tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post3971991058614372197..comments2024-01-07T02:13:14.908-05:00Comments on The Broke and the Bookish : New Adult: Is it really necessary?Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01772938036847330151noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-52482270714704100902013-01-07T07:06:41.098-05:002013-01-07T07:06:41.098-05:00I partly agree and partly disagree. I think New Ad...I partly agree and partly disagree. I think New Adult is a useful category for people who want to read this kind of fiction, so that they can find it more easily. I don't think bookshops and libraries should automatically make space for it unless it becomes really popular and lots more NA books get written and published. Then if it does become popular, surely it make sense to dedicate space to it, for the convenience for customers?<br /><br />You say that your library doesn't separate adult fiction by genre, but libraries in the UK generally do (maybe they have more space). My local library has separate sections for sci-fi and fantasy, thrillers, horror, romance, historical, and sagas, all to help people find their kind of fiction easily. I can't see NA taking off so much that it would get its own section in a library, but if it became popular it might get a temporary display, like my library does for LGBT books, Black History Month, film and tv adapatations, Booker prize winners, etc.<br /><br />But if I were doing the arranging, I would definitely give NA a space within the adult section, so that it wasn't confused with YA. New Adult is simply a type of literature for adults, I think, rather than a separate age category between teen and adult.Juliannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16717669339443902755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-15613526945099373942013-01-01T22:02:12.854-05:002013-01-01T22:02:12.854-05:00I haven't liked the New Adult label either. In...I haven't liked the New Adult label either. In fact, I finally got around to reading one: "Losing It" the other night, and while I liked it... I mean, it didn't feel like anything MORE relatable to an older set of teens/20 somethings than like Lola and the Boy Next Door or something.<br /><br />For me, I'm 27 and married and I've not lived at home since I was 23. There is no book that definitely TALKS TO ME EXACTLY. But a lot of the times it is the feeling of regret, longing, insecurity in these books that still fit me now. You can't really put a label on those. There is so much of that FEELING in my every day life whether I'm sitting in English class or I'm going to work. It's most definitely not a 20 something virgin who gets dragged to a bar by her "best friend" to lose her virginity because IT HAS TO HAPPEN and of course, finds a cute boy with a Bristish accent who knows exactly how to kiss her. I don't have much to go by but NA seems to hold on to this fantasy element that I just don't understand. First kisses are wonderful, but not always sexy and having sex is not always such an easy transition either.<br /><br />That's a really long rant. I understand publishers need to make money, and they need to market to certain age groups. People want to be able to relate to books, but I think they need to look outside the box. Because books are doing that all the time. Even Little Women and that's a classic and we may not be the same age of any of the sisters or even the same sex. It just seems like the idea of NA dumbs everything down, and MAKES IT EASY to find something relatable. Just like iPhones/Google make everything so tangible and easily accessible. It makes me sad.<br /><br />Thanks for writing this! I still don't know my full thoughts about NA. I still just want a well written book that makes me laugh and feel things, and is written WELL. I don't care how old I am. And I've kind of been like this since I was a kid -- a kid who was reading Emma in 6th grade and stealing my mom's romance novels. Sometimes we want to read about people outside of our age group... it would be grueling to keep reading about "people like us."<br /><br />Eek!! Sorry for the rant. I really appreciate your post. :) P.S. I'd much rather there be a section for maybe MATURE YA + not NA. I know at my book store they have like "Tough Stuff for Teens" and things and that collection seems pretty lined up with the heading. (haha how about one that says "SEXY TIMES!"... okay, kidding.)Estelle @ Rather Be Readinghttp://www.ratherbereadingblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-8430467372604659592013-01-01T21:50:18.272-05:002013-01-01T21:50:18.272-05:00Completely agree with you. Thanks for the complime...Completely agree with you. Thanks for the compliment, and for the comment. I'm really glad books about college-aged people are being written too; it's a gap that needs to be filled.Tahleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330160603781228707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-38834946450730638402013-01-01T21:48:52.220-05:002013-01-01T21:48:52.220-05:00Thanks for your thoughtful replies too, Janita. It...Thanks for your thoughtful replies too, Janita. It's been a great discussion.Tahleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330160603781228707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-23868049807324426422013-01-01T21:46:49.968-05:002013-01-01T21:46:49.968-05:00This is perfect. Thanks for the insight—it's s...This is perfect. Thanks for the insight—it's something that was in my mind but I couldn't exactly put it into words.Tahleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330160603781228707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-84934464116735124612012-12-31T15:55:07.348-05:002012-12-31T15:55:07.348-05:00I agree with you; however, for so long writing abo...I agree with you; however, for so long writing about college was off-limits. You could write about 18 and under or 25 and older. But you couldn't write about college because there wasn't a market for it.