So the other day at work, I was talking to somebody about Game of Thrones. I was basically asking him not to spoil me on Monday since I won't be able to watch until Monday night. He told me I should just read the books that way I won't have to worry about spoilers. I agreed and said that I would get to it eventually but that I had over 100 books on my TBR that needed to be read. You know what he says?
Him: "Let me guess, all those are YA?" in a judgmental tone.
Me: "Yes, they are mostly YA. Is that a problem?"
Him: "They're probably all about vampires."
I went on to tell him that he was uninformed on the genre and shouldn't look down on something he has never tried.
But this makes my blood boil. Because it's not just him. It's a large portion of the world. They look down on YA, thinking that every YA book is like Twilight (which I'm not saying is a bad book, when I read it, I actually really enjoyed it). Because that series has a pretty bad reputation, the rest of the genre gets grouped in with it.
No. Just no. The YA genre has a LOT to offer. Vampires included. Werewolves. Fairies. Mermaids and all other paranormal creatures. But what most of the world doesn't understand is that paranormal creatures and YA are NOT mutually exclusive. There's much more out there and I hate that people won't give it a chance and instead, judge those who read it. It's not fair. I don't judge the adult genre because I'm not well read in it. It wouldn't be fair for me to cast judgment on the entire genre when I've only read a handful of adult fiction books. So why is it okay for other people to judge YA? It's not and it needs to stop.
I hope my co-worker is reading this. And if he is, I hope he's not taking offense, but instead reflecting on what I've said. Judging something you know nothing about is not okay. It's okay if you don't want to read YA. But don't make other people feel bad about loving it.
Have you run into people who judge YA and think that it's all the same story? What do you say to them to combat this?
I get this from my mother in law, I'm 27 with two kids it's not to say I'm young but I am no longer 17. My mother in law knows I love reading so she took it upon herself to buy me books all of which are adult books like Jackie Collins. I can't stand them so when I let her know nicely that I didn't enjoy them and pointed out what I liked, she made a point of say that maybe I was just a little old to be reading something marketed for teenagers, I happen to think that a vast majority of YA books is actually marketed to a wide audience and that most be need only open their minds to see this. Stereo typing and grouping people together is never appropriate even when it's just to do with books.
ReplyDeleteYes! I'm just like why do you care what I read? YA is totally marketed to a broader market than just teenagers. I see adults reading YA all the time. I'm 23 and I will never stop reading YA. I just love it too much. The stories are fast-paced. The characters have real depth and feeling and I just love it.
DeleteUm, hello, Ann Rice?! Gah. I don't know why people are so ridiculous about YA. I always just want to shove something into their hands and make them TRY it. :D They don't know what they're missing! (And I'm 36, with 4 kids, so...yeah.)
ReplyDeleteRight! That's exactly what I wanted to do with this guy. I was like oh hell no. You just haven't given it a try. Jerks.
DeleteI completely agree with your post. Why people think they can judge something they know nothing about is beyond me. And obviously there are paranormal YA (some with vampires) but there are so many other types of books. And hello, what is the difference between an "adult" urban fantasy novel and a series like Mortal Instruments? Mainly sex. And the characters are generally older in "adult" books). And I have read both. Just hate judgy judgersons (is that a word?) ~Pam
ReplyDeletehaha I <3 you. Judgy judgerson. This is a new word that I will use often. :) Seriously, I think that's the biggest difference between YA and adult. Sex. But for some reason, ppl think the writing in YA is lacking which is completely 100% not true! Grrr!!
DeleteOMG. Amen to this. I never go on facebook except for maybe once a month to check up on relatives and long distance friends--- anyway, my sister in law posted this stupid image: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=693641494032102&set=a.511299738932946.1073741856.231842380212018&type=1&theater and i wanted to EXPLODE. She said something like.... "if you are over 18 you shouldn't be reading crap like this. try a classic." She has no clue what she is talking about and has probably never even read a YA novel. I seriously wanted to throw my computer out the window. I don't even know how to respond to people like that.
ReplyDeleteOMG! That's exactly what my coworker said to me!! "You should read a classic." Seriously???? I know, what are you supposed to say to them? I just want to shove some YA books in their hands and be like, read it! And then come tell me it's crap.
DeleteI don't think I've ever been judged for reading YA. Then again, most people think I'm still in high school or a freshman in college. So I guess they'd never really judge me for reading YA thinking that it's my age group. I do feel like I would be judged though. Especially living in DC. I find that biographies and history books are a big thing here, or at least it is from the store I work at. So I'm sure all those nonfiction only readers would definitely judge me if they actually knew my real age. It's sad but definitely true.
ReplyDeleteIn Hawaii, I don't think I'd be judged as much. Manga alone used to take up an entire wall in my local Barnes and Noble that recently closed. People can't judge me for reading YA there if everyone else is reading manga.
Basically though, I don't care. People are ignorant. I've learned to just ignore it all.
Yeah, I really hate when people tell me they read nonfiction because most of the time (not all) those are the ones that get really judgy about YA.
DeleteSo what you're saying is all of us YA bloggers should pack up and move to Hawaii? My bag is packed! Let's go!
