tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post8045950057825414855..comments2024-03-13T04:42:00.553-07:00Comments on Seven Miles of Steel Thistles: 'Leading Authors' to propose list of 50 books children should read.Katherine Langrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-50133866708521405822011-03-31T00:45:43.273-07:002011-03-31T00:45:43.273-07:00Thanks for your comment yalibraryuk - we are all i...Thanks for your comment yalibraryuk - we are all in this together!Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-76609133980561246402011-03-30T16:30:36.470-07:002011-03-30T16:30:36.470-07:00It is always a delight for librarians to see autho...It is always a delight for librarians to see authors objecting to a tyranny of reading. The very joy of discovering reading is in choice. Thank you (and the other authors above) for taking the time to express this to the Telegraph. It all counts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-9268240336419262652011-03-23T12:25:51.135-07:002011-03-23T12:25:51.135-07:00An update: the Telegraph got in touch. they were ...An update: the Telegraph got in touch. they were going to print the letter in tomorrow's paper, but then decided to go with a letter from a librarian instead, which apparently makes much the same points. As most of the point of the letter I wrote was exactly ABOUT letting librarians make the decisions, I am perfectly happy with that. But thankyou all again for your comments and support!Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-17125425889275040842011-03-23T11:32:04.544-07:002011-03-23T11:32:04.544-07:00Well, entering this conversation too late means I ...Well, entering this conversation too late means I don't have to spend too much time wondering whether I'm eligible to sign! Tremendous initiative, Katherine. Thanks for doing this.Mr Pondhttp://mrpond47.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-11611047081039979242011-03-23T08:39:42.952-07:002011-03-23T08:39:42.952-07:00I agree with you entirely, Katherine. Perhaps Mic...I agree with you entirely, Katherine. Perhaps Michael Gove should be sent a copy of Daniel Pennac's The Rights of the Reader.Ann Turnbullnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-76460361005083225752011-03-23T01:27:08.336-07:002011-03-23T01:27:08.336-07:00Sounds a much better idea, Pamela!Sounds a much better idea, Pamela!Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-11686608485892261972011-03-22T17:08:48.534-07:002011-03-22T17:08:48.534-07:00Quite right, Katharine, and I speak as a children&...Quite right, Katharine, and I speak as a children's author who hated both Wind in the Willows and Peter Rabbit. But my local librarian was a gem and found many, many wonderful books for me over the years. Librarians (especially school librarians) are under threat in Australia as well, and it is incredibly annoying to hear politicians talk about 'commitment to literacy' when they are cutting the librarians into pieces. In NSW we have the 'Premier's Reading Challenge' which encourages kids to read a wide variety of books in order to get a certificate - but there are hundreds of books on the list, which is compiled by a committee of educators, librarians, authors and parents, so there are suitable books for every child.Pamela Freemanhttp://pamelafreemanbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-20577525883143480912011-03-22T14:13:24.095-07:002011-03-22T14:13:24.095-07:00Will purrowl on over and have a look at the articl...Will purrowl on over and have a look at the article right now!catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-90815340894868791182011-03-22T11:19:22.226-07:002011-03-22T11:19:22.226-07:00Ah - the latter. Thanks. Oh well, done now, neve...Ah - the latter. Thanks. Oh well, done now, never mind...Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-5878446627040061052011-03-22T09:50:59.028-07:002011-03-22T09:50:59.028-07:00Great to see this initiative to respond to Gove. J...Great to see this initiative to respond to Gove. Just one niggle, do you mean proscriptive or prescriptive?Elizabeth Bentleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-49425168076617454462011-03-22T08:13:01.921-07:002011-03-22T08:13:01.921-07:00Pippa, so sorry, the letter's gone, but you co...Pippa, so sorry, the letter's gone, but you could still contact the Daily Telegraph and ask to be added to the list of signatures, perhaps - or add you own comment? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-21143441579197524862011-03-22T08:08:35.960-07:002011-03-22T08:08:35.960-07:00Please can I sign your excellent letter?
Pippa Goo...Please can I sign your excellent letter?<br />Pippa GoodhartPippa Goodharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709422048047155208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-1983722689126060822011-03-22T07:07:45.435-07:002011-03-22T07:07:45.435-07:00Very impressed with your detective skills, Katheri...Very impressed with your detective skills, Katherine! Sorry for not leaving my full name - wasn't thinking!Tamsyn Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08041502244181924265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-3121618018444317022011-03-22T07:07:07.292-07:002011-03-22T07:07:07.292-07:00Great letter on a very important subject, Kath. I ...Great letter on a very important subject, Kath. I remember a similar scheme aimed towards boys who were only reading graphic novels. Some academics may hate graphic novels but if they keep boys reading for those precious years between 13 and 21 when so many simply stop, then I think they are a good thing. If the books are there, kids, with encouragement, will find the ones that appeal specifically to them. Browsing after all is one of the great joys of going to the library.Jo Treggiarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02417288480274268189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-27328094516054980342011-03-22T06:44:43.071-07:002011-03-22T06:44:43.071-07:00Phew! It's a great letter, reasoned and persua...Phew! It's a great letter, reasoned and persuasive but non-confrontational. I agree about prescribed books COMPLETELY.Gillian Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01143802491301982960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-9046344454785052692011-03-22T06:44:25.825-07:002011-03-22T06:44:25.825-07:00OK, letter sent! If you are reading this and woul...OK, letter sent! If you are reading this and would like to add something, the link to the Daily Telegraph letters page is http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-57534326035313377562011-03-22T06:41:01.257-07:002011-03-22T06:41:01.257-07:00Got you in the nick of time!Got you in the nick of time!Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-3144416919249066442011-03-22T06:40:19.187-07:002011-03-22T06:40:19.187-07:00OH NO I missed it! If it's not too late I'...OH NO I missed it! If it's not too late I'd like to add my name too!Gillian Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01143802491301982960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-9301559067257338622011-03-22T06:05:03.243-07:002011-03-22T06:05:03.243-07:00I'm going to send the letter to the Telegraph ...I'm going to send the letter to the Telegraph at 1.30 pm today, btw.Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-17980758330269793832011-03-22T06:03:05.190-07:002011-03-22T06:03:05.190-07:00Bryony, I do appreciate your point, but that's...Bryony, I do appreciate your point, but that's why I'm pointing out children need school librarians. (I don't imagine many children or parents read the Ultinate Book Guide.) Thanks for agreeing to sign, and you too Frances.Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-76816562357578511392011-03-22T05:59:21.314-07:002011-03-22T05:59:21.314-07:00And this from the people who tried to scrap Bookst...And this from the people who tried to scrap Bookstart. <br /> Yes, of course children should read loads of books. But not Should Read. Kiss of death.<br />Please add my name to the listfrances thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717833251829537628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-62250100348294636972011-03-22T05:54:50.237-07:002011-03-22T05:54:50.237-07:00I'd like to sign please - Bryony Pearce (autho...I'd like to sign please - Bryony Pearce (author of Angel's Fury). <br /><br />I support the idea of the list, but, as you say, not so much the idea that leading authors should put it together. What if Martin Amis, who has nothing but contempt for children's authors, is chosen to put his picks forward, for example?<br />The only thing I would say is that a list of 50 (which we call proscriptive) could also be described, for families who don't read, as a managable number. <br />Those who might feel daunted helping their child choose from a list of 700 (and who may therefore not go for any books at all), may make an attempt at a proscriptive list of 50.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-69252597152966122022011-03-22T05:37:51.399-07:002011-03-22T05:37:51.399-07:00Thanks both!Thanks both!Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-34358916707220820582011-03-22T05:33:52.674-07:002011-03-22T05:33:52.674-07:00Count me in too, please (am a children's write...Count me in too, please (am a children's writer).Susie Dayhttp://www.susieday.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-26371989357869350722011-03-22T05:28:10.681-07:002011-03-22T05:28:10.681-07:00Katherine, please add me: Maria NikolajevaKatherine, please add me: Maria NikolajevaMaria Nikolajevahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554093780864419960noreply@blogger.com