“The Fault in Our Stars” and “There Is No Dog”: Not kids’ stuff

The idea that just because a literary work is published and placed in one section of the bookstore versus another and therefore isn't as good as something else is absolute garbage. Simply because a title is named as a 'Young Adult' genre of fiction and not an Adult novel can't mean that it's not to be taken seriously or appreciated for the content of the story and meaning of the words on each page. The value of a piece of writing comes not from the design of the hardcover book jacket, the length, or what section you find it placed within in a bookstore-- at least, it shouldn't. It SHOULD come from what the book has to say, and the effect it has on its reader. These may be my own opinions, but hey: it seems like Laura Miller agrees pretty well with me.

Her argument isn't exactly clear cut, as it appears under the 'What to Read' header of Salon.com's online articles. But as she explains details on the story of two specific novels-- John Green's "The Fault In Our Stars" and Meg Rosoff's "There Is No Dog" -- deal with, Miller concludes that their subjects are far more emotionally complex and posing more life altering questions than other acclaimed best-selling adult novels on the NY Times lists.

I've heard only good things about John Greene and his writing. But, I'm not in a place where I can currently spend time reading leisure books. Maybe I'll pick them up and get around to it April vacation-- but I am now more so swayed to read them than I was before. If you've got the time, pick up a copy of either book and read up-- just be sure to let me know what you think, if it's all it's cracked up to be or not.

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/13/the_fault_in_our_stars_and_there_is_no_dog_not_kids_stuff/

Published 12 Feb. 2012

Term Three, Week Three (Feb. 12-Feb. 18, 2012) Post One.