tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post7996078394929278723..comments2023-10-06T08:52:16.235-05:00Comments on The Little Bookworm: A rare soapbox post: YA Paranormal Romance. What is going on?Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01299610611688148134noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-26191352301653805782010-04-24T21:39:45.728-05:002010-04-24T21:39:45.728-05:00Fabulous points Jason! I'll skip over what you...Fabulous points Jason! I'll skip over what you said about single mothers and the economic situation.. because then we'd be in a whole new debate. (Though I'd love to!!) And about the christ and church... those hold no merit in my world (no offense meant).<br /><br />I understand that there can be meanings taken from books. Absolutely. But not all books are that way. I will concede to the point you made that about readers being able to relate to the characters and they can begin to trust them. That's what every writer strives for. But, that's where they need someone with the logic (which is almost always the **father figure**) to teach them both prior and during all experiences (not just reading). It's a constant learning process. A Journey Of Books had a great way that all parents should at least look into doing. They're responsible for their kids until they're considered legal adults. They should be the ones teaching any "message" if they believe in that kind of thing. I don't, so the way I personally would do it (and I'm not saying EVERYONE should do this OR ELSE!), is to teach them how to be so they're not affected by anyone putting subliminal messages in something.<br /><br />But dissecting literature that's not intended to be dissected word for word, is what I'm saying is ridiculous. The authors in these are writing about a love story with a *vampire*, and about a good boy turned bad. Not a "coming of age" or ... whatever the hell Of Mice and Men was about. So IMO, 1 is obviously not real (no matter how hard everyone wishes), and the other is exactly what the author said... a good boy turned BAD.<br /><br />Literature Crazy... awesome for you and your readers that you ALWAYS put a message in a book. But not everyone does writes with a specific message in mind. Sure, someone can ALWAYS *FIND* a message. But how they're able to interpret and apply that message to their life... comes to how they're raised... And that's what I'm talking about.<br /><br />It sounds like people see the symptom (bad "messages" in book) and diagnose that as the problem. when in reality, we need to figure out why they're taking a bad "message" and applying it to their lives. (if they even are).Deiteringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279164004002505876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-8044750201191858892010-04-24T21:18:31.287-05:002010-04-24T21:18:31.287-05:00As a writer, I would only add to the discussion th...As a writer, I would only add to the discussion this sentiment: writers write with a purpose. They do have a message. Can it be interpreted myriad ways? Very likely.<br /><br />Was (in the example of the Twilight Saga) Stephenie Meyer trying to say that teenage girls should be attracted to guys who are 90+ years older than them and/or watch them sleep? Probably not specifically.<br /><br />It was more likely akin to the fact that, coming from her particular spiritual framework, she wanted to convey that it is not weak for a woman to seek out someone who can protect her (in addition to the fact that she tried [albeit with pretty purple prose] to show in Book #4 that the woman could also provide a type of protection for her family as well). I think she was trying to say (either intentionally or unintentially, I'm not sure) that it's okay to have traditional roles in a relationship and women don't have to be made to feel bad if they choose to not work outside of the home.<br /><br />Now, do I think that telling the story via a piece of fiction that uses an inhuman being that is 90+ years older and/or watches the female protagonist sleep was the only way to convey that message? No. Was it the best way? THAT is the topic of discussion.