YA Spec-Fic, Existential Crisis, and Control
This week's Anonymous Teen Reader is Rosie the Writer! She's an amazing young woman with a very, very good head on her shoulders, proving once again that Prophecy readers RULE.
:D
Enjoy! And if you'd like to be featured on Anonymous Teen Reader, just send an email to prophecypress@aol.com with "Anonymous Teen Reader" in the subject line.
JUST THE FACTS
Interview Code Name (you choose!); Rosie the Writer
Current country of residence; USA
Male or female? Female
Age; 18
ABOUT THE BOOKS
How many books, on average, do you read a month?
Used to read about 7 or 8, since starting college, 3
Favorite kind of book and why;
YA Speculative (sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, horror). I love speculative fiction because I read to escape, and reading about ordinary life isn't enough of an escape for me. I love YA because I think the protagonists are at just the right age when they're teens—old enough to make life decisions, young enough to still be stupid about them. They're also old enough to be able to fight to save their world, but young enough that they can still have a life when that's over with.
Name the single most important factor in your decision to purchase a book; Interest. If either the book, genre, or author doesn't interest me, I won't even give it a second glance.
What makes you feel like you're reading or have read a truly amazing book?
If I yell at the book, or if I cry, or if I feel like throwing the book aside because I'm mad, that's an amazing book. Also, if I read the book in one sitting. Basically, if the book evokes such a strong emotional reaction from me that I show it in some visible way, it's an amazing book.
How important is a friend's recommendation in your decision to purchase a book?
A friend's recommendation doesn't do much for purchasing a book, but it does impact my decision to read a book, particularly because my To-Read list is very long.
Thing you'd like to see more or less of in the YA genre;
Less vampires, more faeries! Also, more novels-in-verse. It's my favorite format, and one that I believe is under-used and under-appreciated.
What's your biggest pet peeve in a book?
Alienating narrators. Now, this doesn't mean that I have to have gone through what the narrator is going through, but if their emotions and reactions are so alienating that I can't even begin to feel the experience for myself, I can't finish the book.
Paperback or hardcover?
Paperback.
Series or stand-alone?
Series, or at the very least, companion novels :)
ALL ABOUT YOU
If you had a life philosophy or motto, what would it be?
Carpe Diem. This is a little odd, because I tend to be a chronic worrier, but I'm trying this new thing where I don't worry about things that have already happened, and it's taken such a load off my shoulders. I feel like this is the next logical step :) (nice!)
Are your parents divorced?
No.
Do you feel that being a teenager is difficult? If so, why?
Yes. There's the obvious difficulty of PUBERTY *dundundun* There's also the fact that teenagers can be very petty and vindictive. I know we like to think that we're the one exception, but we all have our moments.
List some of your hobbies.
Reading and writing are the main two. :) I also love watching Disney movies, learning languages, and playing video games. I play tin whistle, too.
Why do you think teenagers feel the need to label one another?
It makes everything easier if people fit into little boxes. Teens want to control their lives, and if they label people and base their judgments on those labels, it adds an aspect of control.
Favorite color?
Blue
Is there anything in your past that makes you sad or angry? If so, are you willing to share it here?
Yes, but I'm trying not to worry (aka over-analyze everything I do and say) about stuff that has already happened.
What is your passion?
Writing, particularly writing poetry.
Do you feel the need to pretend to be someone you're not? If so, why?
No.
What kinds of things do you think about when you're all alone?
Who am I? I've been going through weekly existential crises. I also think about story ideas and things that will never be.
How do you keep your bed? Covered in pillows? Made perfect every morning? a mess of tangled sheets?
When I get up in the morning, I convert my bed into a couch by moving my pillows and folding back my blankets. Thus, there are a lot of pillows on my bed. I also have a backrest pillow. I'm kind of picky when I sleep, so I have to have my blankets tucked into the end of my bed so that my feet can't poke out. I know a lot of teenagers don't really care, but it really bothers me.
Do you ever feel the need to be invisible? If so, why?
I don't really feel the need, but it would certainly be interesting.
Do you believe that you will ever find the type of love in books and movies?
I hope so; I'm a hopeless romantic.
Do you like school? Why or why not?
Yes. I love learning. I'm kind of a nerd like that. I also love being in an atmosphere with people who also love learning so we can talk about things we learn. Ok, I'm a major nerd. But I'm proud to be a nerd. :D (me, TOO!)
Do you believe that education is important?
Absolutely. Education is what makes the future. Not just the future for the individual, but for society as a whole.
Are the cliques you read about or see on TV present in your school?
To a certain extent. I think they'll exist anywhere to a certain extent, because people of like interests band together. It's more a matter of how exclusive those people make their groups.
Do you ever feel awkward and uncomfortable?
Doesn't everyone??
Favorite animal?
Wolf.
Have you ever been mean to someone? If so, why? How did it make you feel afterward?
Definitely to my sister, and I always felt terrible afterwards. Probably inadvertently to others. Probably even on purpose, but I can't remember anything specific now. I'm very nonconfrontational.
Do you regret any of the choices you've made? If so, are you willing to share them here?
Yes, but as before, I'm trying not to think about them. :)
Do they wonder or worry about what other people think about you? Be honest!
I do, sometimes. But once I'm truly comfortable with a group of people, I tend to let that go. It's more with strangers, honestly. Like when my friends sing at the lunch table, I don't want the people I don't know to think I'm weird. Because people judge. No matter what they say, people judge. People have to make snap decisions and judgments about who they think people are. If we didn't, we would either talk to no one or talk to everyone. And either way, it would be a pretty extreme life. (You are very wise, hon.)
