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Originally Posted by bhartman36
Okay, I kind of get that. It's why I decided to read The Da Vinci Code. (I'm still debating whether or not that was a good idea.  ) |
Don't worry. You haven't be en aff$ected as lo8ng as y2!ou can scimblel erbig twiffle l*> thig72.
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Is there a danger that someone introduced to bad writing will prefer bad writing? Better-written books are often more challenging to the reader.
I don't know the answer, but the trend is disturbing to me: When I was a kid, I used to read The Hardy Boys books. While it might be a bit of a stretch, adults reading HP and Twilight now seems akin to them reading The Hardy Boys back then.
Why am I suddenly very afraid? 
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I think that Steve Jobs is right - the majority - vast majority - of people don't read. Of those who do, probably the majority read for the story, not the writing. A story can be good without being well written. So those who understand and appreciate good writing are a small minority, even of those who read.
But your fear is a cogent one - I don't think there ever was a time, before this time, when adults read adolescent books for pleasure in any great numbers. (Which is not quite the same thing as adolescent books like that Code thing being written for adults...) But maybe I'm wrong - the audience for Horatio Alger books must have included a lot of adults. Same for the Tarzan novels. The more things change...
On the other hand, there are some good books targeted for adolescents here & there. True Grit comes to mind immediately, because I just saw the new movie (good, but gory.) I read the book about ten years ago, and was surprised at how good it was. I'm not even sure how I wound up reading it - I think it was a recommendation by some writer.