<br /><br />None the less, in SUMMARY, writers write with a purpose. There is a message in every book. We want you to try and find it. We want you to THINK about our books. We've spent YEARS writing them, and love the idea that someone has taken at least FIVE MINUTES to consider why I invested all that time in telling the story. There is ALWAYS a messge. (Sometimes that message is: "It's okay to laugh, my goal was to make you laugh as a break from your day because I know a lot of life is pretty sucky." But, none the less, THERE IS ALWAYS A MESSAGE.)Literature Crazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11745445935235997199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-47329514347566737952010-04-24T20:24:01.545-05:002010-04-24T20:24:01.545-05:00Ms Andrea - your post was very interesting. I don&...Ms Andrea - your post was very interesting. I don't think I've read any paranormal YA, but I have run into this vein of modern culture in a number of different places, and have heard (a LOT) about Twilight, et al. So I don't speak from a position of perfect experience and must admit that right out front.<br /><br />That being said, I know that feeling of having read something, and then having someone say something that makes you realize somethign about your reading - I've done that with other books in the past (racism, for instance, in Tolkien and Star Wars, for instance, which I loved when I was a kid). It's bad and good - always good to SEE what's going on around you a little better, but always hard to see that something you like had something you DON'T like mixed in with it, you know?<br /><br />Ms Amber - As a man, myself (and one who, I promise, will try not to take the... erm... peculiar mode of argument made earlier in the blog), I'm curious about your underlying premise. Not necessarily the one about all children needing a strong father figure, though I respectfully disagree, in part (I think it's wonderful to have two parents, but I don't think this is a specifically gender-related issue, and I personally think the problems with children of single mothers have more to do with our messed up economic system than the lack of a father, per se). More the premise that I THINK I read (I apologize I skimmed a bit of the conversation once it got... odd...) that it doesn't really matter, because it's just fiction, and people won't go out and do what a book says, just because it says it.<br /><br />AT one level, I agree with you. I don't think every girl who ever read Twilight is destined to marry a wife-beater (Considering the size of the readership, I hope this isn't true!). At the same time, the very reason fiction has stuck around so long is because it DOES have power. That's why, growing up, we learned the parables of Christ in church, for instance. That's why they include literature in a well rounded liberal arts education. I, personally, will vouch for literature VERY much affecting my life - for good and for bad. I love books BECAUSE they can have an effect on me. I understand this isn't ALWAYS how we read (although even when we aren't, I think books still have an effect), but when I was a teenager, reading I VERY MUCH was going into a book as part of, I think, MOST adolescent's search to understand the world and learn how to be a grownup. This is why, say, so many people loved Catcher in the Rye as a teenager - because it speaks to something unutterable and teaches you what you're feeling. You feel like the book sympathizes with you. You TRUST Holden Caulfield.<br /><br />Unfortunately, and again, this isn't to say that Stephanie Meyer has planned some evil plot to get all teenage girls married to abusers, I think people feel something for Bella too, and they DO begin to trust her. And this trust extends outwards. Fiction is how we learn to be grownups (at least some of us), and so it IS important to think about what kind of grownups we are encouraging teenagers (or even other grownups :P) to become. <br /><br />This isn't to say that I think Twilight should be banned, or that we should boycott the publisher. It is to say that I think MORE conversation is good, NOT ridiculous. It's to say that I think having people think about the messages they are hearing is good, more self awareness is ALWAYS good. Books, like advertisements work subtly, but they work, sometimes better than we ourselves know. The effect may vary from one person to another, but I think that educating ourselves on the topic, and talking about, having that dialogue out in the open, is how we, as a society, grow and learn to be better.Keshalyihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900218197083383905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-51299515221575050712010-04-24T10:47:43.860-05:002010-04-24T10:47:43.860-05:00Wow...the discussion here got pretty bizarre.
