Let Me Read | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Let Me Read

Live and let live.

7
Let Me Read
Johannes Jansson

This past week, I was reading an article titled "Against YA" written by Ruth Graham. In the article, it discussed why only teenagers should read young adult novels and how adults should feel "ashamed" if they read that genre.

When reading Graham's article, I thought about Disney movies and how they are made for children, yet many adults head to theaters to watch them as well. I mean, two weeks ago, I considered pushing a child down so they wouldn't be able to steal my seat for "Finding Dory." Disney is similar to the idea of young adult vs. adult literature because Disney fare is also geared for a younger audience.

Do I feel ashamed for watching something made for children? No. Do I "feel embarrassed when what you're reading was written for children?" (Graham) Not at all. I still thoroughly enjoy it, but in a different way. Yes, some of the things that once made me love young adult literature no longer apply to me, but that doesn't mean none of it applies. Think of it this way. When I was younger I used to love princess movies because I thought about how one day I would meet my true love and become a princess. However, when I watch these movies and hear the main character say she is in love with the prince I think, How can you be in love with him? You just met him, like, two days ago! However, that doesn't stop my love for these films. My favorite Disney movie, to this day, is "Aladdin." I love the music, I love the humor (RIP Robin Williams) and I love the way Jasmine refuses to marry a man she isn't in love with.

Do I feel as though, because these books and movies are made for children, we should be ashamed of reading and watching them? Not at all. However, the reasons we read are different than when we were younger. We are not trying to relive our youth. Rather, we have learned things now that would have been different when we were younger. As Julie Beck said in her response essay, The Adult Lessons of YA Fiction, "Just because you learn something once at 16, doesn’t mean you won’t have to re-learn it over and over again throughout your life."

We grow up, we get jobs, we mature, we change, but not everything about us is different. Some of the morals and life lessons of young adult literature still apply to us even as adults. Even as an adult I enjoy reading of make believe places and unrealistic worlds. I know they're fake, I know they're completely unreal, but they take you to a place of "What-if?"

Is young adult literature aimed for a teen audience? Maybe, but should that stop adults from reading and enjoying these books as well? Absolutely not.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
student sleep
Huffington Post

I think the hardest thing about going away to college is figuring out how to become an adult. Leaving a household where your parents took care of literally everything (thanks, Mom!) and suddenly becoming your own boss is overwhelming. I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job of being a grown-up, but once in awhile I do something that really makes me feel like I'm #adulting. Twenty-somethings know what I'm talking about.

Keep Reading...Show less
school
blogspot

I went to a small high school, like 120-people-in-my-graduating-class small. It definitely had some good and some bad, and if you also went to a small high school, I’m sure you’ll relate to the things that I went through.

1. If something happens, everyone knows about it

Who hooked up with whom at the party? Yeah, heard about that an hour after it happened. You failed a test? Sorry, saw on Twitter last period. Facebook fight or, God forbid, real fight? It was on half the class’ Snapchat story half an hour ago. No matter what you do, someone will know about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Chandler Bing

I'm assuming that we've all heard of the hit 90's TV series, Friends, right? Who hasn't? Admittedly, I had pretty low expectations when I first started binge watching the show on Netflix, but I quickly became addicted.

Without a doubt, Chandler Bing is the most relatable character, and there isn't an episode where I don't find myself thinking, Yup, Iam definitely the Chandler of my friend group.

Keep Reading...Show less
eye roll

Working with the public can be a job, in and of itself. Some people are just plain rude for no reason. But regardless of how your day is going, always having to be in the best of moods, or at least act like it... right?

1. When a customer wants to return a product, hands you the receipt, where is printed "ALL SALES ARE FINAL" in all caps.

2. Just because you might be having a bad day, and you're in a crappy mood, doesn't make it okay for you to yell at me or be rude to me. I'm a person with feelings, just like you.

3. People refusing to be put on hold when a customer is standing right in front of you. Oh, how I wish I could just hang up on you!

Keep Reading...Show less
blair waldorf
Hercampus.com

RBF, or resting b*tch face, is a serious condition that many people suffer from worldwide. Suffers are often bombarded with daily questions such as "Are you OK?" and "Why are you so mad?" If you have RBF, you've probably had numerous people tell you to "just smile!"

While this question trend can get annoying, there are a couple of pros to having RBF.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments