tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post2302780231254266524..comments2024-03-10T10:00:21.430-07:00Comments on A Tapestry Of Words: YA Reviews: "Introvert" Is Not a Bad Word!danyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-67807227248339425542012-09-23T17:14:45.010-07:002012-09-23T17:14:45.010-07:00You're welcome! :)You're welcome! :)danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-88684418633500267972012-09-23T17:14:03.207-07:002012-09-23T17:14:03.207-07:00Thanks for your kind comments, Jennifer! I'll ...Thanks for your kind comments, Jennifer! I'll have to check out The Introvert Advantage. And thanks for that link – the author raises some great points in clearing up common misunderstandings about introversion. (Particularly interesting to read about the differences in brain activity!)danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-90288708921441739782012-09-23T17:07:09.209-07:002012-09-23T17:07:09.209-07:00Exactly! Introversion often seems to almost be see...Exactly! Introversion often seems to almost be seen as something clinical — akin to social anxiety, perhaps — whereas I think that's far less of a problem for extroversion. danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-28141921365845895902012-09-23T17:04:44.686-07:002012-09-23T17:04:44.686-07:00Glad you liked it! :D Yeah, those kinds of stories...Glad you liked it! :D Yeah, those kinds of stories don't seem to pop up very often in YA, unfortunately.danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-54288087222912216742012-09-23T17:02:14.553-07:002012-09-23T17:02:14.553-07:00Yeah, Grease really doesn't send a very good m...Yeah, Grease really doesn't send a very good message. *shakes head* danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-87287245042050735932012-09-23T13:43:29.525-07:002012-09-23T13:43:29.525-07:00Thank you for this post.Thank you for this post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-31386573289626026432012-09-22T15:25:42.162-07:002012-09-22T15:25:42.162-07:00Ooooh, Speechless does sound like it would fit tha...Ooooh, Speechless does sound like it would fit that very well! Thanks for sharing, I'll have to check it out :)danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-69910153845219321092012-09-22T15:24:46.271-07:002012-09-22T15:24:46.271-07:00Nice to "meet" a fellow introvert! :D Th...Nice to "meet" a fellow introvert! :D Thanks for giving those examples — it's nice to hear that there *are* a few YA books out there that break the stereotype. And I agree, I think it would send a much better message if other characters recognized the protagonist's strengths as they are already!danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-38651950540540773912012-09-22T15:03:01.420-07:002012-09-22T15:03:01.420-07:00Oh, and I forgot to comment on your astute insight...Oh, and I forgot to comment on your astute insights about character growth in YA--why does the shy girl NEED to blossom into a social butterfly? Introverts aren't ugly caterpillars waiting to fly! Jennifer Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300124780126853962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-2087351840179976112012-09-22T15:01:49.143-07:002012-09-22T15:01:49.143-07:00What a thoughtful post, Danya. Have you heard of t...What a thoughtful post, Danya. Have you heard of the book "The Introvert Advantage"? It's excellent. They say 25% of us are introverts and we're easily misunderstood. (I'm an extrovert but I'm becoming more introverted as I get older). This site also offers some great advice: http://briankim.net/blog/2007/10/top-5-things-every-extrovert-should-know-about-introverts/Jennifer Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300124780126853962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-35591884398690496282012-09-22T14:39:24.770-07:002012-09-22T14:39:24.770-07:00Excellent post! Being an introvert myself, I wish ...Excellent post! Being an introvert myself, I wish it was better understood that we're not antisocial and/or in need of fixing. And as a YA author, I'll keep your comments in mind as I create characters for my next book!HelenLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00803623812277046433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-12731727003092659572012-09-22T13:40:30.101-07:002012-09-22T13:40:30.101-07:00Really enjoyed this post! I can't really think...Really enjoyed this post! I can't really think of a book where the main character is an introvert and his/her being a introvert is not seen as a negative thing or a thing to overcome. I'm sure they exist but they are rare indeed.