My ...Wow...the discussion here got pretty bizarre.<br /><br />My take on it? I was neither offended by Twilight nor Hush, Hush. In fact, I adore both. Twilight was hugely emotional and beautifully written. Hush, Hush was dark, mysterious, and a fantastic read. Would I recommend either to my daughter when she's old enough to read? Yes, but perhaps not until she was old enough to understand me when I tell her that they may not depict healthy relationships. If she wants to read it for the entertainment value? Fine.<br /><br />If the majority of the argument with these books is that kids will take home bad messages, well, I'd have to say that I think parents should have an open line of discussion with their kids so they know what media are influencing them. I'd want to know what books my kids are reading, research them a little, and discuss any that may need it. That's why posts like this are great because it brings these thoughts to light.<br /><br />I would never say, though, that the Twilight saga or Hush, Hush should have never been written or should be changed. They're perfect the way they are (imo).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03782164561790596425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-75580468735750920142010-04-24T01:46:36.789-05:002010-04-24T01:46:36.789-05:00You caught me on a good night
my fingers are usua...You caught me on a good night<br /><br />my fingers are usually swollen like cucumbers <br /><br />to where id be typing like oioijkkljiojhldsafpipsdf<br /><br />yeah like that<br />so lucky you man<br />lucky you.<br /><br />did you know that im in a rock band?<br /><br />Assault THE UNICORN<br /><br />yeah we did a concert at my school<br />it was cool<br /><br />im god<br />im the devil<br /><br />i have ADD<br /><br />did you know that there are series of cases where ADD can kill?<br /><br />someone running a forklift and then BAM!!!!!! he runs over one of the coworkers ...blames it on the ADD<br />and then what he said to the press was, "silly forklift trix are for kids"MJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-11282812337954624192010-04-24T01:41:08.801-05:002010-04-24T01:41:08.801-05:00@MJandersen
lol :D this would be better high :D l...@<a href="#c2783398630988828790" rel="nofollow">MJandersen</a><br /><br />lol :D this would be better high :D lol. I don't apologize for this one... but I do apologize for making this comment post go on FOORREEVVERR! Andrea! Your emails are probably going crazy!Deiteringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279164004002505876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-27833986309888287902010-04-24T01:38:08.467-05:002010-04-24T01:38:08.467-05:00Did you know that the first Highschool Musical was...Did you know that the first Highschool Musical was dedicated to me?<br /><br /><br />it was.<br /><br /><br />and that my herpies spreadededededed to where you can see em on my chest<br /><br />the doctors say those are my nipples <br />but i dont trust them, i think its herpies and im dying... from all the hoes i whore out... nah they whore me outMJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-2896089431730161072010-04-24T01:32:51.824-05:002010-04-24T01:32:51.824-05:00My statistics say that prostitution is legal where...My statistics say that prostitution is legal wherever i am...<br /><br />cause i pimp slap the law <br /><br />like the mothaf***** g that i am<br /><br />ooorahhMJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-23137731470200486562010-04-24T01:28:44.525-05:002010-04-24T01:28:44.525-05:00My Statistics say that there are only
383 drive ...My Statistics say that there are only <br /><br />383 drive in movie theaters left in AmericaMJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-12592032244612037102010-04-24T01:26:48.991-05:002010-04-24T01:26:48.991-05:00@MJandersen
OMG.. I apologize for him.. he's ...@<a href="#c9024467238010905517" rel="nofollow">MJandersen</a><br /><br />OMG.. I apologize for him.. he's being a tired idiot. Up WAAAY past his bed time!Deiteringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279164004002505876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-90244672380109055172010-04-24T01:23:20.340-05:002010-04-24T01:23:20.340-05:00WHAT WHAT IN THE BUTTWHAT WHAT IN THE BUTTMJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-51276433094791852332010-04-24T01:21:56.401-05:002010-04-24T01:21:56.401-05:00so... im not as literate as she is
but my i came ...so... im not as literate as she is<br /><br />but my i came from something similar to<br /><br />i mean its like we are brother and sister... but i guess she is nicer and will apologize so that means we arent... yeah wierdMJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-2804358939121764702010-04-24T01:19:39.466-05:002010-04-24T01:19:39.466-05:00yeah what she said....yeah what she said....MJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-92165586852586821892010-04-24T00:41:57.267-05:002010-04-24T00:41:57.267-05:00woops! typos... meant "every single book"...woops! typos... meant "every single book"<br /><br />.. and "though THEY'RE drug addict morons"<br /><br />.. And MJandersen... you suck ;).Deiteringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279164004002505876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-87409468937284602002010-04-24T00:34:37.204-05:002010-04-24T00:34:37.204-05:00You also fail to realize that I'm not saying r...You also fail to realize that I'm not saying rape is okay. Or that stalking is okay. Or anything that makes you uncomfortable is OKAY. I'm saying that finding meanings behind ever single book is bogus. Just because you analyzed a different one for class in high school. You know what I learned from reading Of Mice and Men in high school? Shooting your dog is hard to do. Wanna know what else I learned? That women are manipulative and it could get them killed. How about another one? You may have to shoot your best friend in the back of the head someday. See what I mean? Thousands of interpretations can be taken from 1 book. I bet you saw something different when you read it. So unless that author had intentionally wanted to write a story about an abusive relationship (why I brought up the Sarah Dessen book), then focus on how you raise your kids to be outstanding members of society and stop telling me that women are repressed and are being taught so through books of all things. Because they aren't. At least not where I grew up; they have so many opportunities available to them.. Like keeping their kids, though their drug addict morons and the dad isn't. etc etc.