I ran across a post on Facebook the other night that was thought provoking. The question was posed whether a good author should be able to write a (non YA) book without using sex or adult language. Immediately my answer was yes, of course they should. But it got me thinking about the different types of readers within this genre. Those who read for plot and those who read for porn. Neither is right or wrong and they aren't mutually exclusive.
Would you read a book about adult characters that didn't contain any sex scene or foul language? My answer is yes. To me, plot is the most important thing in a book; I need it to keep me interested. And I've found that I tend to skim books that contain gratuitous sex scenes. I've started books that everyone was raving about, but was distracted by the amount of sex. It seemed to take center stage, the plot having exited stage left. Again, this is me personally. In my opinion, a sex scene should only be included if it serves a purpose, such as furthering the plot. Otherwise, it weighs the book down and slows the pace and development. The argument could be made that these are adult characters that would have adult emotions, with sex being a natural manifestation of those feelings. I'm not against sex in a book, provided it feels true to the characters and was needed to further a plot point.
I realize that I'm probably in the minority with my opinion. I'd love to hear from someone with a different opinion? Maybe start a discussion about this? Sound off in the comments below.
