Young Adult Fiction and Romantic Delusions

I watched the movie "Young Adult" with my young adult residents on RoD last night. It wasn't as funny as we thought it would be, based on the previews. It was actually quite serious - about a 37 year old woman who is depressed and bordering on alcoholism (plus she's a writer -  go figure!). 

She goes back to her home town to try and win back her ex-boyfriend, to rekindle an old flame.  Of course she's delusional since he's happily married to a wonderful woman with whom he has parented a baby.

I think it's a good story with fair warnings about mental health, addictions, misunderstanding what is "happiness".  The character goes through great pains to make herself aesthetically attractive on the outside but man! does she have a lot of work to do on the inside.  She's one delusional, crazy prom queen!

Young Adult

2011 Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter.

Details at:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1625346/

As a writer and published author, I found a couple of scenes touched me personally:

1. At least twice, Mavis makes a point of correcting people adding that she is an "Author" after they compliment or mention her status as a "Writer".  (the nerve!)
2. In the home town book store, Mavis is offended when the clerk informs her that the series of Young Adult books for which she ghost writes is on the clearance table.  She loses it when he informs her that the books will have no value if autographed and the store has to return them to the publisher.  (Ouch!)

My novel The Year of the Rabbit contains many themes and one of them is the desire to put things back the way they were.  In many cases, life does not allow us that option.  In one case, all it takes is the encouragement and unexpected wisdom of an 11 year-old girl.

The Year of the Rabbit is published as an Ebook with Smashwords where authors can decide if or what discounts can be applied to the sales.  I can't autograph it for people but can offer a taste of reader comments and a 20% free download.   

Please note:  This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

To close the loop of this post with the subject of "old flames", I recently received a Facebook friend request from someone I knew as a kissable boy in my home town.  I responded with a message acknowledging that many years have passed and… a request to see a profile picture before I approve the connection.  I'm curious, not shallow :o)

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Thank you for reading this far.  If you like my writing style, explore other posts in this blog and the many posts in the blog for my novel The Year of the Rabbit.

T