<br /><br />I personally am thrilled that this new adult genre is opening up this age group for writers. I agree that it could just be swallowed up into adult fiction. <br /><br />However, I'm glad that this age group is finally available for mainstream publishing.<br /><br />Great post.danicapagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759243590973703725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-1772875084660359372012-12-31T12:50:35.212-05:002012-12-31T12:50:35.212-05:00I think if we're going to approach NA books as...I think if we're going to approach NA books as YA books as the readers marketed towards it are in their 18-25s, I think authors should be more open to writing books about college years, and like Tahleen said, indicate on the book that it is for a more "mature" audience. Plus, reading about college-year books in your teens could be a great way to learn what to expect when entering the workforce or post-secondary school. But if the marketing ploy for NA works, and there is a large audience for it and a lot of books for it in years to come that associate themselves with "New Adult", I definitely think we should have a separate section for it and treat it like a library category instead of a genre. However, I think with the amount of discussion out there (as demonstrated by all these comments), it seems like the best course is to absorb it with YA fiction and make it more available to both young and older readers. <br />Thanks, Tahleen, for being open to having this discussion and posting about New Adult fiction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-13851732923941164132012-12-31T08:03:27.333-05:002012-12-31T08:03:27.333-05:00Yes, there is a space for more books about student...Yes, there is a space for more books about students and young people starting out, but I don't think they need their own little category.Katie Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844778170761632779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-88873170002671089452012-12-31T08:02:38.744-05:002012-12-31T08:02:38.744-05:00Agreed. Once we start creating these new age group...Agreed. Once we start creating these new age groups, where do we stop? If we have books for "New Adults" then what about "just about established adults" "middle-aged married with kids adults" "middle-aged and still single adults" "getting on a bit" and so on. Fiction deals with all sorts of people, all sorts of situations, and I don't see the need in splitting them up into age groups as well as genres after you've reached 18 - you can look for yourself to see which books you want to read. Besides, I think the name sounds a bit patronising.Katie Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844778170761632779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-46169266508908008102012-12-31T07:57:41.998-05:002012-12-31T07:57:41.998-05:00I totally agree. "New Adult" (both its e...I totally agree. "New Adult" (both its existence and its name) makes me gag. From the sound of it, all they are doing is taking what would be a YA book and making the protagonist 23 instead of 17. Plenty of adults read YA fiction, so what's the point?<br />The thing that really peeves me about this so-called "genre" is that it is much harder to represent the "new adult" age group than it is to represent the teen age group. Almost all teens have certain things in common (high school, dating, etc). I am also 25, and while some women my age are in college, going to parties every week and looking for a boyfriend, others are married with a kid. If a 25-year-old protagonist is a stay-at-home mom, you'll find it in adult fiction. If she's a waitress, then it's "new adult." <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-55642274462460676422012-12-31T07:11:02.564-05:002012-12-31T07:11:02.564-05:00+JMJ+
I'm glad you liked it, Julia!
And I ...+JMJ+ <br /><br />I'm glad you liked it, Julia! <br /><br />And I agree with your point that amazingness transcends age groups. I've been reading Young Adult and Middle Grade books for years, although they haven't been written specifically for me in a long time, precisely because they're still really great books. Enbrethilielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03414765854670926854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-20274284685308221152012-12-31T04:11:56.837-05:002012-12-31T04:11:56.837-05:00I always thought young adult was supposed to fill ...I always thought young adult was supposed to fill that gap anyway. If it was purely for teens it would be called teen fiction. We all know adults are reading YA and teens are reading adult fiction, I don't see why anyone thinks trying to pigeon hole readers is a good thing.Elliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377404526123600035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-62641251286883290712012-12-30T19:57:22.381-05:002012-12-30T19:57:22.381-05:00I'm a librarian, too, and see this classificat...I'm a librarian, too, and see this classification as irrelevant. Plenty of YA lit is marketed to adults, plenty of adult lit is read by teens, and there's the whole coming-of-age genre that can be found in both places. When fortysomethings are reading Cinder (a cyborg-punk take on the fairy tale), and teens are reading the likes of Lauren Weisberger (Devil Wears Prada, etc), the lines are blurred anyway. I'd rather see readalike bookmarks featuring authors who write for this audience and place them in both the teen and adult sections of the library. That way, people would more easily be able to find what they're looking for. