The Pendulum of YA: "girls who do things" and boys who don't do anything at all

WARNING: The following post contains opinions about the Twilight series that may seem negative or overly-critical. I would like to proudly proclaim that I am a Twi-fan. I love the series, and so I feel like it's okay for me to wag my finger at it a little, because I'm still a fan! I love the Twilight series, I love Stephenie Meyer... it's all good!

Okay, let's begin:

It seems that YA books nowadays represent a sort of pendulum: they swing in one direction and you see domineering, arrogant/egotistical unhealthy bad boys, and they swing in the other direction and you see…pretty much same type of character, only instead of a boy, it’s a girl. Girls in teen books are either meek and flat, with little to no personality, who enter into unhealthy relationships with boys who push them around (but apparently that’s okay, as long as the guy in question is “hot” and/or some sort of mythological creature), or they are butt-kicking angry chicks who scream independence…which I think has the potential to be just as unhealthy.

Let me play devil’s advocate for a moment: everybody seems to hate Edward Cullen, but what about some of these other “gloriously independent” girls? If Edward is a chauvinist, how are these angry chicks any better?

There’s a difference between “girls who do things” and “girls who are angry bitches.” Sorry, but I had to put that word in! However, the former has lately been overshadowed by the latter.

Like I said in the intro, there seem to be a lot of messages that teen authors are portraying – my blog buddy Choco tackles weirdo “romances” in one of her latest posts, and that got me thinking about one of my pet peeves that I’ve seen a lot of recently: overly-dominant girl characters. This is the 21st century, and it really bothers me when authors try and drag us back to the Dark Ages.

Now, I know that there are some awesome, strong, able-minded girls in fiction that readers can look up to: presently, I’d say the one of the truly strongest characters out there is Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson series. Here’s a girl who is smart, a good fighter/no weakling, and not really dependant on anyone… but here’s where she’s special: while she may not need anyone – especially a boy – she seems to want one, and that is normal and healthy. She’s not trying to be an island unto herself; she’s not trying to be “greater than thou.” She is at her strongest when she’s with her friends (Percy in particular). Another good character is Eilonwy from the Chronicles of Prydain, for many of the same reasons. I really do think that the Intermediate-age authors are the ones who best get it right: they are the ones with the most well-rounded “role model” characters and they also seem to be the ones who present the healthiest relationships. Way to go, MG authors!

So I kind of bristle when teen authors get so excited with themselves for writing “butt”-kicking female characters…is it just me, or is that taking a walk down the hypocritical road? Why is it bad for boys to push girls around and for boys to be pillars of strength, but totally alright for girls to treat boys like they don’t matter? That seems a little chauvinistic to me – and that’s a phrase that I find myself using a lot: “female chauvinism.” I don’t want to annoy anyone, but I found darling Katsa in YA’s Most Beloved Novel Graceling to be a complete Female Chauvinist. I’m sorry, but are we seriously saying that someone who is anti-marriage and anti-kids is a positive role model for girls today? Um, forget that: when exactly was Katsa positive about anything? I read that book and all I heard was, “I’m an angry young woman! I’m an angry young woman!” Or how about everybody’s favorite heroine: Tamora Pierce’s Alanna. I must be the stupidest girl in America, but the main character moves from one sex partner to another over the course of the 4 books…and she’s a role model?! Oh, I forgot: she’s brave and she’s a good fighter. Well, wonderful! Is that all that matters?

Now, while I like a rant just as much (or probably more) than the next person, I think they are pretty futile without some sort of suggestion. Yes, I think we have a problem in YA with the constant image of domineering, overbearing male love interests. However, I think we have a problem on the opposite end of the spectrum with “girls who kick too much butt” characters who are screaming independence. I learned this in my Marriage & Family Therapy class, and it’s some of the most beneficial and crucial bits of information I’ve received from my time in college: the goal of a relationship needs to be INTERDEPENDENCY. “Interdependency” means having two mature and complete people who come together to form a relationship based on give and take and working together. Not codependency, Miss Swan. Not independence either, Miss…Everyone. Now, in order to be an interesting story, there still have to be some elements of drama going on, but using this model you don’t have controlling boys OR girls. Yes, everybody likes to harp about domineering boys, and they should! But let’s not forget that it is possible – and just as unhealthy – to have domineering girl characters. If boys aren’t allowed to get away with lack of commitment, girls shouldn’t, either. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a double standard.

