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Adult Readers in the Kids' SectionApril 22, 2009There’s a really good trend happening in our store right now. Adults are reading kids' books. Not picture books, but novels written for young adults. Slowly the awkwardness, the need to almost apologize for buying a kids' book for themselves is dissipating. Instead, it’s something the adults seem to be reveling in. And really, isn’t it about time that adults realized the young adult section was chock full of riches, new and old, to read and enjoy? Elizabeth had the best handselling moment I’ve seen, ever. Two women had overheard me talking about The Book Thief and they were resistant to buy the copy I placed before them. They looked to Elizabeth for a second opinion, and all she did was arch her eyebrows with eyes bright and alert and that said it all. They bought two. Lastly, there is an a Posted by Josie Leavitt on April 22, 2009 | Comments (14)
April 22, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Debbie commented: I'm a bit confused about all the wonderful things I've read about "The Book Thief" lately. I read the book and I liked the story, but I thought the book was a little confusing. It was written from the Grim Reaper's point of view and it jumped around a lot and I kept thinking "I think a child would have trouble following this." I thought it was just okay, but didn't gush about it like many of the other reviews I've seen. Did anyone else find it a bit awkward to follow at times?
April 22, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Inderjit Deogun commented: Unfortunately, I can't be of any help to you, Debbie. I think I may be the only person who hasn't read The Book Thief. On another note, it sounds like Jill's weekend was absolute bliss. I may just have to pick up a copy of I Capture the Castle.
April 23, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Charles commented: I loved The Book Thief and had the pleasure of meeting Marcus at the Festival of Books at UCLA a couple years ago. So young!
April 23, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section JGreen commented: My sister got me to read I Capture the Castle, which I also loved. The movie is sweet, but not quite as good and makes the characters' lives seem more unsettling than the book. While I respect the idea of encouraging teenagers to read with a special section for them, the somewhat arbitrariness of what's YA and what's not is frustrating. I know lots of women who are reading "YA" novels because they're quicker reads, not as complicated or wordy as some adult novels, while still being compelling.
April 23, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Suzette commented: So, now that I've read the Twilight series (I bought them for a friend who was previewing them for nieces. she loved them & recommended them to me. I sniffed - romances-bah!- but once started just gobbled them up.) I'll get I Capture the Castle & perhaps The Book Thief. If the story & writing are good, then who cares what the label is?
April 23, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Karen Ehrhardt commented: speaking of loving kids' books...
April 23, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Elisabeth commented: I frequently 'sell' Graceling by Cashore and the Maximum Ride books by Patterson to adults wandering by the young adult section of my library, in addition to the titles you've listed above. I've also currently got My 50+ father hooked on the Percy Jackson books by Riordan. Adults reading kids books - yipee!
April 24, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Jane Hyde commented: Wasn't "The Book Thief" first published as an adult novel?
April 24, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section jennyhan commented: I CAPTURE THE CASTLE is like, my favorite book ever!!! It makes me insanely happy when other people bring it up and give it its due. One of my copies (I have three, two of which are first editions) has the mightiest blurb one could possibly hope to get: "
April 24, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section jennyhan commented: "This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met." -J. K. Rowling"
April 25, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Robyn McCarthy/The Armarium Press. commented: I Capture the Castle is a true gem. How delightful to read about your 78-year-old customer re-reading it! My own tattered copy came to me when I was in junior high and my mom came home with a $1 "
April 25, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Robyn McCarthy/The Armarium Press. commented: I Capture the Castle is a true gem. How delightful to read about your 78-year-old customer re-reading it! My own tattered copy came to me when I was in junior high and my mom came home with a $1 "
April 25, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Robyn McCarthy/The Armarium Press. commented: mystery bag of books" the last day of the local library sale. I've given new editions as gifts, but could never bear to re-read any other than my own "original."
April 26, 2009
In response to: Adult Readers in the Kids' Section Josie Leavitt commented: The Book Thief was originally published as an adult in Australia. But because Marcus Zusak was a YA author here, they marketed the book that way.
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wn women are marching straight up the counter and asking for “that book.” Admittedly, they are a little sheepish about buying the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer. But I don’t think it’s because it’s written for young adults. It’s because they love it so much. They can’t wait to read more about Edward and Jacob, who they are more than happy to talk about, at great length with other women in the store. One thing I particularly enjoy about these Twilight women is they tend to buy the whole series at one time. Sure, they tell daughters to wait, space out their purchases, save some money, and maybe even borrow from a friend. There’s none of that with the adults. No borrowing, no waiting for the book at the library, no, they need it, they need it now and they’re going to pay for their immediate gratification. And I love them for it.
necdote I must share. One of my favorite customers comes in every Monday to get her books for the week. Jill is the most vital, active, and vibrant 78-year-old I’ve ever met. She is a well-rounded reader with eclectic tastes. Last week she was struggling to choose a book when she went to the young adult section. There she saw I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. She had read the book when she was 19 and remembered loving it. Well, she took it with her last weekend and was still beaming when she came in Monday to tell me about reading it again. She sat in the sun in an Adirondack chair with Beethoven on in the background and a glass of Merlot nearby. She read the book she first loved 60 years ago. “It was just marvelous. Marvelous.”