Something that has been bugging me...

[aerofish.livejournal.com]

Hello, all. I'm new to this group and this is my first post. I figured I'd introduce myself with this peeve of mine.

I was reading the sample chapters for the next Anita book, and it was mentioned Anita is 27. This made me back up and go WTF(well, more than I already was). I know Anita is supposed to be in her twenties, yet that fact just never seems to stick, and I constantly find myself envisioning her as mid-30s with the mind-set, perhaps, of someone much older, if not the maturity. And giving her the age of 27 in this upcoming book really drove home the point to me, as that is my age.

Anita does not act like any twenty-something I know. For any of you around Anita's age, do you feel the same way? And I know I'm making a sweeping generalization about how a 25-30 year old should act, but shouldn't there be some consistencies with the popular culture for this age group? I have so many examples, but here's two obvious ones:

-Does she dress like someone my age dresses? Maybe if it were the 80's or early 90's, with her silk shell blouses and pantyhose and power jackets. Maybe she's going for a retro-ironic hipster thing, and I'm too dull to see it?

-She speaks with none of the slang commonly used. And while yes, "nifty" is a, well, nifty word...it's not exactly the cornerstone of a young person's vocabulary, right? Doesn't she, in one book referencing her brother's opinion of her line of work, even say something like "he says it's cool, or whatever the kids are saying these days?" Uh. Right.

In general, this is such a minor pet peeve, what with the many many MANY issues with her books I am having these days. But still, shouldn't there be a least a few references here and there anchoring Anita to the age she is supposed to be?

Comments

[kuzunoha.livejournal.com]

As I said in an earlier comment.

Nathanial was a STREET kid. Raised on the streets by the streets. Even "reformed" he would retain some of the mannerisms and language.

He really should be tougher too... I mean, street kids are tough 'cause they have to be to survive. No matter how beaten down he was, he would have basic survival instincts... He would HAVE too... Or he would have been dead.

[saadiira.livejournal.com]

See, here's a yes and no. He really could be what he is now that he's NOT on the streets. He may have catered to an older clientelle that didn't like all the slang, and learned fast not to use it. He may have hooked up with various and sundry sugardaddies, just because he sucks at keeping himself alive. Again, that's not my problem with him.

My biggest problem is that he's screwed up, and vulnerable, and that she's in a powerful mother/therapist sort of position, and lets him into her bed.

It's bloody squicky.

-Dira-

[kuzunoha.livejournal.com]

There is some basic street slang that is needed for survival.

If you live on the streets as in homeless, it's like a code.

He would at least have this, even if he didn't use it with his "clients".

And I've still convinced it would rear it's head once in a while. But I'm going off the people I know.