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-56807979174087140822012-12-30T15:29:41.023-05:002012-12-30T15:29:41.023-05:00I think that "New Adult" sounds terrible...I think that "New Adult" sounds terrible, but what alternative is there? In my human development class we talked about how psychologists are referring to this agegroup (18-nearly thirty) as twixtagers (which just makes me want candy. In all acuality these are young adults - from my standpoint you are an adolescent, developmentally, until around your mid-twenties. NA is still YA so why create an extra shelf?Ginny Hixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00066999802220857936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-9174743524154801712012-12-30T15:19:45.157-05:002012-12-30T15:19:45.157-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-82876061988807771282012-12-30T14:52:55.090-05:002012-12-30T14:52:55.090-05:00It is great for authors who want to write about th...It is great for authors who want to write about those characters, for sure, but I'd rather see it go into adult fiction personally. I know I'm not the author, but why are they hesitant to do that? Just curious.Tahleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330160603781228707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-4051025621801253122012-12-30T14:42:31.060-05:002012-12-30T14:42:31.060-05:00I have two friends who are writing books with prot...I have two friends who are writing books with protagonists who are in college, and both were warned that unless the protagonists were under 18, these books wouldn't be marketable as YA. Neither friend wanted to make their character younger, but neither liked the idea of their books be marketed as Adult. I think they're both pretty excited at the idea of a New Adult genre.<br /><br />But I still don't know if this label is great. I'm completely with you on NA sounding like Not Applicable, and also being too similar to YA.<br /><br /> <a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Lauren @ Hughes Reviews</a><br />LHugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-26487195466226591372012-12-30T14:40:53.441-05:002012-12-30T14:40:53.441-05:00Thanks Jamie! :)Thanks Jamie! :)Tahleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330160603781228707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-39300137424912399002012-12-30T14:39:48.099-05:002012-12-30T14:39:48.099-05:00Agreed. Marketing ploy.Agreed. Marketing ploy.Tahleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330160603781228707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-3625663177389665702012-12-30T14:39:33.987-05:002012-12-30T14:39:33.987-05:00Yes! Thank you! And thanks for the comment. :)Yes! Thank you! And thanks for the comment. :)Tahleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330160603781228707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-44276369523635872262012-12-30T14:32:41.180-05:002012-12-30T14:32:41.180-05:00As you and I met years ago in the College Students...As you and I met years ago in the College Students group on Goodreads, you know I am AALLLLLL for books that represent that time in our lives and also that time AFTER you graduate and you have no idea what the effers you want to do with your life and are thrust into REAL grownuphood. So I totally LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of these books and am so surprised that there aren't more that are written...just naturally...not as part of a new publishing trend. But I have to agree with you when I'm just not sure that it needs to be sectioned off by itself. Great post, Tahleen! Jamiehttp://www.perpetualpageturner.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-27632063983396632542012-12-30T14:29:20.346-05:002012-12-30T14:29:20.346-05:00It literally took me weeks upon reading reviews wi...It literally took me weeks upon reading reviews with the NA acronym to figure out what it was, and I had already heard about New Adult...<br /><br />actually I had to ask. So strange.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831322497489282381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-14640129667461035632012-12-30T14:28:16.977-05:002012-12-30T14:28:16.977-05:00I kind of agree with you. I had the same first imp...I kind of agree with you. I had the same first impression of the genre with the added sense that from a publisher perspective that its YA with sex in it. Clearly after learning a bit more about it, though I have never read it, I was wrong. <br /><br />I don't think I am the target demographic anymore as a 26 year old, kind of established person. So I don't think I will be reading any unless everyone says their amazing because amazingness transcends age limitations.<br /><br />Anyway, I really replied this to you because I loved your second paragraph. It is how I feel about the romance genre said beautifully!!Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831322497489282381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-2903359671363410562012-12-30T14:19:20.143-05:002012-12-30T14:19:20.143-05:00New acronyms/terms = new ways to sell. All about t...New acronyms/terms = new ways to sell. All about the benjamins. Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02287501540207945678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-64581265732153945392012-12-30T14:01:39.970-05:002012-12-30T14:01:39.970-05:00I've read a lot of posts on this topic, and I ...I've read a lot of posts on this topic, and I don't think I've agreed with anyone more. Is there a growing market for the NA genre? Absolutely. Does it need its own section? I don't think so. And I say this as someone who both fits in the NA category and as someone who used to work at a library. I would put it in the adult section, personally, because that's what I consider myself. An adult. Yes, I'm 21 so I'm going through huge transitions in my life that older adults are not, but I still consider myself to be just as much as an adult as every other person 18+. I don't need a special section for books targeted towards my age group. That would be like creating a section for geriatric fiction, and I don't see that one happening any time soon. These books are about adults and should be shelved as such.<br /><br />Oh, and I absolutely hate everything about the term "New Adult" as well. That's a whole other rant haha. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com