The Cell Phone Novel

[daffy4u]

From a National Public Radio story titled "How E-Books Will Change Reading And Writing" (which you can listen to and read), the interview Nicholas Carr laments on how reading has become a sort of ADHD event, in that he believes it's harder to just sit and read without expecting a computer-like experience.

"Over the last couple of years, I've really noticed if I sit down with a book, after a few paragraphs, I'll say, 'You know, where's the links? Where's the e-mail? Where's all the stuff going on?' " says writer Nicholas Carr. "And it's kind of sad.

He has noticed the digital book trend has led to new forms of writing like Twitter and Cell Phone novels.

A lot of writers are trying their hand at Twitter books — both on the Web and in print — but Time magazine book reviewer Lev Grossman thinks it's a passing fad. Asked what might have some staying power, Grossman suggests the cell phone novel. Written on cell phones and meant to be read on them, many of these books are best-sellers in Japan. The authors are usually young women, and romance is the main theme.

"They tend to be narratively very propulsive, [and] not very interested in style and beautiful language," Grossman says. "There tends to be a lot of drama and melodrama, sex and violence. They grab your attention, and they don't really let it go."

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

. . . Nicholas Carr laments on how reading has become a sort of ADHD event, in that he believes it's harder to just sit and read without expecting a computer-like experience.

This is what concerns me with the rush to "all-in-one" devices like the magical tablet. Reading is fundamental to civilization, which is why so many extreme right (fanatical) religious sects burn unapproved books and ban schooling. In another couple of decades, they will have lost their holy grail as "civilized" countries lose their ability to read.

What does a multiuse device bring to the world of reading? Nothing. Yes, it is a cost saver and convenient, one device to do everything, but it is no more convenient than a dedicated reading device but a lot more dangerous to the fundamental skill of reading. I can envision it now: In the classroom of 2024, a teacher assigns a book to be read and what happens? The students fire up their multiuse device, read the first text paragraph of the book, decide its too much work or too boring, and quickly go to the video enactment (condensed, of course, to 3 minutes or less because attention spans, even for video, are miniscule).

Reading, whether fiction or nonfiction, technical or nontechnical, is fundamental and educational. Sadly, and perhaps it is because I am an ancient fuddy-duddy, I see the promotion of multiuse devices as reading devices as a sure nail in the coffin of reading. When I was a kid, many decades ago, it was a great gift to receive books and I spent many hours reading them and using my imagination. with my children, I tried to carry on that tradition of giving books and encouraging reading and imagination, and was, for the most part successful, but even so, too many hours that should have been spent creatively were spent in front of the TV or playing Mario Brothers or some other relatively mindless computer game.

Multiuse devices are, I think, a significant threat to basic reading skills.

[lilac_jive]

I heard that this morning and I was getting agitated when Grossman complained that reading "on a screen" lessens the reading experience. He intimated that it wouldn't be read in the same way (on the Kindle, he said you keep scrolling and scrolling and there's no page turns). Clearly the guy knows nothing about ereaders.

As for Nicholas Carr's experience, I can safely say I've never read a book and thought "where are the links?"

[dsvick]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

... Nicholas Carr laments on how reading has become a sort of ADHD event, in that he believes it's harder to just sit and read without expecting a computer-like experience.

If he seriously cannot read more than a few paragraphs without being distracted or having his thoughts wander then he is either reading the wrong books for his interests, not really into reading to begin with, or not reading in the correct environment.

I realize everyone is different but for me within a paragraph or two I'm immersed in the book and rarely find myself looking for anything more. Yes I can see how the current trend could lead towards short attention span items like You Tube, twitter, texting, etc. On the other hand I find myself getting bored with them quite often and end up looking for something with more substance than just two minutes of entertainment.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

He intimated that it wouldn't be read in the same way (on the Kindle, he said you keep scrolling and scrolling and there's no page turns). "

That caught my attention and I laughed.

