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Books
Reports in today's papers saying that 4 million children in the UK do not own any books. I find this hard to believe. What do you think?
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I don't. A lot of the poor sods leave school with virtual no education at all despite the so called schooling they get, I read somewhere this week that one of the big supermarkets was having to give a lot of applicants basic reading writing and math training for checkout work. I don't know if it was true or just a make up but I wouldn't be surprised.
I've heard that too.
Also, in the last 12 months, for the first time, the number of hardback books sold in the UK was fewer than the number of electronic downloads.
It won't be long before downloads exceed paperback sales.
Some entire bookshop chains have vanished, like Borders.
The next generation of adults, today's children, won't buy books. They will click a download on some electronic device ... if they even bother to do that.
Caxton invented the printing press. It was good while it lasted.
Also, in the last 12 months, for the first time, the number of hardback books sold in the UK was fewer than the number of electronic downloads.
It won't be long before downloads exceed paperback sales.
Some entire bookshop chains have vanished, like Borders.
The next generation of adults, today's children, won't buy books. They will click a download on some electronic device ... if they even bother to do that.
Caxton invented the printing press. It was good while it lasted.
Many families can't afford books. (I remember asking a 12yo pupil what he had for Christmas. He'd received just one pair of plain woollen gloves. I taught plenty of other kids like him).
Other families don't see books as being part of their lives. Mum doesn't read books (and, apart from compulsory school reading, has never done so). dad is the same. The idea of having books around for their simply doesn't occur to them. (In Grays recently I spotted a hairdressing shop which only does kids' hairdressing. They had a special £60 styling offer on promotion. I'd be prepared to bet that many of the parents who fork out that sort of money for a child's hairdo, plus more money on their ear piercings and jewellery, would never go near a bookshop. Actually I don't think that there is a bookshop in Grays anyway!).
Chris
Other families don't see books as being part of their lives. Mum doesn't read books (and, apart from compulsory school reading, has never done so). dad is the same. The idea of having books around for their simply doesn't occur to them. (In Grays recently I spotted a hairdressing shop which only does kids' hairdressing. They had a special £60 styling offer on promotion. I'd be prepared to bet that many of the parents who fork out that sort of money for a child's hairdo, plus more money on their ear piercings and jewellery, would never go near a bookshop. Actually I don't think that there is a bookshop in Grays anyway!).
Chris
I find it a shame that the Poles and Lithuanians I have working for me have a better grasp of spelling and grammar than the 'natives'.
There is too much reliance on spellcheckers that don't differentiate between "There", "Their" and "They're" so the spellchecker says it's all OK so it must be right. Same with "Your" and "You're", and "Our" and "Are"
There is too much reliance on spellcheckers that don't differentiate between "There", "Their" and "They're" so the spellchecker says it's all OK so it must be right. Same with "Your" and "You're", and "Our" and "Are"
I love books.
I love the whole tactile thing of holding a book.
I love being in a bookshop, surrounded by walls of books.
I don't have ornaments on my shelves, but I do have hundreds of books.
I only ever buy from Amazon if our local bookshops absolutely can't get hold of a book for me.
And I would NEVER buy a kindle, and click to download.
I don't know how many years the book market can survive. Sooner or later, when Kindles have driven the bookshops out of business, I will have no choice, and I will have to buy a kindle.
Until then, we need to urge everyone to buy books, read books, carry books around wherever they go.
Oh, heck ... if kids don't want books any more, then I'm flogging a dead horse.
I love the whole tactile thing of holding a book.
I love being in a bookshop, surrounded by walls of books.
I don't have ornaments on my shelves, but I do have hundreds of books.
I only ever buy from Amazon if our local bookshops absolutely can't get hold of a book for me.
And I would NEVER buy a kindle, and click to download.
I don't know how many years the book market can survive. Sooner or later, when Kindles have driven the bookshops out of business, I will have no choice, and I will have to buy a kindle.
Until then, we need to urge everyone to buy books, read books, carry books around wherever they go.
Oh, heck ... if kids don't want books any more, then I'm flogging a dead horse.
