I’ve been trying to get through several series/books lately but I think I’m stuck in a bit of a rut. I’ve always been a fan of the Fantasy & Science Fiction drama (my favorite books include the Harry Potter series and Ender’s Game) but recently, I feel as though my palate hasn’t been as satiated with the books I’m reading. I’m not one for DNF-ing (did not finish, I borrowed that acronym from http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/) but I’m getting a bit fed up with the genre.
I’m a huge fan of “young adult fiction” even though I think I’m supposed to have grown out of that phase by now. Sadly, I haven’t and I’m constantly reaching for those books like “Gossip Girl” and “It Girl.” They’re not the most the mind-engaging books but any reading is good, right? (Just nod along like you agree)
I’ve been alternating between two series in the Fantasy genre: “Blue Bloods” and “The Mortal Instruments.” I remember seeing them on the shelves a while ago and my sister seemed to like them so I thought I’d give them a try. I think my main problem with these books is the shallow depth of character of the female protagonists. Both series tout secret societies of otherworldly humans (in BB it’s vampires who are superior and in tMI it’s Shadowhunters or demon hunters) that protect that mundane human world without them knowing it. They both have teenage females that are about 15 years old who are the main protagonists and they are beautiful without knowing it and everything they do and touch seems to need a string of adjectives that go out the door. (If this were AP Lit, I would have an absolute field day writing the compare & contrast essay on these two series.) The writing styles are comparable and it’s almost as if these stories could take place in parallel dimensions because their simple structure is so similar.
While I realize these are fantasy books, since when is every female full-bodied…everything… and every male has a well-sculpted body, despite the fact that they’re barely past puberty, if not still in it, and who has all that time to work out? Let’s be real, a vivid imagination when it comes to reading can give the future generations a much more unattainable version of reality than television ever could. And why must the girl always passionately make out with the “bad boy” much to her good friend’s, who is also a guy, chagrin?
This female protagonist with two males love triangle is shaping out to be the basis of too many young adult novels: the Twilight series, The Hunger Games, etc. These are just two more to add to the numerous that are out there. I’m tired of reading about the weak, yet beautiful heroine who is somehow magically able to overcome whatever her circumstances. Give me some female characters with girth: Hermoine, who is described as having bushy brown hair but bossy and intelligent, Anna Fitzgerald (from My Sister’s Keeper) whose struggle is whether to keep her sister alive or not.
Most young adult fiction is certainly fun to read but it’s not considered classical literature for a reason. While it’s fun to be transported into a fantastical world, many of these stories don’t teach a greater lesson than a generic “Through perseverance and hard work, you can overcome all obstacles.” Take note that I say “most” young adult fiction and not “all” because I recognize that there are plenty of works out there that fulfill more than this basic outline structure. NPR has a l
ist of the best young adult novels out there, compiled from a list made up of polling their readers. “Twilight” is on there but also “Catcher in the Rye.” It might be worth perusing for my next reading adventures.
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| NPR's Top 100 List. |
