My Reading Frenzy

New Adult - Real genre or not necessary

I just finished a novel that seems to be firmly in the newly coined genre "new adult."  At this moment I am feeling too lazy to look up its actual definition, but from what I have read and can remember, this genre is for the high school graduate and maybe even college graduate who is not yet ready to leave behind YA themes of finding oneself and making a place in the world, but is not yet ready for the world of "adult fiction" a genre title I cannot help but equate to "adult films" when they are NOT REALLY THE SAME AT ALL. 

Anywho, the book I have just finished is Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando.  The chapters alternate between two girls who have just found out they will be college roommates.  I can see how this is different from YA: the issues are different, the approach to sex is much less ridden with angst, there is an element of "fresh start" to the whole story.  That being said, I am not sure this needs to be a whole different genre, which implies a separate shelf at the place where you get your books.  I think high school age students who are looking forward to college could benefit from stories about this limbo time and beyond, just as adults, who are flocking to YA more and more anyway, will read these for the same reason: they are engaging stories no matter the age of the reader.  So I have arrived at no conclusion.  How do you feel about "new adult" as a separate genre?

The book itself is nicely done.  While I have grown a bit weary of the alternating chapters concept, this one works well because the writers are different.  Too often the difference in voice is difficult to detect.  This particular time in my life was difficult.  I sometimes deal poorly with change, and I loved high school.  This novel spends almost no time dwelling on the horrors or joys of high school, but focuses almost entirely on "What do I do in the time I have left in my old life?" and "What is my new life going to be like?"  Whatever the genre is called I like it!  I like it a lot!   

I have received a recommendation to read another book by Sara Zarr called The Lucy Variations.  While I am looking forward to the book based on my recent reading and the recommendation, the best part is the cool story I have to tell:  When I read the "Acknowledgements" in Roomies, I noticed a familiar name.  This is not someone I know well, but I have in fact spoken to her in person on more than one occasion and exchanged e-mail (prior to the one I am about to discuss).  After seeing her name, and figuring it probably is indeed her as she was an editor at the book's publishing house, I wrote to confirm.  And YES she is in fact the person acknowledged, and she is also acknowledged in The Lucy Variations.  FULL DISCLOSURE:  I am a book nerd, I love to meet authors, but we are not likely to be friends.  However, I am pretty thrilled to actually know someone who was acknowledged by real, published authors in actual, published works. 

UP NEXT: ttfn by Lauren Myracle to which I have been looking forward since I finished ttyl.

Interesting article about old-timey games and toys and maybe some books...

This morning, my American Libraries Direct "newsletter" linked to this awesome article I couldn't help but share.  It does not hurt that the first item is from Nathaniel Hawthorne (swoon).

Gilded Age Games and Toys

Holiday Time Reading

I was able to do quite a bit of reading during my Christmas break along with relaxing and spending time with family and friends.

Not too long ago I read Graceling by Kristin Cashore.   I followed up with Fire the companion novel.  On one hand I was irritated not to get the continuing story of Katsa and Po, but it did not take many pages before I was caught up in the story of Fire and Brigan.  Their story takes place in the same world as that of Katsa and Po, but many years before.  There is also a significant cross-over character who will be important in the third book, Bitterblue, which is at the top of my TBR pile. 

I do like the books I read at holiday time to be generally cheerful.  I chose well with The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.  It is a love story in which the romantic lead is a man with Aspberger's.  As more and more children and adults are diagnosed we will see more and more literature of this type.  The object of his affection is Rosie, a woman who on paper, or according to Don's questionnaire, is completely wrong for him.  There are few surprises in this love story, but the tale is so sweet and so indicative of the Aspberger's experience that it is informative as well as heart-warming. 

 

Next up was The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg.  This is the first of her books I have read, though I have seen Fried Green Tomatoes, the movie version of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.  This novel moves back and forth from present day (approximately) to right before World War II.  I enjoyed both segments, which of course intersected, but the WWII were great historical fiction.  Just like in Flygirl, by Sherri L. Smith, which I read last year, this is the story of women pilots, a whole family of them.  I find this topic really interesting and appreciate the incorporation of historical accuracy with the story of women who might really have been there.  

 

For New Year's Eve I read Persepolis by Marjane Patrapi, which made me want to know more about the Iranian people.  All I know pertains to the time after the establishment of the Islamic republic.  I know almost nothing about the rich and ancient culture of Persia.  I also had time to visit my favorite used bookstore in Norfolk, The Book Exchange, where I picked up Lauren Myracle's ttyl and L8r, g8r but not ttfn.  I did not find ttyl as shocking as I expected given the buzz I have heard about the series.  I just found it to be a realistic depiction of teen life.  I look forward to the next two books.   I also started This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, whose work I always enjoy. 

Christmas Break Reflections

Because I am lucky enough to work in education, my time off at Christmas is longer than for those in other professions.  I do not take this for granted.  I use my time to be with family, visit with friends, and read.  I went to my parents' house in NJ for Christmas and was able to see six different high school friends, three of whom I have not seen in two years or more.  While Facebook has put me in touch with many friends I had not stayed in close contact with, I find it also substitutes for "real" contact.  We feel like we know what is going on in each other's lives because we read the posts and see the pictures, but those are only a small, edited part of someone's life.  One of my New Year's resolutions is to stay in much closer touch with people I do not want to disappear from my life.  Sadly, some of these thoughts have been prompted by the recent death of someone who was once a close friend.  After I moved away from NJ we lost touch.  I had a rough two years after I moved and allowed too many friendships to fall away.  I have regretted this, but was not sure how to repair the damage.  For the past two days, memories have been swirling around my brain about my time at MTHS and the friends I have there.  I do not want to lose that part of my life, as I had life-defining experiences at that school, with those friends. 

Friday I will travel to NJ knowing I am seeing people in their lowest moments, and even if they ignore me completely, I want to be there to offer any support I can.  I want to begin to repair the friendships in the hopes that next time we are together it will be for happier reasons. 

RIP Tara Sullivan Gardner