There was another NPR story last week that took place at a huge book fair in Buenos Aires. The reporter pulled one woman aside and asked her if should ever read on an ebook reader like the Amazon Kindle. She didn't know what a Kindle was so he explained that it was like a small computer you hold in your hand to read books. The woman immediately latched on to how bad computer screens are for the eyes when reading. I just sighed. Bad description, bad expectations.

[animedude01]

I really think this death of reading think is over blown. Reading will never go away completely and language and how we interact with each other has always changed based on new technologies. Frankly, I think that the move towards digital devices will open up reading to more people, not less. How many people live in areas where they don't have easy access to lots of books? Wouldn't being able to download an entire library make it more likely that they'll read more?

Yes, there will always be many people who will take the easy way out, but there are studies I've read about that show that just as some people are becoming more isolated due to the new social networking technologies, more people are becoming more social as their social networks grow and they can interact with people all over the world. The same will happen with reading. It's easier than ever to find eclectic books from all over the world that you can read. Old books that would have been lost to most people before are being digitized and made available to everyone.

Yes, there will be some ups and downs as the new technologies are integrated, but reading isn't going away, it's just changing.

[Kali Yuga]

FWIW, I don't think the experiences in the article have all that much to do with ebook technology per se. Rather, people are developing shorter attention spans, and some find the multitasking experience more thrilling -- even though it actually degrades tasks like reading comprehension and cognitive efficiency.

Also, I'm not sure when there was a time when an author really had the leisure to wait 30 pages before hooking the reader.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

That caught my attention and I laughed.

There was another NPR story last week that took place at a huge book fair in Buenos Aires. The reporter pulled one woman aside and asked her if should ever read on an ebook reader like the Amazon Kindle. She didn't know what a Kindle was so he explained that it was like a small computer you hold in your hand to read books. The woman immediately latched on to how bad computer screens are for the eyes when reading. I just sighed. Bad description, bad expectations.

I heard that one too! I think I slapped my forehead when I heard that.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by dsvick

If he seriously cannot read more than a few paragraphs without being distracted or having his thoughts wander then he is either reading the wrong books for his interests, not really into reading to begin with, or not reading in the correct environment.

This is my underlying fear -- that with the other options that a multiuse device offers, children will not learn to "get into" reading in their formative years. I see that happening with children in my neighborhood. They don't read; they play video games, watch TV, watch videos, but never pick up a book and complain when they have to pick up a book for school. Parents are tired and pulled in so many directions that they take the easy way out and turn on the TV or computer. There will always be a core group who will read for the sake of reading, but that group will be ever-shrinking in numbers.

Originally Posted by dsvick

I realize everyone is different but for me within a paragraph or two I'm immersed in the book and rarely find myself looking for anything more. Yes I can see how the current trend could lead towards short attention span items like You Tube, twitter, texting, etc. On the other hand I find myself getting bored with them quite often and end up looking for something with more substance than just two minutes of entertainment.

I don't watch TV, don't play video games (don't even own one), have never twittered, and have maybe watched a half-dozen YouTube videos (primarily ebook device reviews) in the past few years. I prefer to read. But you and I are the odd ducks, not the mainstream, I fear.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by rhadin

This is my underlying fear -- that with the other options that a multiuse device offers, children will not learn to "get into" reading in their formative years. I see that happening with children in my neighborhood. They don't read; they play video games, watch TV, watch videos, but never pick up a book and complain when they have to pick up a book for school. Parents are tired and pulled in so many directions that they take the easy way out and turn on the TV or computer. There will always be a core group who will read for the sake of reading, but that group will be ever-shrinking in numbers.



I don't watch TV, don't play video games (don't even own one), have never twittered, and have maybe watched a half-dozen YouTube videos (primarily ebook device reviews) in the past few years. I prefer to read. But you and I are the odd ducks, not the mainstream, I fear.

