Comments on: More Pop Fiction http://bookology.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/more-pop-fiction/ Comments and Stolen Pictures by a Reader of Other People's Books Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:40:53 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: queenmab04 http://bookology.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/more-pop-fiction/#comment-649 queenmab04 Tue, 06 May 2008 23:35:06 +0000 http://bookology.wordpress.com/?p=349#comment-649 Thanks for your comment. Your question was "re you saying that you find these incidents in the real world completely out of place in YA lit?" Not at all. Good literature in every genre must address the real world and its situations, through whatever medium it chooses. My issue with this pop fiction is that such real and tragic issues become formula for entertainment which desensitizes the constant readership to their reality and their tragedy. If every book you read had rape in it and based on the plots and authors, the rape was not handled as a serious issue which has emotional and physical consequences for years to come on the victim and his or her family and community, you would become less able to sympathize and less open to the explosion of ideas and actions called for when such a situation occurs in real life, would you not? It's just like letting younger children watch to much violence on TV. They sometimes want to try out the moves themselves without realizing the real life consequences they have. I take issue with making such things a formula for entertainment (not serious thought or deep analyzing into the consequences, the human relationships, etc) in still very impressionable minds. Thanks for your comment. Your question was “re you saying that you find these incidents in the real world completely out of place in YA lit?” Not at all. Good literature in every genre must address the real world and its situations, through whatever medium it chooses. My issue with this pop fiction is that such real and tragic issues become formula for entertainment which desensitizes the constant readership to their reality and their tragedy. If every book you read had rape in it and based on the plots and authors, the rape was not handled as a serious issue which has emotional and physical consequences for years to come on the victim and his or her family and community, you would become less able to sympathize and less open to the explosion of ideas and actions called for when such a situation occurs in real life, would you not? It’s just like letting younger children watch to much violence on TV. They sometimes want to try out the moves themselves without realizing the real life consequences they have. I take issue with making such things a formula for entertainment (not serious thought or deep analyzing into the consequences, the human relationships, etc) in still very impressionable minds.

]]> By: Beth Fehlbaum, author of Courage in Patience http://bookology.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/more-pop-fiction/#comment-648 Beth Fehlbaum, author of Courage in Patience Tue, 06 May 2008 23:05:05 +0000 http://bookology.wordpress.com/?p=349#comment-648 Quote:" I’m expressing myself poorly on the point, because of course, beauty is relative, but I abhor the thought of suicide, rape, pregnancy and murder becoming the formula that sells for young adult fiction in any community" I am wondering if I'm coming in on the middle of a conversation, if you will, but your choice of words is intriguing to me. Are there some genres in literature that use suicide, rape, pregnancy, and murder as foundations of their plot? Or are you saying that you find these incidents in the real world completely out of place in YA lit? I'm just wondering. Thanks for allowing me to drop in on your blog-- Beth Fehlbaum, author Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com Chapter 1 is online! Quote:” I’m expressing myself poorly on the point, because of course, beauty is relative, but I abhor the thought of suicide, rape, pregnancy and murder becoming the formula that sells for young adult fiction in any community”

I am wondering if I’m coming in on the middle of a conversation, if you will, but your choice of words is intriguing to me. Are there some genres in literature that use suicide, rape, pregnancy, and murder as foundations of their plot? Or are you saying that you find these incidents in the real world completely out of place in YA lit?

I’m just wondering.
Thanks for allowing me to drop in on your blog–

Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
Chapter 1 is online!

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