Hahaha! Hawaii could totally become the state of YA readers. I'd be down with that!
DeleteUgh, your co-worker makes me feel stabby. Honestly, I feel like he is part of a group of people who would read and enjoy any given YA book if you simply slipped a different dustjacket onto it. Some people are only comfortable fitting into whatever labels/boxes/stereotypes that they themselves feel are valuable/cool/socially acceptable. I personally can't imagine taking something like reading, which is one of my favorite things in the whole fantastic world, and doing it in a way that pleased/appeased/gratified other people while I ignored all of the exciting, well-written, gorgeous worlds that I actually enjoy. Basically, I guess I'm saying that a lot of people seem do exactly that: be anything except who they actually are... and it really pisses them off to see anyone being themselves and enjoying life while breaking 'the rules' so to speak. It's quite sad actually. :/
ReplyDeleteYes, it really is sad. Some people are just too afraid to be themselves. I used to be like that, but I'm so happy that I've broken out of that mold and started doing my own things. Because I'm me. Why should I conform to what the rest of the world tells me I should be? I shouldn't.
DeleteThis is such an ENRAGING topic!! At work I'm constantly getting badgered about reading YA and finally I just snapped the other day and said for people who don't read ANY books, I hardly think you should be judging the ones that people DO read. I'm not sure why it's ok to judge others about this... just ARGH ARGH ARGH lol.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes!! I wanted to look at him and be like, and how many books have you read in the last week?? Because I've read four! Stupid, ignorant people.
DeleteThere are some amazing YA books out there and I have no problem telling people how much I love them (as a 35 yr old mom of three kids) :)
ReplyDeleteyay!!! This makes me happy. Screw all the haters!
DeleteOMG Hannah and I were JUST talking about this! I will say in short to prevent my rage from coming out full throttle. Dear People of Earth--Read. Read what you want. Read what makes you happy. Read only books about sparkly vampires over and over and over again until you can repeat the books verbaitm...if that's what makes you happy. Those might not be MY kind of books that I LOVE to read but who cares. Read what you want. Love what you read. And DO NOT bash or judge or put down what other people enjoy. If you can't say anything nice. Don't say anything at all. That is all. Love, Kelly
ReplyDeleteI love this! I want to print this off and show it to my coworker. Because seriously who cares?? Just read what you love. It doesn't matter if other people don't love the same things as you. Everyone has different tastes and they're entitled to their own opinion about things. Grr....
DeleteI agree! I've been reading YA fairly exclusively for almost two years now and when people ask me what I read, YA is the obvious answer, right? Except depending on the person, I end up saying the genres instead because that's a more "acceptable" answer which is SUCH A SHAME and I HATE DOING IT but I also really hate being judged. We watched our neighbor's cat and she came over to give us the keys to our house, was eying my awesome book case, and started saying how she liked The Hunger Games okay but could get through the second book and she didn't even finish the Harry Potter books. But she reads romances (which hey, I don't judge her) but I felt like she was TOTALLY judging my YA collection (the titles that people know, anyway). I just hate feeling so icky about something I LOVE and I shouldn't have to feel that way. It's just such a shame that people DO judge because I don't think that will ever change. But these same people are jumping on the Harry Potter/Hunger Games/Divergent bandwagon, right? I guess all we can do is keep supporting the movies and book pushing and proclaiming our love for YA and maybe people will be more accepting!
ReplyDeleteExactly. I hate that ppl are so anti-YA, but then are like oh my gosh, Hunger Games is amazing! Um, hello!!! Hunger Games is totally YA! Grrr... Ignorant people make me so angry. And your point about your neighbor reading romance....totally not my genre of choice, BUT I don't judge people for liking it! To each their own.
DeleteI GET SO MAD. I get reactions like, oh what're you reading, teen-y romance vampire books? And I'm like okay, first of all, not all YA is vampire books. and secondly, have you read one? do you know what you're talknig about? NO SO STOP JUDGING. Read for fun! Read for enjoyment! Read what you want and don't judge others for it! like, WHY? I hate that feeling, I get so mad. I have started to just smile and ignore because otherwise I get really rage-y.... haha.
ReplyDeleteLol I know right!! Why does everyone think YA is just vampires??? Their ignorance makes me feel stabbey. I just give them them the "yes I'm reading YA" with that look in my eyes that dares them to say anything. Most people back off from my bitch stare. Lol.
DeleteOh that's so awkward! And I'm pretty sure that GOT the tv show has differences from the books, so you won't be prevented from spoilers anyways! But YA is so much more than that- so many YA books are adventures, are heartfelt and thought provoking journies, and mean something to many people!
ReplyDeleteI have gotten the Twilight comment a few times, or vampires, or cheesy love stories...
Read YA with pride- it's a genre that's full of incredible journies and adventures. And the occasional vampire, but can I just say the original vampire book was Dracula by Bram Stoker, a classic!
I LOVE Dracula! I read it in high school for AP Literature and fell in love with the story. So freaking good. All the YA haters out there need to back off! I know that they change things in the show for GOT from the book, but I didn't want anything spoiled for me. Bc some things are crazy shocking!! Love that show so much!
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