In Guardian Unlimited today, a report on how books are being condensed into text messages "to help students choose classics and master their revision".
Read If You Don't Want to Know How Bleak House Ends, Look Away Now.
The article quotes a few examples and reading them, I realise how I am so not a text message pro.
For example, at first glance, doesn't this look like utter gibberish?
"MembaDatAlDaPplnDaWrldHvntHdDaVantgsUvAd"
No? Well, to me it did. However, I did manage to decipher it when I looked harder.
Anyway, I'm sure students will find this service useful, but my worry is how it will just make the most wonderful books sound completely lame.
Here are condensed versions of some of my favourite books:
"Married woman falls in love with hot bod who dumps her whereupon she jumps under a train."
"Girl turns down marriage proposal but, after a few years, meets him again and grabs second chance at happiness."
"Two egg heads try to figure out the connection between two Victorian poets, decide that they were probably in love and fall in love themselves."
"Woman meets a South American terrorist, they marry and then wander aimlessly around Europe."
"Two Oxford undergrads become friends and get drunk. A lot. They drift apart. One falls in love with the other's sister, the relationship doesn't work out but he finds God."
"Twins start boarding school. Overshadowed by big sisters. Get into trouble, but still manage to shine."
Hmm ... imagine how much space we'd save if books were really that short! And imagine how unenthusiastic many of us would be about books too!
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OK, I give up. What is the one about the South American terrorist? (Feeling very ignorant - although I did get all of the others immediately.)
Posted by: Harriet Jordan | Saturday, November 19, 2005 at 07:45