Surviving Adolescence
I want to announce a new release! I am in the release-any-second-now anthology, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl, I Learned from Judy Blume. Edited by Jennifer O'Connell, it contains real-life essays from 21 authors--including yours truly--on the Judy Blume books that got us through adolescence.
I wrote about Deenie. When I read the book I was the same age as Deenie and just as mad at the world. But it was making peace with myself that somehow--as an adult--made that book even more meaningful.
I don't know that most men "get" how Blume's books charted adolescence for a lot of women. How honest the books felt. How scandalous (in Forever, she discussed S-E-X--in a way that was completely realistic).
My adolescence--like everyone's, I suppose--was a landmine of feelings and often unhappiness. I skipped a year of high school, feeling intellectually bored and hopelessly out of place. But Blume's books somehow made me realize that as different as I was, someone else "got me."
Any women care to share their "Blume moments"--or any book that somehow made surviving the teen years a little easier? You guys, too!
Labels: Judy Blume anthology
posted by Erica Orloff at 9:09 AM
10 Comments:
Hi Erica,
What a nice walk down Memory Lane. I remember buying the Judy Blume books for my daughter's and reading them when the went to bed.
Your book sounds just wonderful!
Sandy
Hi Sandy:
I loved all her books! And my younger kids have liked FUDGE. Which is amazing because she has done these much darker or more serious titles . . . and then also the kid-ones. So she has quite a range as a writer.
E
I know I wasn't the only teen to dog ear the "dirty" page. ;) I read Forever a few times, each time praying for the HEA. Blume was an honest author, and I really appreciated her for that.
I read Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret. Blume's a good writer.
I remember reading and enjoying Willard as a teen.
Sorry, Erica. ;)
Erica,
I hadn't heard of this book, this is so exciting. I have thought about writing about Judy Blume in one of my columns because of the big impact she had on me as a kid. I think I read nearly all of her fiction books, but one of my favorites was a collection of letters that young adults sent to her. It gave great insight into those questions you were too afraid to ask about. I was particularly partial to the Ramona series. I am definitely going to look into to buying that book! Great news!
Kelly
Heather:
I know. I now, as a writer, think what an amazing thing that she didn't give Forever its "forever" ending.
E
kelly:
I hope you check it out. I think the concept of it is great.
E
Jude:
OK, yes I loved Blume. But I also remember reading Night Shift by Stephen King as a teen . . . and thinking WOW, who knew someone could think of such creepy stories!
E
I just know how much you hate rats. Willard was creepy to the nth degree, even for me.
I also remember enjoying Paul Zindel's The Pigman. So, I wasn't strictly into horror. ;)
Jude:
Rats just creep me to the nth degree. Them and cockroaches.
And Pigman . .. another adolecent classic. That pained me, the book. The cruelty . . . it was just a painful book to read.
E
Post a Comment
<< Home