Better as an adult book

Nym182 · Post by **Nym182** » 24 Feb 2020, 16:33

Howlan wrote: ↑22 Feb 2020, 09:17
Nym182 wrote: ↑21 Feb 2020, 10:26
Jac-o-lantern wrote: ↑21 Feb 2020, 10:09 I found the book to be an odd combination. The beginning was definitely very dark and contained aspects I do think are suited for an older audience. After their romance took off the book became much more like a YA novel in my opinion. I think the author should have either made the book more suitable for YA or taken an entirely different direction and made a darker novel for older audiences.
I have felt that this book was two different books smooshed together, it's not consistent.
Yes like two aspects which do not fit well, like oil and water I guess!

well idk, I do love me some vinagrette dressing!

Nym182 · Post by **Nym182** » 24 Feb 2020, 16:35

Howlan wrote: ↑22 Feb 2020, 09:13
Nym182 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2020, 11:10
silvafaerie wrote: ↑19 Feb 2020, 15:40 I agree. some of the topics were just too much for a young adult book. I have it 4 stars but I am not a teenager. Definitely would be better as an adult fantasy book.
I agree with you on this, although I didn't give the book as many stars as you haha.
I have not reviewed it and I would also not give it four stars. A three stars maybe.

You should, I would be interested in reading a full-on review by you!

sarahmarlowe randomeducator · 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.

Stephanie Elizabeth · Post by **Stephanie Elizabeth** » 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.

gilliansisley · Post by **gilliansisley** » 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.

gilliansisley · Post by **gilliansisley** » 24 Feb 2020, 20:27

MirageP wrote: ↑08 Feb 2020, 02:29 I actually think that the author should not have used the sexual undertones quite so much. So maybe in a way I agree with you; she should have made a sci-fi adult book rather than YA. I'm not saying I'd read it though.

Agreed. I think they were wildly inappropriate! Not for the reading audience of YA. The dark and gritty themes too were just too disturbing for younger, impressionable readers.

AvocaDebo621 · Post by **AvocaDebo621** » 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!

bellajavier · Post by **bellajavier** » 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!

Nym182 · Post by **Nym182** » 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

Nym182 · Post by **Nym182** » 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!

Nym182 · Post by **Nym182** » 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...

Nym182 · Post by **Nym182** » 25 Feb 2020, 10:38

gilliansisley wrote: ↑24 Feb 2020, 20:27
MirageP wrote: ↑08 Feb 2020, 02:29 I actually think that the author should not have used the sexual undertones quite so much. So maybe in a way I agree with you; she should have made a sci-fi adult book rather than YA. I'm not saying I'd read it though.
Agreed. I think they were wildly inappropriate! Not for the reading audience of YA. The dark and gritty themes too were just too disturbing for younger, impressionable readers.

Especially since the themes are justified with weak reasons... Incest! but don't worry it's just cause of a serum... Kidnapping! It's ok, Adam gets a fresh start!

Nym182 · Post by **Nym182** » 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.

Nym182 · Post by **Nym182** » 25 Feb 2020, 10:40

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!

Thank you! I appreciate your comment

Post by **CherylTegan7** » 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.