When I was about 10, there were lots of us bored, bookish children in the 1970s.
When
I
was
about
10
,
there
were
lots
of
us
bored
,
bookish
children
in
the
1970s
.
Television was largely rubbish, and our parents' bookshelves were what was left.
Television
was
largely
rubbish
,
and
our
parents
'
bookshelves
were
what
was
left
.
I thought of this when I heard author Claire Tomalin complain that children are growing up without the skills to read classic works of English literature, such as Charles Dickens and that they are not being taught to have the lengthy attention spans necessary for his texts.
I
thought
of
this
when
I
heard
author
Claire
Tomalin
complain
that
children
are
growing
up
without
the
skills
to
read
classic
works
of
English
literature
,
such
as
Charles
Dickens
and
that
they
are
not
being
taught
to
have
the
lengthy
attention
spans
necessary
for
his
texts
.
She blames this attention shortfall on the terrible television programmes.
She
blames
this
attention
shortfall
on
the
terrible
television
programmes
.
It is true that children have never had more entertainment to choose from than today.
It
is
true
that
children
have
never
had
more
entertainment
to
choose
from
than
today
.
And it is probably true that this generation's attention span is shorter; my children have dismissed as "too slow" or "boring" most of the childhood books I saved for them.
And
it
is
probably
true
that
this
generation
's
attention
span
is
shorter
;
my
children
have
dismissed
as
``
too
slow
''
or
``
boring
''
most
of
the
childhood
books
I
saved
for
them
.
I was quite upset about this until I reread some.
I
was
quite
upset
about
this
until
I
reread
some
.
It is not just entertainment that moves at a faster rate.
It
is
not
just
entertainment
that
moves
at
a
faster
rate
.
The world does, too.
The
world
does
,
too
.
And, frankly, Dickens is dense, and hard work, as are many writers of that period.
And
,
frankly
,
Dickens
is
dense
,
and
hard
work
,
as
are
many
writers
of
that
period
.
Another fact is that not many children of my generation read Dickens for pleasure either.
Another
fact
is
that
not
many
children
of
my
generation
read
Dickens
for
pleasure
either
.
It took me years to come to Great Expectations and The Pickwick Papers, and then it was only post-university when I became independently hungry for knowledge.
It
took
me
years
to
come
to
Great
Expectations
and
The
Pickwick
Papers
,
and
then
it
was
only
post-university
when
I
became
independently
hungry
for
knowledge
.
Dickens might be one of the greatest creators of characters in English, as Tomalin says, but today's children see Greg Heffley's nature in The Wimpy Kid of Jeff Kinney's novels.
Dickens
might
be
one
of
the
greatest
creators
of
characters
in
English
,
as
Tomalin
says
,
but
today
's
children
see
Greg
Heffley
's
nature
in
The
Wimpy
Kid
of
Jeff
Kinney
's
novels
.
And they are so interested in the resourceful Baudelaire children in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
And
they
are
so
interested
in
the
resourceful
Baudelaire
children
in
Lemony
Snicket
's
A
Series
of
Unfortunate
Events
.
They can recognize the adolescent, difficult situation of Harry Potter.
They
can
recognize
the
adolescent
,
difficult
situation
of
Harry
Potter
.
You can't insist that childhood tastes not change for a long time.
You
ca
n't
insist
that
childhood
tastes
not
change
for
a
long
time
.
My mother encouraged me to read anything on the basis that all reading was valuable, and would act as a gateway to more challenging works later on.
My
mother
encouraged
me
to
read
anything
on
the
basis
that
all
reading
was
valuable
,
and
would
act
as
a
gateway
to
more
challenging
works
later
on
.
In turn, I believe that my children will come to the classics when they're ready.
In
turn
,
I
believe
that
my
children
will
come
to
the
classics
when
they
're
ready
.
Until then, I'll take comfort from the fact that the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar is still the most-read children's book in Britain.
Until
then
,
I
'll
take
comfort
from
the
fact
that
the
1969
classic
The
Very
Hungry
Caterpillar
is
still
the
most-read
children
's
book
in
Britain
.
It has underdeveloped characterization, yes, and the vocabulary is limited.
It
has
underdeveloped
characterization
,
yes
,
and
the
vocabulary
is
limited
.
But as a starter to give children an appetite for reading, it is priceless.
But
as
a
starter
to
give
children
an
appetite
for
reading
,
it
is
priceless
.
When I was about 10, there were lots of us bored, bookish children in the 1970s. Television was largely rubbish, and our parents' bookshelves were what was left. I thought of this when I heard author Claire Tomalin complain that children are growing up without the skills to read classic works of English literature, such as Charles Dickens and that they are not being taught to have the lengthy attention spans necessary for his texts. She blames this attention shortfall on the terrible television programmes.  It is true that children have never had more entertainment to choose from than today. And it is probably true that this generation's attention span is shorter; my children have dismissed as "too slow" or "boring" most of the childhood books I saved for them. I was quite upset about this until I reread some. It is not just entertainment that moves at a faster rate. The world does, too. And, frankly, Dickens is dense, and hard work, as are many writers of that period.  Another fact is that not many children of my generation read Dickens for pleasure either. It took me years to come to Great Expectations and The Pickwick Papers, and then it was only post-university when I became independently hungry for knowledge.  Dickens might be one of the greatest creators of characters in English, as Tomalin says, but today's children see Greg Heffley's nature in The Wimpy Kid of Jeff Kinney's novels. And they are so interested in the resourceful Baudelaire children in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. They can recognize the adolescent, difficult situation of Harry Potter.  You can't insist that childhood tastes not change for a long time. My mother encouraged me to read anything on the basis that all reading was valuable, and would act as a gateway to more challenging works later on. In turn, I believe that my children will come to the classics when they're ready. Until then, I'll take comfort from the fact that the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar is still the most-read children's book in Britain. It has underdeveloped characterization, yes, and the vocabulary is limited. But as a starter to give children an appetite for reading, it is priceless.