So yes, I can see why Edward would be unpopular. I might irritate some blog buddies (hopefully not), but I didn't really think Edward was all that bad. Edward's gonna do what he's gonna do - he thinks he's being protective and whatnot...but he was able to get away with it because Bella's such a moron, she didn't put him in his place! And please: of course Edward has to protect Bella! She's such a klutzy doofus! Okay, but I don't want to get into a Twilight rant. I liked the Twilight saga okay because you had a romance where the characters actually waited until marriage to have sex - what a concept! That's always a safe bet: if you can't write an appropriate love story, just don't put that element in there! Mrs. Meyer, if I ever amount to anything as a published writer, I'm gonna look you up and buy you a cup of coffee! You go, girl! :) I think if Edward was my boyfriend, I wouldn't give a flying burrito if he watched me sleep - long as he didn't wake me up! In fact, I'd probably put him to work doing my homework - he doesn't sleep after all, am I right?! But I'm getting way, way off topic. That happens a lot. Apologies.

So what I would like to see axed:
1) boys who are too overbearing
2) girls who are too overbearing
3) lust-based relationships
4) love triangles. I haven't touched on this, but it's just a pet peeve. Are girls just total losers if they don't have at least 2 guys chasing them? I hope not, or else my self-esteem will take a hit.
5) boys and girls who's main goal in a relationship is to maintain their independence.


But that's just my two cents. Do you have something to add? I hope so - I'll look pretty silly just blogging to myself!

More Random Thoughts, or Why Amelia Needs to Stop Going Off on Tangents

You know how it’s good to “never say never,” and Fievel and Tiger even sing a cute song about it in An American Tail…? Well, sometimes I think it is okay to “say never”: I’m never going to kick a kitten, I’m never going to slap a child, I’m never going to shoot someone, I’m never going to shoplift, I’m never going to stop believing in God, and I’m most likely never going to read George R.R. Martin.

So…okay, we’ve established that. So why is it that I still manage to get so worked up over a silly comment made by an author who will 1) never EVER outsell my favorite author, Mr. JRR Tolkien, and 2) never be read by me?

Maybe it’s because his view is something I seem to see a lot of these days. Why do authors hate good-and-evil stories? I don’t understand! I think the best stories out there – speaking in terms of fantasy – are the ones that follow the Hero’s Journey model, ones that traditionally have good-and-evil themes on an epic scale.

According to the Encyclopedia of Fantasy, characteristics of “heroic fantasy” include a scenario where the protagonist is reluctant to be a champion and is of low or humble origin, and frequently has royal ancestors or parents but does not know it. Through events usually beyond his control, he is thrust into positions of great responsibility where his mettle is tested in a number of spiritual and physical challenges. Although it shares many of the basic themes of Sword and Sorcery the term 'Heroic fantasy' is often used to avoid the garish overtones of the former. In my previous post, I mentioned that Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain are my favorite series, and one of the many reasons why is because of the themes that Alexander so effortlessly and poignantly weaves into his stories. Yes, his characters are flawed and dynamic, but more importantly they’re inspiring. Sure, everyone wants characters they can relate too, but don’t you want characters you can look up too, also? I sure do. Like I mentioned before, JRR Tolkien’s epic Middle Earth stories not only exemplify “heroic fantasy,” they also helped to boost a revival in the popularity of the subgenre. Frodo Baggins is certainly not a perfect character. He’s flawed – a little on the ignorant side, as a Hobbit he’s not really supposed to be one of the more ‘important’ species of Middle Earth, and as the story progresses, he even falls prey to the power of the Ring. But he’s still good. Does that make sense?

Now, though, new fantasy authors are apparently changing the trend. I’m all for shaking things up and everything, but I can’t help but wonder if all changes in literature are necessary and beneficial. Many new fantasy authors are trying to shed the traditional concept of heroes and even of good and evil (I’m taking bits of this from wiki too). Now, thanks to the like of Jacqueline Carey and George R.R. Martin (my dad has dubbed the latter the ‘Anti-Tolkien’), there is a blurring between ‘heroes’ and ‘villains.’

