Re: Teen books
helena kim (helena@apollo.netsoc.tcd.ie)
Thu, 12 Nov 1998 22:31:42 +0000 (GMT)
On Thu, 12 Nov 1998, Emily Friedman wrote:
> Although the books you are writing about are categorized as teen
> literature my friends and myself read those books in elementary
> school. I remember when I was in elementary school I read some really
> crappy books like the babysitter's club. As soon as my Dad noticed
> what I was reading he took action and tried to get me to read great
> literature. I am so grateful he did that because now I live for great
> literature.
> -Liz Friedman
actually, i still read sweet valley high books. every time i go to the
library, i get an handful of them. sometimes, i get so *tired* of *
thinking*
about things to much, and i love sweet valley high books. you can suck up
the information in half an hour. they're entertaining, they're amusing,
they're kitcsh, and incerdibly camp. i love it all.
but, hey, i'm the kind of person who watches 90210. (but after the
shakespeare comparison i feel a little more justified.)
all i'm asking is that you don't look down on people who read and write
trashy novels and teenybopper books. sometimes they have an surprising
amount of insight. i don't read all that stuff because it's all i'm
capable of, i read it because i enjoy it.
and saying something like 'i live for great literature' is an extremly
dangerous statment. how do you know something is 'great literature' enough
to read until someone has told you it is? doesn't this
undermine your sense of free will? doesn't this make you feel a bit like a
hamster? i mean, *somebody* has to be the first to stand up about any one
book and say 'this is really good!'. why can't it be you?
i guess i just don't get lit :),
(i've a funny feeling i'll be on my own on this one; muriel is my
favourite salinger character)
:helena kim
helena at netsoc dot tcd dot ie
'the church is near, but the road is icy.
the bar is far, but i will walk carefully.'
- russian proverb