This is a new segment, Featured Discussion. Where, I am looking at heading with this segment is more of a opinion based discussion. There is some that will be true and fact, but for the main part I want a good discussion, and I want people to chime in and talk. I will make my opinion and comments known as well. However please, PLEASE do not insult or degrade anyone else.
Featured Discussion:
I wasn't sure what was going on with the new genre, and I wanted time to take a look at it. New Adult, and I thought it was an extension of the current Young Adult genre, but I was wrong. It's a new genre almost entire of it's own. At first, I thought it would be more sci-fi, mystery, and romance, and there is all of that and then some. Yet, what I didn't expect was that the books would take a more indirect adult tone that I thought would be there.
What is New Adult?
New Adult (NA) fiction is a developing genre of fiction with protagonists in the 18-25 age bracket. The term was first coined by St. Martin's Press in 2009 when they held a special call for "…fiction similar to YA that can be published and marketed as adult—a sort of an ‘older YA’ or ‘new adult’." New Adult fiction tends to focus on issues such as leaving home, developing sexuality, and negotiating education and career choices. The genre has gained popularity rapidly over the last few years, particularly through books by self-published bestselling authors like Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, and Cora Carmack.
The genre was originally met with some criticism, as some viewed it as a marketing scheme, while others claimed the readership was not there to publish the material. In contrast, others claimed that the term was necessary, with a publicist for HarperCollins saying that it "is a convenient label because it allows parents and bookstores and interested readers to know what is inside." It has now become widely accepted with most traditional publishers now publishing NA books and Goodreads, Amazon and Kobo adding it as an official category.
Examples of books in the new-adult genre include Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster, Colleen Hoover's Slammed, and Cora Carmack’s Losing It.
Source: Wikipedia
The genre was originally met with some criticism, as some viewed it as a marketing scheme, while others claimed the readership was not there to publish the material. In contrast, others claimed that the term was necessary, with a publicist for HarperCollins saying that it "is a convenient label because it allows parents and bookstores and interested readers to know what is inside." It has now become widely accepted with most traditional publishers now publishing NA books and Goodreads, Amazon and Kobo adding it as an official category.
Examples of books in the new-adult genre include Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster, Colleen Hoover's Slammed, and Cora Carmack’s Losing It.
Source: Wikipedia
I own Beautiful Disaster and while I am more than likely going to be reading that for the next month's Reader's Choice, I didn't think it would fall into this new genre. I want to get into and read some of the new books, but I don't want to plow through and find a series of a hundred books to read and find out that four-fifths of the books aren't worth my time. I guess what I'm trying to say is I want to wait and see how the books in this emerging genre fair before I dive straight in.
Okay my first point of issue with this genre as of right now aren't that the fans or readers aren't around to read or see this style of book, isn't that this is some marketing scheme to try to entice others into a book they may not read, but it's the style of book that makes me queasy. The books focus on self identification in the face of growing up and moving out of your parents house or a new independence, differing choices in careers or college choices/education, and furthermore sexuality. I was all in for the styles until the last one, and it's my fear of the emerging stars and what the adults nowadays are into. I picture this book as a bunch of Lady Gaga fans porking it up.
I want to know personally, what books are the better choices for those that are on the market. I am not interested in the steamy smut novels that young stay at home moms dream of, but I want a romance of honest integrity. I enjoy the troubled decisions that come from the heart, and love style of book that weaves the emotional stress and pain of moving out on your own, new independence, or just life in general would take on a new adult. I want to see the pride and joys of this genre.
As well, I can't find any distinguishing difference between Young Adult and New Adult. Okay I understand it has more to do with being an adult, but the only real difference is it has a more sexual nature to it than the others. Similar topics can be discussed in both genres and I guess I am asking myself, what was the reason (other than distinguishing the age groups) for splitting the two apart? I personally don't see the need, by the synopsis in the book you can generally tell what age group, or frankly most online stores now have the age range right on the book's page.
Now you may ask, why am I only interested in seeing the best of this genre, because right now I am not sure the risk beats the benefit of reading one of these books. Frankly I don't know and can't find a list of books in this genre easily, and when I do none of it interests me. I have been looking all over the place, and a few fellow bloggers I am following are reading a few book in this genre and I am curious to see what they have to say. I appreciate their hard work and what they are doing trying to weed out the bad novels in the genre. I applaud you all.
Okay my first point of issue with this genre as of right now aren't that the fans or readers aren't around to read or see this style of book, isn't that this is some marketing scheme to try to entice others into a book they may not read, but it's the style of book that makes me queasy. The books focus on self identification in the face of growing up and moving out of your parents house or a new independence, differing choices in careers or college choices/education, and furthermore sexuality. I was all in for the styles until the last one, and it's my fear of the emerging stars and what the adults nowadays are into. I picture this book as a bunch of Lady Gaga fans porking it up.
I want to know personally, what books are the better choices for those that are on the market. I am not interested in the steamy smut novels that young stay at home moms dream of, but I want a romance of honest integrity. I enjoy the troubled decisions that come from the heart, and love style of book that weaves the emotional stress and pain of moving out on your own, new independence, or just life in general would take on a new adult. I want to see the pride and joys of this genre.
As well, I can't find any distinguishing difference between Young Adult and New Adult. Okay I understand it has more to do with being an adult, but the only real difference is it has a more sexual nature to it than the others. Similar topics can be discussed in both genres and I guess I am asking myself, what was the reason (other than distinguishing the age groups) for splitting the two apart? I personally don't see the need, by the synopsis in the book you can generally tell what age group, or frankly most online stores now have the age range right on the book's page.
Now you may ask, why am I only interested in seeing the best of this genre, because right now I am not sure the risk beats the benefit of reading one of these books. Frankly I don't know and can't find a list of books in this genre easily, and when I do none of it interests me. I have been looking all over the place, and a few fellow bloggers I am following are reading a few book in this genre and I am curious to see what they have to say. I appreciate their hard work and what they are doing trying to weed out the bad novels in the genre. I applaud you all.