There was one quote that Martin made in particular that sparked this post…and now I look like such a doofus because I can’t find it to post on here (I’m writing in class right now). But why the blurring? Why does everything have to be so dadgum ambiguous? You know I have a tendency to be a little “over-the-top” I guess, but I find authors’ desire to blur good and evil and introduce ideas of relativism to be a little on the disturbing side. And besides, that’s not very “epic.” Most epic stories need some sort of grand struggle… I think you can tell that I’m a champion of heroic fantasy and its themes. There’s a grandness about them, there’s something inspirational as well as thought-provoking. It’s something I try to emulate when I write. But then again, I believe in right and wrong, and I like “good” protagonists and “bad” villains. Now please hear me – this is not an invitation for cardboard characters or blasé fairytale retellings (have you ever noticed that fairytales are very…like…there’s not a lot to them) but then again, there is nothing, nothing blasé about Tolkien’s works. If there was any power in wishful thinking, then I would wish for a return to the styles of Lloyd Alexander, CS Lewis, and JRR Tolkien: fantasy stories with heart.

I have to go, but I just wanted to toss yet some more thoughts out into the great blogosphere!

some (more) ponderings...

Hey everybody--hope your week's off to a good start! Once again, I'm going to use my blog as a sort of cyber diary and throw out some reading-related questions that have been going through my head recently...

I’m not trying to tattle about stuff from goodreads, or in my personal life, or whatever…but it does make me think. Have you ever felt like your opinions were placed on the defense? Or have you ever had reservations about speaking your mind because you were afraid of the potential backlash? I’m thinking about book reviews and such, but I guess I could be talking about any aspect of life. I don’t know, I’m just babbling. It’s either type away on here or pay attention to the lecture that’s going on a few feet from my table…

That’s not to say that I don’t like arguing—I was on debate team and I started out as pre-law…but I guess somewhere along the way I’ve just grown tired (or lazy) of always being on the defense. It was fun and noble when I was younger—now it’s just a pain in the butt. And my reading tastes have changed, I think. Now, for some reason I like books that people have never heard of, or books that are old (my favorite series, The Chronicles of Prydain, was popular in the 60s when my parents were little kids). And I seem to foam-at-the-mouth over books that everybody enjoys. There are exceptions, though. I love Harry Potter and as of yet, I’ve never heard any bad comments about Percy Jackson… And I do occasionally like to “stick up for the little guy” (aka Twilight…off topic real quick: what is up with all the Twi-hating? Come on, everybody!) But yeah, pretty much all the books in my “pile o’ crap” shelf on Goodreads are must-loves elsewhere. And I like being different, I guess…but I don’t really understand all the hostility. Is it really so extraordinary to have different opinions? If someone likes a book that I don’t like, I don’t feel the need to go, “OMG what is wrong with you?!” I really don’t understand the reasoning behind hostile comments…it’s one thing to say, “oh wow, I didn’t really see things that way,” but let’s not play cross-examination here!

- I mean, if I don't like a book, I'm going to say "I don't like this book!" Now my pledge to you - those lovelies who read my reviews: if I say "I don't like this book!" or rate a book down, I promise to explain why. Otherwise it may just look like I'm being PMSy or something. I have reasons---and to be quite honest, if I rate a book 3 or lower, I feel like there is a good reason. Truthfully, I try to look for the good in a book, if for no other reason than to feel like my reading time wasn't wasted. But if I rate a book down (2.5 or lower) there's usually something wrong with it, and not just "ohhh, the writing stank!" or "cardboard characters!" or whatever. It's something serious that I found extremely detrimental or just had a major problem with. And if you agree or disagree, cool! That's totally fine, but I do feel like I should be honest.

** I can't express enough how appreciative I am of honest reviews. That doesn't mean I take pleasure out of books/authors being turned into punching bags, but I really like honesty. If you have something to say, please share it! I know I will :P

Maybe I’m just getting lazy… but I wanted to pose the questions. Have you ever felt like you’ve had to get on the defense over a review, or an opinion you have expressed? Have you ever had reservations about speaking your mind because you were afraid of the potential backlash?

