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JK Rowling against age banding on books

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lin
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PostSubject: Re: JK Rowling against age banding on books   Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:05 pm
Quote:
I don't think there has been any attempt to control children's reading.


Well, in the US at least it sorts of looks like that.
Just the concept of a student "reading at his level" and having the school library set up in levels is a bit of pigeonholing.

But the main thing is, if you control the writing you end up controlling the reading. And many book publishers have "word lists" and such for writers.

The kids are restricted from books (except that they end up getting stuck with what their parents buy them to an extent) but they end up being presented with books, not only in school but in the school book clubs and competitions and stuff that bracket their ages.

Kids who seek out more challenging books can find them, but they're having a pre-fab course laid out for them from everybody from parents to teachers.

That's the real value of books like Harry Potter or Lemony Snickett--the kids are aware of them and ASK FOR THEM by name.


I'm continually apalled, by the way, at the "official" books for kids. Mindless pablum packed with all these social messages of "diversity uber alles" and political correctness.

The people who control kid's reading today would be horrified if Tom Sawyer or Robin Hood or Black Beauty hit their desks.
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Malcolm
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PostSubject: Re: JK Rowling against age banding on books   Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:01 pm
It appears that what the publishers are saying now is that they won't age-band a book without "consultation with the author." Yeah, that and a couple of dollars will buy you a cup of coffee.

Malcolm
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P. Gordon Kennedy
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PostSubject: Re: JK Rowling against age banding on books   Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:59 pm
zadaconnaway wrote:
Experts are retired perts. Maybe they are all daffy!!


lol!
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lin
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PostSubject: Re: JK Rowling against age banding on books   Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:53 pm
Yeah it's like the "consultation" on the cover, right.

PUB: We wanted to consult you about the cover on your book.
WRITER: It makes me sick.
PUB: Thanks, you've been consulted.
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Pam
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PostSubject: Re: JK Rowling against age banding on books   Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:29 pm
I'd rather give the kid a giftcard and let them choose their own reading material rather than restrict them somehow, unless I know there is a book that they are keen to read. I think one of the most interesting - and underutilized - places to encourage reading are the public libraries, although they struggle hugely for funding and resources. Many of them run captivating reading programs in the summer that will really get kids hooked if they would just visit the place to begin with.

Shelagh you hit the nail on the head about watering down the university content too, and we're having the same difficulties with Canadian universities that you are seeing in the UK, which is exactly why I won't teach in them. Making Pam crazy is not my idea of fun! bounce
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Malcolm
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PostSubject: Re: JK Rowling against age banding on books   Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:04 pm
Yep, Lin, it is like the cover consult. The writers are saying, though, that age-banding is (in the way Random House wants to standardize it) not a traditional part of the cover and cannot be considered part of any written contracts previously signed that stipulate that (for most authors) the cover is the publisher's domain. The pubs aren't agreeing with this, of course.

That gift card is a good idea, Pam.

Malcolm
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