tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363070543129427663.post3110046249442940579..comments2024-03-17T00:53:17.609+00:00Comments on Confessions of a displaced hedgehog: Real literatureUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363070543129427663.post-51958485741497570332014-09-28T07:51:49.424+01:002014-09-28T07:51:49.424+01:00I think you've pretty much nailed it in terms ...I think you've pretty much nailed it in terms of 'speaking to you as an adult' and that that doesn't make them better but different. I wonder if there is a similarity with the diversity debate? That if you see your own preoccupations as a black person (for example) represented in a book that book is more meaningful and pleasurable for you, and so if you see your adult experience reflected it is more engaging than if you see childhood experience reflected? Although we have all been children, childhood concerns are no longer urgent and compelling for us. <br /><br />Narrative speed is certainly a factor, too, as you say - children's books have to rush along with relatively little time for description, reflection and langourous passsages of character development. (This from the perspective of someone working at the coalface now, not necessarily developing arguments from the past canon as you are.) <br /><br />My agent would say cultural complexity - not that there aren't complex children's books, but that an adult book can be written with a dependence on the reader 'getting' the complexity and a children's book can't rely on it. (You can read Northern Lights for the story and not worry about the allegory if you don't get it.) I outlined to her a book I was writing which she said she couldn't sell as a children's book because of the complexity of the ideas behind it which couldn't be imparted in the text. I'm not sure I agree with her, but there are certain things you can rely on an adult reader knowing that you can't rely on a child reader knowing. Many real books (to use your phrase) rely on cultural resonance and part of the delight we take in them is an intellectual pleasure and being 'in on it'. It's probably that bit you miss (if it's there) in children's literature. And I say 'if it's there' because the books aren't written by children so we writers aren't in on it either. Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.com