A Conundrum!

The weekends are usually the busiest time for my fun-reading, so it was even more puzzling yesterday that I opted out of reading at all. The reason: I have no idea what book to read next?
Has that ever happened to any of you? Do those “In My Mailbox” or “Mailbox Mondays” ever get out-of-hand? My bookshelf is on the verge of a mutiny – they’re all screaming “Read me next!” and I don’t know which to choose!

My ongoing series at present is the Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney. I have 2 more books to go before I’ll be finished with them (for the time being) but I kind of want something a little different… Do you guys read all your series-books together or do you space them out? Take Harry Potter for example: did you blaze through them all at once, or did you read other books in between?

If anybody has any reading suggestions I’m all ears! Maybe I need a schedule or something…
For now, I’ve narrowed my options down to these two:

The Spook's Mistake (Wardstone, #5) / Child of the Dark Prophecy (Great Tree of Avalon, #1)

The Avalon series has a funny discovery history - or at least, I think so. A couple weeks ago I was at Borders picking up a couple books I have to read for class and this trilogy just caught my attention. They're pretty big hardbacks, so they were hard to miss. And I'm a sucker for pretty cover designs - I'll admit it! So it's managed to climb to the top of my TBR list even though I've only had it for a couple weeks...and what did I do the other day but go back for the other two! I've got a problem...I can't stop buying books!

I haven't heard much about them at all and I guess that adds to the allure :P Yes, I find books "alluring"! Oh dear!

So that, friendly bloggers, is my current conundrum - what to read next! Hints?! Suggestions?!

The "Definitely...Maybe" books...

Have you ever been interested in a book or series but wasn't quite sure enough to actually start reading it? I guess it's a bit like everybody's TBR shelf, but in this case, I find a difference between definitely going to read - at some point and maybe going to read...

Right now, I've got a couple that I'm dancing around. I wonder if anyone's heard of them?

* The Atherton Trilogy by Patrick Carman

(The House of Power, Rivers of Fire, The Dark Planet)

* The Great Tree of Avalon series by T.A. Barron

(Child of the Dark Prophecy, Shadows on the Stars, The Eternal Flame)
* The Hourglass Trilogy by Lisa Magum (The Hourglass Door, The Golden Spiral - unreleased, Untitled Third - unreleased)

* Woves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater (Shiver, Linger, and Forever- unreleased)

* Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

* Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

Who knows?! I'm usually a very picky reader... I like reading, and a good book is worth its weight in gold to me, but bad books are like a virus, and I try really hard to root out certain titles...but you never know. Reading has pretty much become my #1 pasttime :)

New Year, New Post, New Thoughts, New Doubts, New Plan?

Over the weekend I've been perusing different websites, dabbled in research, etc... and I'm at the point where doubt begins to creep into the wonderful, brilliant, orderly realm that is My Future. Apparently I'm one of 81% of the population who believes that I will one day publish a novel. Now, I have drafts of about 20 or so stories locked up in my trunk under the bed, and 2 "finished" stories, so that puts me ahead of the oridinary odds. Will I become one of the 2% to get published? Now I'm not so sure I want to find out.

