Review: The Hunger Games
Yes, I'm extremely late to the party, I know, but I'm going to weigh in on this series anyway. I'll just go ahead and credit this book with fueling my new interest in young adult literature and I don't mean that in a genre sense. I've tried reading some of the traditionally published 'genre,' and have been severely underwhelmed to the point that I can't bear to waste time finishing them. Nothing had really impressed me since Harry Potter. But this book--indeed, as I'm finished with the final...
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Jacqui wrote: "I think that the key to good young adult or even children's literature is that they are good literature in the first place. Think of the greats in the genre, Lewis Carroll, CS Lewis, JK Rowling the..."I agree completely. I can enjoy anything that is well-written. I also don't understand the people who ONLY read one genre. I don't even like the word 'genre' as applied to books. It's so constricting. But I can't endlessly read the same type of book. It would be like eating the same food every day. Or only listening to the same type of music over and over. It all starts to read/taste/sound the same.
I'll try anything, but when it comes right down to it, I'm only going to invest my time in something well conceived and well written, whatever type of book it is.
By the way, first chapters of my second book are finally going out for critique. :D
B.B. wrote: "By the way, first chapters of my second book are finally going out for critique. :D" Yay!
If a book is good, it should be able to be read by anyone. The only difference should be the choice of language, which should be adjusted for the intended audience, but all other aspects of good writing, like plot development, characterisation and good storytelling don't become less important just because your readers are below a certain age.
I was watching the 'behind the scenes' extra on my Doctor Who boxed set and they were talking about the longevity of the Whoverse. One of the actors made the observation that the genius of the show is that the stories are 'simple enough for adult audiences to follow, but complex enough to keep young viewers interested'. That is, I think the essence of what makes good young adult or childrens lit.