So, lately my review on The House of Night's latest book, Awakened, has been getting some traffic. Actually, it's been getting some ugly comments by anonymous commenters. Read the review and the comments HERE.
Now, I'm a firm believer in expressing your opinion. Isn't that what blogging is supposed to be? Sharing your own subjective thoughts about books? That's what I thought it was about---that and sharing the excitement of reading with other bloggers. Well, apparently not everyone feels this way. I guess some people think it's cool to be rude.
I've been called a prude and an old lady repeatedly by these commenters. And that's okay. If not liking bestiality, rape, lewdness and obscenity in YA makes me a prudish old lady, then that's what I am. I don't mind sex or swearing in adult fiction---have you not seen that I am a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series? I simply have a problem with these themes in YA literature.
So here you go, folks. This is what an old prude looks like (coincidentally, I was on my way to church here):
This is me and my precious baby girl, who will not be allowed to read books like The House of Night. This is why I include these types of details in my reviews, for moms who are trying to monitor what their kids read!
So, to the anonymous commenters: if you don't like my blog, go find another one to read. There's bound to be someone out there who feels the same as you do about these issues. Or just keep leaving ugly comments here at I'd So Rather Be Reading---we get a good laugh out of them!
This is most likely going to get me a few nasty emails too but I totally agree with your view on the House of Night series. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the books and read the whole series but they are not appropriate for the teens they are marketed too. I have a 15 year old who has asked many times to read them but I keep telling her no.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fine line to walk between YA and adult genre and I believe the House of Night should be labeled as adult even though the characters are teens. I guess this makes me a prude and a old lady too so just holler when you wanna race rocking chairs :D
I stopped reading the HoN series for those very reasons.
ReplyDeleteI don't enjoy having those type of things popping up in my YA reads; I feel that that kinda of stuff is better left to adult books. =)
I think it's sad that a couple of people left such rude comments. But after reading your review I am so glad I stopped reading this series so early on. =)
Orchid
The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
When it comes to YA sex scenes, it's either feast or famine, isn't it? Either there's too many guys to count, or it's eternal purity. What happened to middle ground?
ReplyDeleteIt puts me in mind of Judy Blume's Forever, which she wrote when her daughter asked for a book where teenagers have sex and nothing bad happens.
Opinions. Everybody's got one, you don't have to like it, but you do have to respect it.
Funny how the anonymous commenters don't have the balls to man up and sign in with their name. Come out, come out, wherever you are.
ReplyDeleteThis is YOUR blog where you are entitled to express YOUR opinion. Opinions are not right or wrong. Like you said Kelli, if they don't like what you have to say, then they don't have to read your blog.
I don't like reading lewd sex scenes in YA either. When sex is the main focus of a YA novel, you can count me out. Guess that makes me a prudish old lady as well.
Bestiality? No thanks. And WTF is that doing in YA material anyways? I've had Marked sitting on my bookshelf for about 2 years now and I really haven't had much desire to read it. Now that I've read your review on Awakened, I'll just skip this series altogether.
I am shocked by that comment. They always are anonymous huh. Sorry you had to deal with that but there are hundreds others who adore you, so I say F those haters. I stopped reading the series after the first book. It was just a disaster really. Everything you said. I'm surprised you read as many as you did. Like you I don't mind sex in YA if done right, like you I adore the BDB series but it's just he way this book is portrayed. Not going to get ranty here so I'll leave it at that. Don't let it get to you. Oh and you have a beautiful little girl there kelli. We got you hun ;)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the review yet, I'll be sure to do that in a minute, but I totally agree that the books are not appropriate for teens. Maybe that's what teens are exposed to these days, but they shouldn't be. My local Indie bookstore actually keeps them in the adult section and I had to make a point of telling them that was a good call.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious... as a disclaimer, though, I want to say that I really am JUST curious, and I am not implying anything about prudishness and/or old lady status... what is your opinion on the sexually charged scenes in the Twilight series? I am most specifically talking about the headboard breaking conception of vampire-baby scene, but there's obviously other moments in that series. Do you believe those are too much and should have raised the category to Adult Fiction instead of YA? (for the record: I don't like Twilight series in general for the messages it sends to teen girls, but oddly enough, the sex scene was never one of the reasons I'd NOT recommend the book to a teen.)
ReplyDeleteJust read your review and some of the comments. I have never read the series, so I can't add any input there. But some of those people are being absolutely ridiculous. Like the one person (who was obviously a teen) who said that the book was just exploring real life problems (like sex and relationships) in a fictional way. Which is absolutely ridiculous. Bestiality is not a normal real life problem. Along with statutory rape. I'm glad you posted that completely honest review. I'm 16, and I appreciated that you highlighted the lewd and inappropriate parts. Thank you very much for posting an honest review.
ReplyDeleteAnd also, although this is not related to the review, your baby girl is adorable :)
- Amanda
I am an author so I will post anonymously to avoid retaliation...some people r cruel, they are the first to scream about freedom of speech, yet have no problems slamming someone for having a different view. I had a book review once that was very cruel. Instead of just saying what she didn't like about the book, she trashed ME. And I agree with the Book Vixen. Man up or shut up:)
ReplyDeleteAmen sister!
ReplyDelete*high five*
You tell'em!
That person obviously has allot of growing up to do if he/she thinks she can personally attack everyone that doesn't share her opinions.
I'm with you.
We adult YA readers bring a lovely refreshing take to YA reviews. We know what would be ok for our kids to read or not and bestiality and rape are not it.
I commend you for being strong and you and your baby look beautiful.
Rock on sista!
read your original review and totally agree with your throughts. I stopped that series around book 4. I couldn't handle the lingo.
ReplyDeleteHey your reviews and book blook blog. Thanks for pointing out all the spoilers stuff. I am glad that I stopped that series.
I haven't read the HoN series for those very reasons -tried once and couldn't get past the first pages- and I still enjoy Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Now, you say it had rapping in it? Glad I never read those books.
ReplyDeleteDon't mind what they say. Be who you are and express your opinion freely.
There's nothing wrong with your opinion, Kelli! You know, I think we're all entitled to our opinions, and I think there's a fine line that can't be crossed in YA lit, that is too often crossed, actually...
ReplyDeleteI never made it passed the 3rd book in this series. I thought it slightly slutty and weird, and I didn't make it anywhere NEAR any bull. Beastiality huh? YUCK. I am also in my 30s and I am currently building a library for my 2 yo daughter and she will also never lay eyes on the House of Night series. So I guess I am a prude too!
ReplyDeleteGrace, I didn't either! Kelli, I for one agree with everything in your review of that book. I'm glad that people like you tell THE ENTIRE truth (you know, leaving out all the details about all the sex and stuff out of your review) about these books. If the things that happen in these books are supposed to represent real teens and what we do these days, then I'm sure the world in the books and I don't live in the same world.
ReplyDeleteI'm a prudish old lady, too (though I'm not THAT old yet). One of the reasons I like reading YA so much is because they tend to be cleaner books.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate it when reviewers mention if racy features are present in a book, especially if it's a YA book where my assumption would be that they aren't there. I can make a judgement for myself whether the book is for me or not, but I like having all of the information up front so I can more accurately make that judgement. I also work in a library, so having this kind of information in reviews is very helpful. It's like getting shorthand for all those books I don't have time to read but get asked about by my library patrons. So please continue to write about the "for the parents" warnings!
Now I'm off to go read your review and those comments!
I've known you were a prude since Kindergarden and I love you for it!
ReplyDelete