<br /><br />And I never read this book. I stated that above. Obviously, those that read it had a bad taste in their mouth, and I'm prepared to roll with that. I'll accept if it didn't make me feel right and I will agree. But that's not what I was even saying in the first place. I'm saying that EVERYTHING is taken out of context or too literally in this day and age.. and it's freaking annoying! Why can't you pick up something and read/watch it without having someone tell you that what you're enjoying is the work of the "devil" and you should be ashamed of yourself?<br /><br />There is no box. That's why you're able to interpret something and I'm able to disagree and tell you why I disagree. And why you're able to think you "schooled me" each time you tell me how horrible of a person I am and how I am insulting everyone in the world. People need to hear these things, or we'll never be equal and balanced.<br /><br />I read somewhere that mothers give small children the unconditional love a child needs while they're young, but when they're older, the father gives them conditional love they need to be responsible adults in society. (Once again, though I think it's ridiculous I even have to keep pointing this out, "mother" & "father" are used loosely to represent the figure in the child's life. got it?)<br /><br />Bookshop, you're great with writing, I may even keep reading your stuff, but as you feel the need to do to me, I'm going to call you out when I think you're making inacurate accusations. K?<br /><br />I'm not trying to be mean. I said everything above with a smile (not an evil one btw) on my face, but since this is the internet, everything's taken out of context.<br /><br />And sorry Amanda.. people get me confused with your name all the time... :(Deiteringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279164004002505876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-33890859269814729932010-04-24T00:34:04.133-05:002010-04-24T00:34:04.133-05:00And once again, you fail to actually read what I&#...And once again, you fail to actually read what I'm typing. Or are missing what I'm saying and ATTACKING something else. I have a feeling you have blinders on because I say something positive about men and negative about your post. And I will continue to say that a strong father *figure* needs to be in the life of kids because it's essential in raising a well balanced individual. Exactly the same as a mother's position in kids life is essential. Both are important (fyi.. I'm talking about the "figures" not the actual gender or relation). Since you love your statistics, how about this, did you know that of the 18,000 felons in America, 37.1% come from single mother homes?<br /><br />That is a large group, so you better believe I'm going to bring attention to the fact that men are being brought down and beaten in the society and are unable to teach their kids the proper way to respond and behave to things. Women can be vicious and manipulative creatures, and often times they don't know they're doing it. There needs to be the **logic** and stability in a kids life. And a female who does it all, is not going to be able provide that. Not because she's a failure, but because it's an impossible goal. Plain and simple, women can't do it all, and neither can men. It takes a partnership (any partnership) to accomplish well rounded children. And I'm not backing down on that. I came from a twice broken home because of my mother. So I have just as much right to say that, yes, I personally would have preferred 2 parents completely, as you do to say anything. My intention is not to say that those single mothers are horrible beings and should be ashamed of themselves. I'm not saying that AT ALL. I know that stuff happens that is beyond your control. But you can't tell me that in your heart, you know that your kids (or yourself) would have grown up better and safer if there was someone there helping you out. The same happens when parents neglect their kids too. Parents are no longer parenting. And if someone takes insult to that, then they're missing the message too. No one wants to be held accountable anymore. I've already told you I would fly out personally to apologize to those that I legitimately hurt by saying something I have today. But I haven't singled anyone out like you've done to me, so I won't take the fact that I'm pointing out what they see as a "flaw" in themselves (and I see an unobtainable goal), and they don't want to see it as an insult. If I'm ever a single mother (also.. mother is being used loosely. I'm using it because I'm using MYSELF as an example, and I am female) I know my kids won't turn out as good as if they had a "father figure" in their life. **ugh..**<br /><br />I'm also not saying that because they have that father figure, they'll be protected for life against harm. No.. Not at all, so please stop putting words in my mouth. I'm saying that if you have that person in your life, you're going to recognize that there's no useful message to be taken from A BOOK, or they'll be able to tell you that you're being an idiot for wanting something like that. (I'm talking about how you correlate the "message" in the book to mean girls SEEK OUT that kind of person... not it finding them. Just so we're clear. HOPEFULLY you understand that)Deiteringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279164004002505876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-32324344391566397732010-04-23T23:44:59.454-05:002010-04-23T23:44:59.454-05:00http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApBJ7fdLM6w
here ...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApBJ7fdLM6w<br /><br /><br />here ya go watch this <br /><br />this is what i think of Edward Cullen<br />when he thinks of bellaMJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-39684995092223401182010-04-23T23:38:33.754-05:002010-04-23T23:38:33.754-05:00if you noticed me caring less of what i said by th...if you noticed me caring less of what i said by the of the damn post i just gave up giving a shit of what i said to women who are feminist<br /><br /><br />please take offence...OH PLEASE DOMJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-19577104505958769932010-04-23T23:23:37.655-05:002010-04-23T23:23:37.655-05:00so what are you getting at?
