Ran into this article and got me thinking
Solving Agatha Christie mysteries, but in fewer pages
Quote:
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Thirty-two years after Christie's death, the first shortened version of one of the English writer's mysteries appeared this spring - an 88-page "Death on the Nile." It was published as part of the Penguin Readers series, which is intended for students of English as a second language and young readers.
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Now, I love the Dame's work, and am usually all for anything that would bring her work to more people, this did strike me with a little shudder because of this thought...
Most of my life I've loved reading and books, but the only time managed to develop a dislike or even loathing for a book or an author was when it was required reading or more so when it was "taught" to me.
What I fear is that using this book as a mere teaching aid, especially if teachers are not careful may end up driving later generations away from the beauty of her writings. Or worse, not see it beyond the confines of the simplified text.
While I have to admit that I do get stumped by the occasional french phase (as I don't understand a lick of it
)her language is usually not that difficult to comprehend. Does it really need that much simplification?
So tell me fellow MR's, do you think I'm overreacting a little, or do you feel some apprehension is justified?
And probably the Most Relevent question for MR, will there be E-books?