Better as an adult book

Use this forum to discuss the February 2020 Book of the month, "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign
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Howlan
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Re: Better as an adult book

Post by Howlan »

AvocaDebo621 wrote: 24 Feb 2020, 22:29 I agree, there's way too much darkness and violent thoughts at the beginning to suit a YA mind. Makes me wonder about the extents the author could have explored if not restricted by the genre. That'd have been fascinating!
Yes this book has enough dark themes to shake up their morals.
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Post by Howlan »

bellajavier wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 02:42 Totally Agree! The kind of content if wasn't held back by the confines of the genre, could've done much better in sci-fi adult category. Your opinion is spot on!
Yes and with a mature content warning.
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Post by Howlan »

Nym182 wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 10:33
sarahmarlowe wrote: 24 Feb 2020, 17:02
Nym182 wrote: 06 Feb 2020, 15:28 One of the thoughts that kept occurring to me as I read this book was that Opaque would have been much better if it was not a YA book.

I dig gritty and dark books like anything by Bret Easton Elis or Stephen King, so when it turned as dark as it did I had mixed feelings. I enjoyed it but did not think that it fit in a YA book.

Do you think writing it a YA book held the author back? Would you have preferred to read this as a sci-fi thriller?
Exactly! I am glad you called it out. I wondered why the author wanted to classify it as YA.
A lot of reviewers have made the point that YA is a hot genre right now, so that may have been a big influence...

P.S. I love your profile pic! I have a long-haired Dachshund myself... He's not a big reader, but he likes to cuddle with my books or used them as pillows sometimes :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:
Yeah, as it appeals to a greater demographic.
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Post by Howlan »

Nym182 wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 10:34
Stephanie Elizabeth wrote: 24 Feb 2020, 19:48 As I began reading this book, I instantly had that thought that the book would be better suited to an adult audience.
Yeah, the author really throws their readers into the deep end with the first part of the book!
The reveal of the incest was so non-chalant, it was very surprising.
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Nym182 wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 10:36
gilliansisley wrote: 24 Feb 2020, 20:04
SirLaddie wrote: 07 Feb 2020, 09:33 Too much darkness and violent thoughts at the beginning. This is more of an adult book than young adult.
Yup. Dark, disturbing, incest, kidnapping, attempted rape, facilitation of murder, etc. Etc. Horrifying that this would ever be put in the hands of a young person. Makes me sick to my stomach.
And a nice "love conquers all" bow tie to wrap it up when Carly covers up Terry's death for Adam...
And the torture play at the end to finish it off.
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Post by Howlan »

Nym182 wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 10:40
AvocaDebo621 wrote: 24 Feb 2020, 22:29 I agree, there's way too much darkness and violent thoughts at the beginning to suit a YA mind. Makes me wonder about the extents the author could have explored if not restricted by the genre. That'd have been fascinating!
Yeah, I think the first note I wrote about this book was that Adam belonged in a thriller for adults.
Yes and in that Adam would be the antagonist or an anti-hero.
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Post by Howlan »

CherylTegan7 wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 23:32 I agree that the age of the characters isn't always how a book should be categorized. Themes, especially very dark or sexual ones, play a major role. So with YA, the author might be limited in how far they can push teens or make readers uncomfortable with too-young characters and very adult themes. I think the theme, if very far one way, can ultimately outweigh the age. I would've liked the author to lean into that, pushing the theme.
Take Riverdale for example. It had so many dark scenes, yet the characters were high-school teens.
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Twylla wrote: 26 Feb 2020, 10:28 This book is considered YA because the characters are in high school but I think the subject matter is more mature and it should be reclassified as Science Fiction. The relationship between Carly and Adam was pretty steamy.
Also kidnapping, incest and torture... mature themes not handled properly in this book. Young readers shoud be wary of such.
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Nym182 wrote: 26 Feb 2020, 10:47
Twylla wrote: 26 Feb 2020, 10:28 This book is considered YA because the characters are in high school but I think the subject matter is more mature and it should be reclassified as Science Fiction. The relationship between Carly and Adam was pretty steamy.
I agree! And you are right, their relationship does get pretty "steamy" at times!
Yeah especially when the partner hides up your crimes.
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Post by CherylTegan7 »

Nym182 wrote: 26 Feb 2020, 10:49
CherylTegan7 wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 23:32 I agree that the age of the characters isn't always how a book should be categorized. Themes, especially very dark or sexual ones, play a major role. So with YA, the author might be limited in how far they can push teens or make readers uncomfortable with too-young characters and very adult themes. I think the theme, if very far one way, can ultimately outweigh the age. I would've liked the author to lean into that, pushing the theme.
Thanks for such a well-worded insight! And I agree, I'm also interested in seeing the author push the theme a bit!
Absolutely!
"Maybe life is just an endless series of rooms with puzzles, and then eventually one of them kills you." Dirk Gently (series 1)
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Post by CherylTegan7 »

Howlan wrote: 26 Feb 2020, 16:34
CherylTegan7 wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 23:32 I agree that the age of the characters isn't always how a book should be categorized. Themes, especially very dark or sexual ones, play a major role. So with YA, the author might be limited in how far they can push teens or make readers uncomfortable with too-young characters and very adult themes. I think the theme, if very far one way, can ultimately outweigh the age. I would've liked the author to lean into that, pushing the theme.
Take Riverdale for example. It had so many dark scenes, yet the characters were high-school teens.
Good example. I don't watch the show, but I've seen clips, read things online. I guess teen shows have to keep pushing things.
"Maybe life is just an endless series of rooms with puzzles, and then eventually one of them kills you." Dirk Gently (series 1)
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Post by Cwaganagwa Dorothy »

The author made no mistake in writing the story, for the young adults. Adam is experiencing characteristics of any typical teenager,expect that he is unique and does not know how to express his feelings.
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Post by Howlan »

CherylTegan7 wrote: 27 Feb 2020, 02:34
Howlan wrote: 26 Feb 2020, 16:34
CherylTegan7 wrote: 25 Feb 2020, 23:32 I agree that the age of the characters isn't always how a book should be categorized. Themes, especially very dark or sexual ones, play a major role. So with YA, the author might be limited in how far they can push teens or make readers uncomfortable with too-young characters and very adult themes. I think the theme, if very far one way, can ultimately outweigh the age. I would've liked the author to lean into that, pushing the theme.
Take Riverdale for example. It had so many dark scenes, yet the characters were high-school teens.
Good example. I don't watch the show, but I've seen clips, read things online. I guess teen shows have to keep pushing things.
Yeah Riverdale has explored a lot of dark themes and they keep pushing. The firat season was great, but the recent ones were half-hearted.
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Post by Howlan »

CYSON DOROPH wrote: 27 Feb 2020, 06:59 The author made no mistake in writing the story, for the young adults. Adam is experiencing characteristics of any typical teenager,expect that he is unique and does not know how to express his feelings.
I think Adam has a normal person's rebellious phase on steroids. Since kidnapping and having a sex den are not typical of teenagers.
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Post by Drakka Reader »

The book simply seemed a little too dark and sexual to be aimed at young adults. I like the idea of dark themes and the like, but those themes felt wrong in a young adult book.
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