..
are you a feminis...so what are you getting at?<br /><br />..<br /><br />are you a feminist?<br /><br />..<br /><br />i mean I am not trying to be disrespectful and all but you do realize these are books...<br /><br />what about entertainment?<br />what about schools themselves?<br />and these blogs? <br /><br />do these put an effect on someones thinking process?<br /><br />why lash out on literature?<br /><br />maybe its because they thought of it first and you got mad cause your still writing a book and it will sound like the rest of teen girls fantasy books? (young adults)<br /><br />I am just saying your dumb for thinking that its giving off a message that girls look for a guy 5 years older then them... its human nature for girls to do so... cause the guy has an increase of maturity then the ones of the girls age...<br /><br />its their fault they found the wrong guy and got "raped"<br /><br />don't blame it on the books... <br />blame it on girls who don't have (well i am agreeing with Amber) father figures...<br /><br />which means... ITS THE MOTHERS FAULT... or THE GRANDMOTHERS FAULT FOR SCARING THE SPERM DONOR AWAY WITH ALL FEMINIST LIKE BELIEFS OOORAHMJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-474107943152425802010-04-23T23:09:46.849-05:002010-04-23T23:09:46.849-05:00@Amberwhat a dumb hoe you are this makes no sense ...@<a href="#c6046033372852907286" rel="nofollow">Amber</a>what a dumb hoe you are this makes no sense cant you see ... its hurting people .. people have feelings its like you don't even care... why? do you have no heart?MJandersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536655992333715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-10792073682241025432010-04-23T21:50:30.792-05:002010-04-23T21:50:30.792-05:00Andrea, thanks for pointing out who bookshop was t...Andrea, thanks for pointing out who bookshop was talking to because I was really, really confused for a minute! :D<br /><br />Clare - What I was trying to say - and I haven't read any post about the subject except Andrea's - is that there's a reason kids lap this up. They aren't taught not to like this kind of romance and then just go gaga over it when they encounter it. Culture teaches them this is okay before they ever get to the books. I'm not saying that means we should keep writing books like this, I just think that blaming the books is not going to the root of the cause. The roots stem back much, much earlier in a person's life. They stem back to media and the way women and men are portrayed in advertisements, on TV, etc. Taking the books away don't help - by the time the kids are lapping them up, they've already internalized the argument.<br /><br />I could write a whole post about this, but I don't want to hijack Andrea's comments any more than I already have. :DAmandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-27590433941605776842010-04-23T21:06:15.558-05:002010-04-23T21:06:15.558-05:00@Corrina - I understand what you are saying, but t...@Corrina - I understand what you are saying, but there's a difference between scary lover and psychopathic killer. In my teen-aged fantasies, I don't remember ever hoping the boy would turn out to be a killer stalker guy.<br /><br />@bookshop - Thanks for commenting. <br />I'd just like to point out that your comment was meant for Amber, not Amanda. But other than that, thanks for stopping by and reading my post.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01299610611688148134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-10005403760247807682010-04-23T20:04:02.321-05:002010-04-23T20:04:02.321-05:00Hi, hi!
