Book-lover Brian McKeown had almost 50 copies of his favourite read - All Quiet on the Western Front - to hand out at Clacton library as part of a million-book giveaway.Oh dear. You can see what's coming, can't you?
He expected to be swamped by budding bookworms after telling local secondary schools about the free offer.
But it ended up being all quiet on the library front after youngsters snubbed the chance.Maybe he'd have had more luck with 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'?
Mr McKeown tried to interest a group of teenagers who wandered in.
"One of them turned round and aid he couldn't read and the others said they didn't read books," he said.It does, doesn't it?
"A member of staff said that summed it up."
Mr McKeown couldn't believe schools would miss the chance to add free books to their libraries.That was long ago, and far away.
"English teachers would have jumped at the chance 25-30 years ago," he said.
I wonder if Alan Bennett* will be along to pontificate on this as he did with the proposed closure of libraries?
Is it still 'child abuse', Alan, when they choose to 'abuse' themselves?
*H/T: CJ Nerd via email.
*H/T: CJ Nerd via email.
Dear Predator
ReplyDeleteHad you said " ... far away and long ago" that would have been a title of a book by W H Hudson:
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1462034
I read it at school.
DP
Might have done (a bit) better with "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away"?
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad & depressing indictment on both young people themselves and those charged with their education and enlightenment ..
ReplyDeleteOne cannot help but feel sorry for Mr McKeown, having his generousity hurled back in his face ..
Perhaps, one day their stupidity will dawn on them .. but I won't be holding my breath ..
XX Mr McKeown tried to interest a group of teenagers who wandered in.
ReplyDelete"One of them turned round and aid he couldn't read and the others said they didn't read books," XX
So....they had mistaken the LIBRARY for WHAT exactly? A pool hall? A Post office?
Follow ups to...
ReplyDeleteIt's just the wrong packaging. If it was re-edited to look like a compendium of tweets from a celebrity... er celebrity German soldier... ok, from 90 odd years ago, so obviously a 're-imagined' account, a tweeting celebri... no, it'd still be a waste of fucking time, wouldn't it?
ReplyDeleteFuror
ReplyDelete"So....they had mistaken the LIBRARY for WHAT exactly? A pool hall? A Post office?"
Given that so many libraries have effectively become internet cafes for illegals, anything is a possibility.
WV: "vullor" has a slightly unpleasant and pejorative undertone....
This is Clacton library remember. I wrote about my visit here:
ReplyDeletehttp://essexhunter.blogspot.com/2010/06/libraries.html
Nothing has changed and libraries have little to do with books or learning.
WV: minde
If he'd told the kidz: "It's all about war, like Call of Duty" they might have been a little more interested.
ReplyDeleteOn second thoughts, I doubt it. They'd had to have carried the book and anyways, yer hands are needed for txting, innit.
People still read books? Wow. Do they also ride penny farthings and watch bear baiting?
ReplyDeleteHaven't read a book in years, except for research and reference, and precious few of them. Most information can now be gleaned in a more direct form from the internets. So, it's just down to fiction I guess, that books are for.
But there are much better means of entertainment now; wireless, "record albums", popular beat combos, the talking pictures, "computer" games. Much more fun than a book. Can't think why anyone would read one for fun, to be honest. I used to read lots of them when I was a teenager, but that was 30 years ago, and entertainment was either one black and white TV showing the cricket, or the radiogram in the living room. Or a trip to the pictures. Not very often.
Not surprised nobody gave a monkeys about All Quiet On The Western Front.
" The book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental stress during the war, and the detachment from civilian life felt by many of these soldiers upon returning home from the front."
Oh my. Pass the World Of Warcraft.
Really, it's a dying medium. There's better stuff than books now. It's like complaining that nobody wants bards any more, or plays with a hoop and stick.
I am assume you're having a laugh, Ian.
ReplyDeleteAbout the most cogent criticism of AQOTWF you could get out of today's teenager is, "Maria? That's a funny name for a bloke. What was 'e, a bleedin' poof?"
I remember reading it aged 15 or so. We did actually read for pleasure as kids back then, and 'difficult' books at that.
"Perhaps, one day their stupidity will dawn on them .. but I won't be holding my breath .."
ReplyDeleteThat sounds sensible...
"So....they had mistaken the LIBRARY for WHAT exactly? A pool hall? A Post office?"
As Mud in the Blood points out, it wouldn't be too surprising if they did.
"It's just the wrong packaging."
:) You and Trenchfoot are on the same wavelength!
"Really, it's a dying medium. There's better stuff than books now."
The new media has its advantages, it's true. But you just can't beat the feel and smell of a book!
It's a shame it sounds like it's a pleasure that the younger generation will be denying themselves...
"I remember reading it aged 15 or so. We did actually read for pleasure as kids back then, and 'difficult' books at that."
ReplyDeleteIt used to be an achievement to get your adult library card earlier than normal. Not any more, I fear...