It was interesting to hear the varied reactions to Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You and Gossip girl. Although I enjoyed both books in different ways, I see where most of the critiques people had are coming from. I can agree that Peter Cameron's book is a bit pretentious and see how people could James to be tiresome.
After thinking about it, I disagree with what some people thought, that James did not learn anything form his actions. Although he lacks empathy, I thought he did learn from his mistakes and regretted the trick he pulled on John. His running away from the gallery and going to his grandmother's house was something he wouldn't have done if he hadn't been feeling inner turmoil. His decision to go to college after all and lose interest in his dream of buying a house in some random state showed that he made some kind of progress in the book.
Gossip Girl I liked in a totally different way; it was fun and trashy. I might even take 2 and 3 along with me on vacation this month. Learning about how the books were developed and how it turned in to this huge brand was fascinating. I had never heard someone speak about having their name on something that they didn't actually write before. Cecily described a side of authorship that we hadn't heard in class before.
There is always room in the world for books that don't take themselves too seriously, like Gossip Girl, and books that definitely take themselves seriously, like Someday this Pain.. I feel lucky to have both kinds of books to recommend to teens at the library.
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See, I don't get where people are complaining that he didn't learn anything in the book. First, I think he learned lots of thing in the book--like it's a bad idea to create false hookups on Manhunt and that his family is kind of crazy even if they are somewhat loving.
ReplyDeleteBut then I ask myself: why should he have to learn something? By saying this are we saying that books have to teach teen readers something? Because if we are that's taking us way back to all those bad books in 60s and 70s that tried to teach something but ended up being bad, cautionary booooooring tales that no one cares about anymore.
Finally, as a teen, I really don't remember going through life and thinking "boy I just learned something" as I made my way through my excursions..you know? Sorry to get on a soap box, but I couldn't resist.
And I know these opinions that I"m reacting against aren't yours :)
And yes: Gossip Girl is awesome!!