I just want to say that I'm the autho...Hi, hi!<br /><br />I just want to say that I'm the author of the 'Bad Romance' post in question and I wanted to thank you for writing such a thoughtful response! I got here completely inadvertently via twitter, and I hope you don't mind if I respond to Amanda, who was addressing the points I raised in my initial post:<br /><br />@Amanda:<br /><br /><i>And what the lj author of the review fails to do is give the main female character her free will and morals. She made it sound like she had non. Everyone can always say yes or no and no one can say anything different. The fact that she changed her mind doesn't mean that she has no choice in the matter. Because she did. She made the choice to change her mind.</i><br /><br />I don't have to overlook her free will. The book does it for me. First by Patch, who ignored her requests to leave him alone, then by her bio teacher, who ignored her requests to change seats, then by her friends, who ignored her attempts to point out the fact that this guy was stalking her, and then finally by Patch some more, as he continued to stalk her, attempt to kill her, and tell her that he can "do anything he wanted to her" and "no one will her her scream."<br /><br />The other point here is that the choice Nora makes is a DANGEROUS one. That could LITERALLY GET HER KILLED. You are literally saying that it's okay for books designed to be read by teenagers to market abusive, terrifying relationships as love stories, as long as the girl in the relationship <i>chooses</i> her abusive, terrifying relationship.<br /><br />The "come on, it's fiction" line is the first line that gets crossed out on the Bingo card. You obviously read the book, you obviously feel passionately about it, enough to react strongly to having the content of the book critiqued or threatened in some way. If you've internalized that much protectiveness over the book, then someone else will internalize the message of the book the same way. That's why it's important to talk about fiction. That's why you're taught to analyze literature in English class in high school -- so that you can pick apart these kinds of messages and learn to think for yourself.<br /><br />Also, I just want to say (again), implying that if a girl just had a strong protective father figure, it would protect her from the evil men trying to hurt her is *really* ironic considering there is no strong parental figure anywhere in this book. Nor is there in twilight. Nor are there in most YA books. So as a defense of the book, it doesn't really work.<br /><br />But more importantly, every time you imply that a girl is lost without a strong male father figure in her life, you insult all of the single moms and the non-traditional family structures, and the kids who grew up in them. People are real, and their experiences are real. You can't just shove them into a box based on how you see the world, and then tell them that they're thinking too much when they try to break out of that box. It doesn't work when you try to say "all girls should be feminine" and "all boys should be masculine." And it doesn't work in a book when you try to sell a story that basically says "Abuse is love. Rape is love. Subjugation is love." People, real people with real experiences that are different from yours, are going to resist that box and that message. And we're going to talk about why that box and that message harms us. Because that harm is real too, even if you don't want to see it.<br /><br />(For some context, I am pretty sure Amanda and I have already exchanged comments today, here: http://bookshop.livejournal.com/1032547.html?page=3#comments - so any follow-up she has for my comment can be made on my journal as well.)<br /><br />Thank you for this post, and thanks to all the commenters on it as well! <3Ajahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17792831434120292560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-32873486937959995842010-04-23T17:22:33.847-05:002010-04-23T17:22:33.847-05:00Argh. That should be "don't know better&q...Argh. That should be "don't know better" in the first sentence. Sorry.Corrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10054416605597476130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4462687717661471758.post-8560694956775296582010-04-23T17:21:47.714-05:002010-04-23T17:21:47.714-05:00I don't think kids are lapping this up because...I don't think kids are lapping this up because they know better. <br /><br />I think it's closer to the reason that "rape fantasy" books were common in romance in the 1970s. Women were uncomfortable with their sexuality and told sexual longings were bad. Hence, only under a "rape fantasy" could they let those "bad" thoughts come out. <br /><br />YA is somewhat similar in that girls are told over and over that sex is bad and they shouldn't have it--at the same time they're sexualized by society and boys are told to get more of it. <br /><br />Very confusing. Plus, add to the fact that boys are the "scary other" with the unknown of sex behind it at this age, and girls are working out their own fears by turning this scary lover into someone harmless who learns to value them. <br /><br />*Because, let's face it, teenage boys ARE intense about their crushes--as are teenage girls. <br /><br />I'm not saying this is all a GOOD thing, mind you, but I do think it explains some of it.Corrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10054416605597476130noreply@blogger.com