went… and then they said…”
Amy Lord says
I sometimes struggle with classics because the language varies so much and certain books are harder for modern readers to appreciate. The sad thing is when people are made to feel dumb because they haven’t enjoyed a book that they are ‘supposed’ to like.