Ironically I was a huge tv watcher and video game player as a kid (still am, less video games though), but I always enjoyed reading. My little sister is the same way, so I guess my mom did something right. I think the biggest problem with that is 1. the schools try to force these books on kids that are just not interesting and really meant for an older age group and 2. parents might be stopping them from reading certain books or just not encouraging it. If you asked my sister if she had $50 what would she get, she's probably say a Wii game. But if you gave her $50 for Borders (or now, the Sony store) she'd still be very excited. I think parents overlook that if a kid doesn't mention books doesn't mean they aren't interested, they just might be interested in something else more. Then later (probably because of school) they become averse to reading. It is sad.

[OnceAWolf]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Multiuse devices are, I think, a significant threat to basic reading skills.

I disagree, I think that forced content is a bigger threat. If all kids are reading is what is forced on them in schools reading will suffer, at least it did with me, until a book finally caught my attention (about grade 7), Now I pull out my iPod to read whenever I have a few minutes

James

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I heard that this morning and I was getting agitated when Grossman complained that reading "on a screen" lessens the reading experience. He intimated that it wouldn't be read in the same way (on the Kindle, he said you keep scrolling and scrolling and there's no page turns). Clearly the guy knows nothing about ereaders.

As for Nicholas Carr's experience, I can safely say I've never read a book and thought "where are the links?"

Well... Yes... I must agree with Grossman. I've found that reading on Cybook Gen3s, Sony PRS-500s, Kindle 2s, Dell Axim x51vs, Gateway Core2Quad desktops and Dell Mini 12 netbooks *HAVE* 'lessened' my reading experience! Why I haven't had an 'I'm so frustrated by the tiny type and nano-scule margins I used to experience with paperbacks' experience in over a YEAR!

And it's been TWO years since my chest has been crushed to the point of inducing a massive Sleep Apnea episode through reading in bed with a hardcover novel!

Yep. *MY* reading experiences *have* been 'lessened'! Thank you for pointing all that out Mr. Grossman!

Not!

Derek

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Well... Yes... I must agree with Grossman. I've found that reading on Cybook Gen3s, Sony PRS-500s, Kindle 2s, Dell Axim x51vs, Gateway Core2Quad desktops and Dell Mini 12 netbooks *HAVE* 'lessened' my reading experience! Why I haven't had an 'I'm so frustrated by the tiny type and nano-scule margins I used to experience with paperbacks' experience in over a YEAR!

And it's been TWO years since my chest has been crushed to the point of inducing a massive Sleep Apnea episode through reading in bed with a hardcover novel!

Yep. *MY* reading experiences *have* been 'lessened'! Thank you for pointing all that out Mr. Grossman!

Not!

Derek

Well said!

[Gunnerp245]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Yep. *MY* reading experiences *have* been 'lessened'! Thank you for pointing all that out Mr. Grossman!

Not! Derek

Ditto!

Gunner...

[Solicitous]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Reading, whether fiction or nonfiction, technical or nontechnical, is fundamental and educational. Sadly, and perhaps it is because I am an ancient fuddy-duddy, I see the promotion of multiuse devices as reading devices as a sure nail in the coffin of reading. When I was a kid, many decades ago, it was a great gift to receive books and I spent many hours reading them and using my imagination. with my children, I tried to carry on that tradition of giving books and encouraging reading and imagination, and was, for the most part successful, but even so, too many hours that should have been spent creatively were spent in front of the TV or playing Mario Brothers or some other relatively mindless computer game.

Multiuse devices are, I think, a significant threat to basic reading skills.

Richard, I agree with you completely. I used to be astounded by the lack of literacy and numeracy skills of teenagers, then I started working in IT in eduction and realised that kids are being bombarded with computers, and now (a) no longer need to learn to spell - everything the teacher wants them to do is on the computer and "hey presto" spell check, (b) need to do research - go on the internet, forget how to use a library (c) I can't believe kids as young and 7 are using calculators in school (I didn't use one in school until I was doing trig and algebra). You're right, give them a multiuse tablet and they'll use it for everything but what they need it for.