I've always been writing--maybe that's what separates me from the wishful, hopeful majority. I've always been scribbling down ideas as fast as I can before a new one pops into my mind. In 5th grade, I had a 2nd backpack that I carried everywhere - and I mean everywhere: when I went to the bathroom and to lunch I would pluck it from the rack and clutch it to me as like one of those weirdo bombers you see on TV. This second backpack was full of about 5 or 6 spirals; well, to the average eye they were spirals, but to me they were books, and my 11-year-old self could juggle 5 or 6 stories all at once. Good thing nothing came of those stories or else I might have run into some trouble with a certain Brian Jacques--you see, I enthusiastically embraced his idea of a fantasy world with a medieval-setting and an all-animal ensemble...perhaps a bit too ardently.
So yes, writing. Now, my brain is constantly under a flash-flood warning from all the ideas and scenarios that seem to creep into my mind. I've grown older, my life has become busier, but the ideas are still there--and they're not exactly considerate or empathetic of everything else my life entails. "When will you write me down, Amelia?! I'm ready *now*!" Well sorry, stories.
The reality of 2% published authors and only 10-15% royalties seems less than appealing.
It's not exactly that I want to be famous or weathly or whatever, but I do want to be successful. My way of thinking is: if I put in the effort to write, revise, send off, and open up to rejection, there should be some sort of gain. That's not too much of a stretch, is it? The reason I'm in college right now is to get something beneficial in return, namely: a higher-paying job and a career that only a B.A/B.S. can bring. You don't get something for nothing; if you put something in, you should expect to get something out of it. Ultimately, my goal of writing is to be published. Yes, I love the process and I love creating worlds and characters that are not real, but why send anything off for publication if writing is just a hobby?
So far, I think the most valuable thing I've learned is how to wait and how to accept the reality of time. I'm not in a hurry. I'd rather take 20 or 30 years to develop well-rounded, layered, thematic story than turn something fun--but unsubstantial--out right now, as a 20something.
But will I ever? There's something in the back of my mind that tells me writing is a definite: at some point, I will be published, *if* I can bring myself to write something publishable. My book may sit on the shelf and make a mediocre amount of money and go unnoticed by the general population, but there is this part of me that knows it will happen. That's not supposed to sound arrogant or pretentious, it's just something I can't explain. What nags at me are the things I don't know: will I be able to actually finish? Will I find the resolve to even begin?
Ah, 2010 is going to be *quite* a year...

Christmas, Reality Check

So when you turn on the TV and you see all the Christmas commercials, do you notice that they all have a certain look? The square, colonial-style house with a chimney, snow all around, etc? That's become our Christmas imagine, but why? That's not my reality. For goodness sake, I'm from California, where it never snows and rarely freezes. But we do have the best malls. Forget the snow, all I need for a good Christmas is time off from school to waltz around South Coast Plaza.

Christmas always seems more magical when you're younger, doesn't it? Somehow when you're 3 feet tall, your Christmas tree seems all the more gigantic and crouching at its base, you truly feel like you're in the middle of some great forest. And of course, the multitudes of presents seem endless when you're smaller. All the wrappings come off and litter the floor in a sea of colors. When you get older, and you actually have to buy presents yourself, somehow the magic chafes under the stress. You grow older, your tastes become more sophisticated, and yet there remains little to keep you jittery with excitement until the big day. I for one was really into those Play-Mobiles: I had the castles, the forts, the ships, the mansions...I had my own universe. What child doesn't love to create her own world and stand in the middle of it? My favorite Christmases were when I was a kid. I remember one year, I was maybe 8 or 9, and we went to Keystone for the holidays with my uncles and aunts and cousins. That was the first Christmas where I actually experienced snow. Then for awhile we went to Santa Fe. New Mexico in the winter is especially beautiful. Now, as a young adult, the greatest part of the Christmas holiday is not having to wake up for 8:00 classes - not having classes at all, actually. When did the greatest part of the holidays--or just the greatest part of my life--become the ability to sleep in?

the thoughts that fill my mind

One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts - just mere thoughts - are as powerful as electric batteries - as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. - The Secret Garden

Reading is exploring. To read is to be taken to another world, another place. Sometimes these worlds are places I thought I wanted to go, but discover that they are no better than the world I left. Other times I find a new world and never want to leave. Books are tools: they can inspire, shelter, and encourage, but they can also hurt, expose and destroy. I think my mind is a precious thing, and I want to feed it but also guard it. As a future writer, I want to entertain, I want to challenge, but most of all, I want to encourage. Until I am ready, I see my goal right now as one of brainstorming. I just finished a story that had the recurring mantra, There is learning in everything. Sometimes the only lesson that can be learned is what not to do, a path not to follow. But just like history, the past shapes the future. The inspiration left by authors of then and now should not be ignored, but recognized and remembered. I try to find things to keep from my reading: memories, ideas, themes, and make them fit into my own scenario. So what is my purpose? This blog will be for reviews, it will be for reflection, and I predict from time to time it will be for outbursts. I am a thinker, I am an explorer, I am an imaginer.