comp lit and mediaphilia
So lately everyone on the Internet thinks they’re allowed to write about YA even though they a) know nothing about it, b) don’t know its history, and c) think it’s the same as middle grade. It makes me and tons of other people cray cray. And that’s not just because those of us who make YA and children’s literature (the first is NOT an acceptable umbrella term for all things written for people who can’t vote; the other is–get it straight) our lives, our objects of study, and our creative pursuits get sad. It’s also because calling Matilda a YA heroine (is dumb and marks you as a fool and) diminishes what a great and powerful thing exceptional middle grade is. Instead of conflating all things so that you can be trendy and misinformed, why not celebrate TWO cool categories of literature instead of one?
Middle grade is its own thing. And it’s awesome. Whereas YA tends to be a man vs. society thing, all about testing your independence and learning who you are, MG tends to be more about clueless parents, adverbs, and being resourceful and plucky. Like I said, it’s awesome. But seriously, there are so many people out there writing about the difference between YA and MG that I don’t need to repeat them. Go look them up, and until then, assume that if you write for HuffPo or the Atlantic Wire, you don’t actually know shit and you should shut up. I don’t write about NASA because I don’t care–and because I don’t know anything about astrophysics. See how that works? Continue reading →
Posted in books
Tagged angst , books , boys , crushes , le sigh , MG , middle grade , middle school , other people , YA
Oct · 10
I was just reminded of a party I was at a few months ago at which, while talking in a group of people, I said something to the effect of, “All I want out of a relationship is someone who will ignore me and let me ignore him most of the time, tolerate my neuroses, cook dinner with me, and want to spend the night in and watch movies, ignore each other some more while we read books, and then cuddle and go to bed.” It was not a lie.
One of the guys said, “I can’t think of any guy who wouldn’t think that was the best relationship ever.”
Really, isn’t that what everyone wants? I’m honestly curious, because I don’t know if this is a general human thing or a slightly less general human-who-is-mostly-antisocial-in-a-lazy-way-not-in-a-hates-people-kind-of-way thing. But isn’t the point of love to be totally happy and satisfied with yourself, and to have someone else who is also totally happy and satisfied with himself, and then for you to be totally satisfied and occasionally have fun together? Seriously, man. All I want. No roses or Hollywood romance for this girl. Just let me read my book in peace, knowing that you’re doing the same thing right next to me.
Posted in rambling
Tagged boys , identity , love , nothing
Jul · 07
I’ve clocked a lot of iPod time lately instead of reading time. My new job (!) is usually just me hanging out at the computer doing computer stuff, so music is necessary for my sanity. I’ve been downloading a lot of good stuff lately, thanks to deals from Amazon and this lovely new thing called Freegal that is cropping up at libraries here and there. So I’ve added some Neko Case, Vanessa Carlton, Ingrid Michaelson, and more to my library. But no matter how much music I accumulate, I tend to glom onto certain albums and listen to them excessively, until I am sure of which songs are my favorites and until I imagine myself inside the album and live and swim in it and just love it unconditionally and forever.
I do this mostly with albums that are by bands or duos where two people are pretty much equally the lead singer. It’s especially my favorite when it’s a male and female voice because it feels really intimate, which I admit is rather heteronormative and not actually very fair, but hey, I grew up in America. Also, the Pierces go onto my list of duos I can listen to forever, and they’re sisters.
Anyway. Bands/albums I listen to way too much because I love the dual quality of the lead vocal: Jenny and Johnny’s I Am Having Fun Now , anything by the Pierces, a lot of Rilo Kiley’s Under the Blacklight (okay, I also have a Jenny Lewis fetish), most stuff by Stars, same with She & Him, and the latest album I’ve added to that list is the Civil Wars’ Barton Hollow . Continue reading →
Posted in music
Tagged angst , boys , girls , love , music , other people , relationships , wishful thinking
Feb · 02
First full day in Prague, and while I was sitting at a bar with some new friends a Czech guy pronounced me “very beautiful” and asked me to a restaurant for a drink. I let him give me his number, but this is usually where I cop out, and then I complain that nobody wants me. The irony is that he asked me right after I talked about how creepy it is when guys hit on you on the street out of nowhere.
We walked through the old city, and my new favorite kind of city is a city built on hills. Prague is a close second to Jerusalem in the contest for most beautiful city.
Oh, I’m sorry, do they not have albino peacocks in trees where you live?
The view everywhere is spectacular.
Posted in adventures
Tagged boys , magic , photographs , prague , summer
Jul · 04
I am preparing myself for a emotional breakdown to put to shame all other rejection- and relationship-related fuckmefuckhimfuckmylifefucktheworldfuckthespringtime breakdowns that I have had. I don’t know if knowing that it’s coming makes it better or worse, because I think really I am just in denial and I refuse to believe that this won’t be my fairy tale moment. I never think anything counts unless I get it right, but it gets harder to go by that when things keep going wrong. I am trying to stave off the breakdown as long as possible, but it may not be a good idea to have one right before leaving for Prague. And it is good to have your world shattered, no? And to be treated crappily? It makes for good songs (and novels), and it’s been so long since I’ve written one.
Posted in the diet
Tagged "philosophy" , angst , boys , life , procrastinating , sad , summer , writing
May · 11
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