<br /><br />p.s. :DSyshahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13068259511984382878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-63212687795014745022012-09-22T09:34:19.529-07:002012-09-22T09:34:19.529-07:00I really detested the movie Grease. The primary le...I really detested the movie Grease. The primary lesson to be learned is: Become a slut, get the Guy.Nikki Nelson-Hickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01091811911621824097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-57381428820621913822012-09-22T08:18:48.948-07:002012-09-22T08:18:48.948-07:00Thanks so much for sharing that Le Guin quote — it...Thanks so much for sharing that Le Guin quote — it really captures this issue well! Would love it if you made this your next writing project :Ddanyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-70130296546428627432012-09-22T08:17:27.614-07:002012-09-22T08:17:27.614-07:00Glad you enjoyed the post! That's a good point...Glad you enjoyed the post! That's a good point you raise about older books and portrayals of introversion - I think introversion used to be valued more in society (back in the 1800s or whenever!) when etiquette and "proper behaviour" was considered so important. danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-67143303495958882332012-09-22T07:13:00.252-07:002012-09-22T07:13:00.252-07:00You asked: "Do we ever see a loudmouthed soci...You asked: "Do we ever see a loudmouthed social butterfly realizing she should think before she speaks, and starting to value close friendships over being the most popular?"<br /><br />I think Speechless by Hannah Harrington would fit the bill for this. After blurting out a big secret and being ostracized by her former friends in the popular crowd, Chelsea takes a vow of silence and makes real friendships. I just finished reading this so it's on my mind.The Insouciant Sophisticatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03934853089105345052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-63544522505425260862012-09-21T17:51:19.529-07:002012-09-21T17:51:19.529-07:00My name is Lex, and I am...an introvert. :) Nicely...My name is Lex, and I am...an introvert. :) Nicely done. <br /><br />I can think of a few YA novels with extroverts who learn to be quiet, or introverts who make good use of their talents. Sarah Dessen does a lovely job of this with the three sisters in "Just Listen." (She has an actual extrovert as a main character for "This Lullaby", but that's quite different.) Robin McKinley wrote "Sunlight"--her take on the vampire craze--which has a well-rounded introvert for a heroine. And I don't think Krista McGee did too bad of a job with "First Date"--though the character is looking for tact instead of toughness. <br /><br />I think a part of why most YA novels feature introverts is because most writers are introverts. Not all of us, but it's a tried and true formula within the publishing industry. Though the idea that quiet people must be bolder and bolder people must be quiet is a little patronizing. Maybe it's everybody else in the book who needs to recognize the character's strengths as they are...Lex Keatinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06615789417676118852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-84187555195925437782012-09-21T13:41:16.669-07:002012-09-21T13:41:16.669-07:00I totally agree that introverts are too often igno...I totally agree that introverts are too often ignored in favour of extroverts. I'm quite introverted but I think a lot of writers are. This post reminded me of a great quote from Ursula Le Guin:<br /><br />'Hardly anybody ever writes anything nice about introverts. Extroverts rule. This is rather odd when you realise that about nineteen writers out of twenty are introverts. We are being taught to be ashamed of not being 'outgoing'. But a writer's job is ingoing.'<br /><br />I definitely think there should be more introverted protagonists in YA fiction - I can't think of any examples of novels when introversion is presented positively (maybe this should be my next project!)ELAdamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11390894357209056149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076115639598447002.post-55536721696212291722012-09-21T11:23:09.422-07:002012-09-21T11:23:09.422-07:00Love this post! Great points about YA -- I actuall...Love this post! Great points about YA -- I actually can't think of one that values introversion, of the top of my head. Except perhaps really old novels, ie: Anne of Green Gables.<br /><br />I wholeheartedly second your recommendation of Quiet -- it's a fabulous book that I really enjoyed, and think she's done a great job of delineating introversion/extroversion.Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.com