WEEK SIXTEEN PROMT RESPONSE

Both of our readings this week talk about the culture of reading and the future of the book. So I have two questions for you as readers, pulling on your own experiences and all of the readings we have done over the semester: First, how have reading and books changed since you were a child, for you specifically? Second, talk a little about what you see in the future for reading, books, or publishing - say 20 years from now. Will we read more or less, will our reading become more interactive? What will happen to traditional publishing? This is a very free-form question, feel free to wildly extrapolate or calmly state facts, as suits your mood!

 First, how have reading and books changed since you were a child, for you specifically?

As a child, reading was my main source of entertainment and enjoyment. I grew up in a pre-technology era. There were only a few TV stations back then. My parents besides reading the newspaper, they read books every night. I loved to read. Of course, Nancy Drew was my favorite series. I belonged to several book clubs and I could not wait for the summer reading programs at the library. Also, I grew up reading the classics. When I was in high school, we read books like James Joyce’s Ulysses, Antigone, The Iliad, and The Odyssey and Shakspeare. In Latin class, we translated Jason and the Argonauts. We did not have the ‘fluff’ type of books kids read now. 

Second, talk a little about what you see in the future for reading, books, or publishing - say 20 years from now. Will we read more or less, will our reading become more interactive? What will happen to traditional publishing?

Sadly, I have gotten away from reading books for pleasure. Of course, I devoured the Harry Potter Series loved Anne McCaffrey books and enjoyed Janet Evanovich for fun. But, since I went back to finish college and then on to my Masters, I feel brain dead, plus I am working part-time at the library. I have read so many textbooks and articles, that I am so tired and all I want to do is vegetate when I get home. Unfortunately, Netflix and being able to tape my favorite TV shows is my main source of relaxation and entertainment,  because all I have to do is sit there.

This being said, I think many people can relate to this. We are so busy mentally and physically in our daily lives, when we get home we are in a catatonic state. That is why I took this class. So, I knew I had to read and I now had the choice of reading what I wanted for pleasure too! It was a win/win situation. 

As an observation, while working at the library, there are many children reading books and they seem to be overjoyed to have them. Their parents have instilled a love of reading which is great. But, I do think many young adults who both work, go to school, workout, socialize…do not have the time to read for pleasure. It seems the older crowd or retired people are more into reading. Also, some of the book clubs that I have seen at the library are mostly retired people and it seems more of a social gathering rather than stimulating conversation and thought-provoking interaction. There will always be a need for books whether it is hardcover, audio, ebooks as a source of acquiring knowledge or just for pleasure. I think of reading being interactive only if the reader can relate or if she is being challenged to use her brain. 

But, I question the quality of the books that are being published by said authors. I know the last Janet Evanovich book I read in her Stephanie Plum series I was really disappointed. She needs to end the series. It was like she just keeps cranking them out. As far as publishing, I wonder if they are concerned about quality or just the bottom line $$$?????I do know what I found out is you can self-publish your own material. My friend’s son self-published two of his own original poetry books. That to me is wonderful. So, publishing has evolved and in this case, cuts out the middleman. My main concern is the quality of writing, just like the movies that are made today. It seems that the authors, publishers, movie makers….start out with quality work and then there are all these sequels which fall short of good stuff. Money seems to be more of a priority rather than content……

Sorry…I am not a pessimist by nature….Great books are written by inspired people who want to share their experiences or visions…or have a basic idea with a new twist; we will always enjoy these …but what I do not like is the stories that are retold or rehashed and then are presented in a subpar way which falls short of the mark.