But adults? Who are writers? Who are lovers of books? Being turned off by a sticker?
Not all books are for everyone and I certainly can't say that some recent winners are "my thing," either. I chalked it up to personal taste, since we can't all love the same art. For example, I adore The Giver and count it as one of the best reading experiences I have ever had. *gasp*
I just don't quite understand the adults in our world who will not or cannot read award-winners because they are "always boring" and who choose not to challenge themselves, but dine solely on "popular" best-selling marshmallow fluff. I try to get into their mindset, but I can't. I'm not saying anyone here is like that--I'm talking in general terms. It seems like years ago, this would've been something to keep to yourself. Today, people shout it from the rooftops. "Hello, world! I have a short attention span! I prefer to only use a portion of my brain power! I only want to have fun!"
I was done taking up space on this thread, but I guess I'm supposed to respond. And while I realize you said you're not speaking of anyone here, I don't know who else you could mean when you say adults who are writers.
I have never avoided a book simply because it had a medal on it. I've read lots of them, Roll of Thunder, May the Circle Be Unbroken, Lost Horizon...nearly all here have read more than me, so I won't attempt a classical list off.
My contention is simply that if these award winners are all you present adolescents with, you'll end up with someone like me, an excellent and motivated reader who, except for mandatory school reaing, decides to avoid most novels in favor of comic books or films until his early twenties, then realizes later what great works there are takes books up once again. If this makes me immature or intellectually uncurious, I'll accept those labels because I know how little they ring true.
The irony of this is I have been far more willing to watch films that are considered "critical award winners" than books. Subtitles, virtually no box office, only Sundance recognition, I don't care. Perhaps males my age are all a products of He-Man and Nintendo and have had our attention span reduced to somewhere between a hedgehog and one of my incarcerated loompas. I'm neither proud nor ashamed of my attention span. I can focus for seven hours on a poly sci mid term, take 5 hours to finish Wicked Lovely, or put down the Giver after ten minutes.
And yes, I completely, fully, totally understand The Giver is beloved by most everyone. But just not me. I recognize the genius and depth, I just don't care to swim in it. I know many who thought There Will Be Blood was painfully slow, or just avoided it because it was one of those "smart, highbrow movies," then they promptly bought a ticket to the latest Eddie Murphy bomb (or didn't as it turned out). I, however, adored the movie. It's okay. Just because someone else didn't like the picture doesn't mean I have to defend the picture.
As for being frightened by agendas, I agree there are many who cite certain value systems as a reason for not reading a book. They're the same ones who cite the "intellectually elite" for every problem they run into. It's hogwash.
I'm sorry if I sound hyper sensitive here, but I'm as far as you can get from someone who wants to dumb down what we expect out of our novels, our entertainment, or especially our nation's youth. I suppose I felt the need to respond because this
I just get this sort of overwhelming anger/depression thing going on. It's the same feeling I get when I see people slam any book that has a "message" or an "issue." "Oh, Rules? It's one of those books where there's an autistic kid. That's why it won an award." Either they can't or they won't appreciate "depth" in a book, and they never get to the point of considering how beautifully crafted such a work is. They see some sort of insidious "agenda" where we're supposed "learn something" and immediately drop it in favor of the literary equivalent of a . . . football-in-crotch America's Funniest Home Videos clip.
is something I've told to countless others everytime they turn their nose up at some bit of entertainment that has critical value. I'l shut up now, also, but I wanted to reply because I've never considered myself one of these adults you've cited. If anything, they boil my blood and have caused many awkward conversations at parties.