Adult at heart
Posted by: Donna Seaman
Booklist ran a starred review of Colson Whitehead’s new novel, Sag Harbor with a Young Adult recommendation, back in February. Yesterday, an up-close photograph of Mr. Whitehead facing a positive review of his book appeared on the cover of the New York Times Book Review (the only free-standing newspaper book review left in the country), making him and his book big lit news, and of course, a magnet for commentary, gossip, and, the holy grail of any publicity-hunger realm, controversy. Was Whitehead “huffy” at the suggestion that Sag Harbor might be marketed as a young adult novel? Or does he hope to be beyond category, as Whitehead himself explains here, and simply wants to be read? Having read and reviewed each of Whitehead’s smart, imaginative, compassion, romantic, and sharply funny books, I say recommend Sag Harbor to adults of all ages. It’s the books, after all, not passing remarks by and about writers, that should engage our reading ardor.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
[...] meaning of Young Adult fiction. While some author’s think it’s slight be called a YA author, others earn acclaim for and revel in the title (*cough* John Green *cough*). So another shadow [...]