For the Christie Fans - Abridged Finally?

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

T
/rant

I have a 14yo son with serious learning disabilities and welcome materials such as this. I'm not offended by any of the remarks just wanted to point out that there is an audience for this.

I think that we all agree that there is a need for reading material for the learning disabled community and younger kids.

The concern often is that many educators just "Teach" the book as opposed to letting the student read it or at least attempt to read it. This more often then not may and does get the student to associate reading with the Tedium of analysis as opposed to the pleasure of reading.

The concern IMHO in this specific case is that, except for some phrases and a few foreign language quotes her writing are quiet easy to comprehend, and her plots tend to be quiet complex, with elements sprinkled throughout the book not coming together till the end.

The fear is that trying to simplify that may end up reducing the beauty of the writing, and people who read it may never look beyond the simplified version.

There is often a similar concern with abridged versions, which often over simplify the books. And while I have to admit that I had and did read Abridged versions when younger, when I did go and read the originals, I more often then not enjoyed them even more.

Still you do bring up a good (contrary) point about the need for such books.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

Just because it may not be to your taste, I certainly wouldn't read an abridged version, remember that there is an audience for abridged/simplified versions of classic books.

There's undoubtedly a market for it - "Reader's Digest" have been publishing "Condensed Books" for goodness only knows how long - decades, certainly.

[Krystian Galaj]

It's not like the abridged versions are replacing the original ones.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by HarryT

There's undoubtedly a market for it - "Reader's Digest" have been publishing "Condensed Books" for goodness only knows how long - decades, certainly.

According to their website, since 1922.

[ErwinOtten]

My first thought:

I really would welcome an abridged Wheel of Time version

[Slite]

Originally Posted by ErwinOtten

My first thought:

I really would welcome an abridged Wheel of Time version

Or an abridged version of Tolkiens "Return of the King" with the boring parts of Sam and Frodo wandering around in Mordor edited out. I have such a hard time getting through those parts everytime I reread the Ring books

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Slite

Or an abridged version of Tolkiens "Return of the King" with the boring parts of Sam and Frodo wandering around in Moria edited out.

Ehm...Mordor. They pass through Moria at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring

[Slite]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Ehm...Mordor. They pass through Moria at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring

Bah! I messed that up, thanks for spotting it Original post edited, and I knew it was Mordor

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

I think that we all agree that there is a need for reading material for the learning disabled community and younger kids.

The concern often is that many educators just "Teach" the book as opposed to letting the student read it or at least attempt to read it. This more often then not may and does get the student to associate reading with the Tedium of analysis as opposed to the pleasure of reading.

The way a lot of English teachers teach books is what's causing a lot of students to not want to read for pleasure. They use books that kids don't enjoy and then make the kids dissect the books and have to look at each little bit that it's a real turn off. So it's no wonder we (overall) do not read as much as we should. And to be honest, I don't think Shakespeare is all that wonderful to have to read for English class when you are that young.

Fortunately, I have parents who allowed me to read what I wanted when I was a kid and that really helped me get into reading and enjoy reading. If what I had to go on what what was butchered in school, I might not be the avid reader I am today.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

There's undoubtedly a market for it - "Reader's Digest" have been publishing "Condensed Books" for goodness only knows how long - decades, certainly.

Certainly true! It probably helps the conversation around the water cooler so they everyone can talk about any book that comes up.

Dale

[HarryT]

Just like those nice people who do "Cliff's Notes" have saved generations of teenagers from the inconvenience of having to actually read all those boring classics .

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

I have a 14yo son with serious learning disabilities and welcome materials such as this. I'm not offended by any of the remarks just wanted to point out that there is an audience for this.

Well, the thing is... does it make sense to give someone who is at a less advanced level of reading a hacked up version of a more complex book, or a well-written less complex book? I'd bet the latter would be more fun to read.

[TallMomof2]

It depends on your reading issues. If it's simply a matter of not having enough instruction that's one matter and reading a challenging book may be fun and a learning experience. But when it's due to organic reasons, such as poor fluid reasoning (not being able to infer or see symbolism) or various dyslexia permutations then reading challenging books can be too much. That's where abridged versions come in handy. There's a whole category of reading materials called high-interest reading where topics that appeal to older teens and adults are written at a low difficulty level. Most of those that I've seen are original material not rewritten classics.

I'm also a huge fan of Classics Illustrated and graphic books such as "The Cartoon History of the Universe". Great Illustrated Classics is another good example of abridged versions of classic books. My daughter read the Great Illustrated Classics version of "The Wizard of Oz" several years before she could read the original. Even though she has no reading difficulties I was happy that she could read an abridged Wizard of Oz and enjoy it.

[lmarie]

Originally Posted by Slite

Bah! I messed that up, thanks for spotting it Original post edited, and I knew it was Mordor

IMHO, a completely understandable error -- those parts are so boring it's impossible to remember where they are!

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by vampmiller

Why 88 pages? Can be done in 20 words:

Poirot on cruise. Simon and Jacqueline kill Simon’s wife for money. Commit suicide when caught. Everyone else gets dysentery.

People point the finger at ebooks being the death of books, when it's things like this.

As a side-track (somewhat) to all this, there was a short story by Fredric Brown about a man trapped on an island. He decided to write a great poem about his experiences - in sand.

However, he kept editing it and editing it (he was still trapped, by the way). Finally, this great poem went from a great number of words to a few words, and then finally to only ONE WORD.

Can you guess what this one word was?

Reminder: This is a family-oriented site, with many young people here.