Comments on: A bit more on genre and age discrimination…

By: Girls and Reading (DeepGenre)

Girls and Reading (DeepGenre) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:20:30 +0000

[...] savvy writers were discussing the New Yorker article about teen [...]

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:26:47 +0000

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Deborah

http://termlifeinsurance2.com

By: One More Rant Before the Year’s Out « Faust’s Fantastically Fantasmagoric Forum

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:28:26 +0000

[...] The problem isn’t that there are no books for guys on the market. The problem is there aren’t a lot of pretentious, over-blown novels that you’ll look cool reading on the train or sitting at a Starbucks. It’s a biased statement based upon one group’s concept of what’s considered worthwhile literature. This is similar to the problem that’s been discussed regarding YA novels, particularly by Jen and Diana. [...]

By: Y are people still hating on YA? «

Y are people still hating on YA? « — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:37:27 +0000

[...] OK? Maybe the snobs don’t read the New York Times. And they probably don’t read the outraged blogs of prominent YA authors ranting against the whole presupposition that if it’s for teens [...]

By: Tony Peters

Tony Peters — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:43:19 +0000

The book that I have written called, Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping, is intended for young readers. I am always afraid to inform people that by young readers I mean ages 7-12, because I am afraid that it will turn away potential clients/readers. I have found that by saying young readers I can get teens to read it as well, and have found that they actually enjoy the book. Parents who have read the book to okay it for their kids are also coming back to me saying that they enjoyed it as well, but that they never would have read it didn’t if they didn’t have kids. So many people assume that they will not enjoy books from a different age group, only to find out that they can enjoy the books. These age groups are only suggestions, nt written law saying that if you are this age you will not like the book.

Tony Peters
Author of, Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://www.eloquentbooks.com/KidsOnACase.html

By: Jess

Jess — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:32:02 +0000

I may have missed the contest, don’t know for sure, but I want to comment on the discussion.

I was just reading an article by Lilith Saintcrow on how urban fantasy is considered lowbrow and also some of its feminist implications, but the comments thread of the article had some interesting notes about how UF gets a bad rep because it looks like paranormal romance, and all those blasted romance writers are trying to take down the genre. But then you also have commercial fiction writers scoff at literary fiction because it “has no plot”, and all that “navel-gazing”.

It makes me laugh because everyone has to attach value to their opinions over others’, when the point of an opinion is that it is nonfactual. Sure, Austen and Dickens are classics today, but Austen was her era’s romance writer of today. Dickens? He was serialized.

There will always be bad, good, better, and best writing, in EVERY genre (or nongenre). I more so feel badly for the people who don’t bother looking for the treasures amid the rest because they’re the ones missing out in their narrow-mindedness.

I admit to calling literary fiction navel-gazing with no plot, but that is based off the lit-fic I have read that has actually been LIKE that. I don’t not read the entirety of lit-fic because of a few bad experiences. I guess more people go with the “once bitten twice shy” attitude than I do.

By: Aimee C

Aimee C — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:16:26 +0000

Great contest! Count me in!

By: katayoun

katayoun — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:22:03 +0000

so now i see the need for genres, that would be one very messy bookstore though maybe the reading level thing that you say is not so bad either IF they put it in the bookstores, then you have young adult books (which means books about young adult issues) with a reading level of 40 and so everyone would be ok with reading it because if what you are saying is true then life of pi would left out of alot of people’s reading list!! though i must admit that young adults also are really pretty cool bunch and i hope usually they don’t worry about were things are stacked and more concerned about what they like!!
now i can’t type anymore as i am going to keep my fingers crossed for johnson’s suite scarlett!! great contests!

By: violet

violet — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:10:25 +0000

I agree, I think sometimes people forget that we also read for enjoyement, be it a Harry Potter or a chicklit.
Please enter me (if international)

By: Zara

Zara — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:26:20 +0000

I love YA, romance, and chicklit books, and yet my brain seems to be fully functional lol. I really hate when people act as if reading literary fiction and the like, makes them superior to others. Really it is all just a matter of preference. I think we should read what we like, and let others do the same. If a book makes you happy, why is that a bad thing?

Maureen Johnson is a wonderful author. Thanks for the chance to win Suite Scarlett!