What are you all reading?

[oldspice]

Anyone reading a good book this summer? i have two on the go. One 'story' and one non-fiction.

Bad Blood - Lorna Sage (an autobiography)

Alive to English - a book I am reading and using to prepare some lectures for next term.

Guess which one I'm enjoying the most?

I am also dipping into another non-fiction book called East London 1888 by W Fishman and that has kept me going for a few weeks now.

I like to have a range of books on the go. Always some non-fiction and generally fiction too.

Anyone read The Davinci Code? I know it's supposed to be one of those books you can't put down but I could not stand that annoying American literary style so could not get passed the first few pages.

[Bunny]

I am reading Brick Lane.

[loulou]

what's that about bunny?

[robbie]

I just read 'Cather in the Rye'. (Salinger)

Now I am reading 'Five go to Mystery Moor'. (Blyton)

[loulou]

Can't beat a good famous five book.

I'm reading 'The Big Year', a book about a fanatical birder in America.

[oldspice]

Posh Spice recently admitted she had never read a book in her life - "but I do read - I like fashion magazines".

She also confided that she would like more children - especially a girl "I would love to paint her nails, do her make-up and go shopping with her for clothes".

Doesn't she know that some girls like to read books?

[goldencup]

Being a Library Manager, I suppose I'm obliged to contribute to this one but actually I don't read that much.  All books have their fans and I have to say I'm with Oldspice about very American-style fiction - I find it very hard going.  At the moment I'm reading Spies by Michael Frayn because it's been chosen by my book club.

I loved the quote from Posh Spice - I thought it was hilarious.  I'm so glad I didn't have girls as painting their nails and doing their make-up would be my idea of hell.

I though it was sweet.  Little girls should be little girls and then start reading books later.  As long as they actually learn to read who cares.

[goldencup]

They should be painting their nails and doing their make-up before they learn to read?  That's seriously concerning.

No, not before they learn to read but before they start reading books 'in anger' as it were.

[oldspice]

Girls should not be taught to paint their nails. It is something they should do from choice. Little girls with pierced ears, painted nails and high fashion clothes are horrifying and send out all the wrong messages.

It depends how old they are.  Make up and painted nails on a 10 year old is inappropriate.  At 13 it's OK.  I'd probably insist they start reading books at about 14 or 15, although presumably they would have learnt to read well before this.

Incidentally, I was a very slow reader as a child and couldn't write my own name at seven.  Now look at me.  My Mother said I was gifted and my teacher said I was the only boy that didn't smell of wee.

[oldspice]

 I was reading long before I went to school but nevertheless struggled with many words until well into my teens. That did not stop me reading though - I just tried methods like using context, guessing or even ignoring the word altogether if it did not affect my understanding ( I did this a lot with difficult names).

My son was slow to learn reading and writing but by age 12 he was well ahead of his peers.

I would encourage children to enjoy books from the time they can turn a page. They don't have to be reading but looking at pictures and words and predicting what is going on is very important and enjoyable.

Girls and boys need to realise that they don't have to choose between books/reading and being cool and fashionable. They can have it all.

[loulou]

I was reading long before I went to school and used to love books. At 13 my parents would not have allowed me to wear makeup and i think you are wrong bounty when you say it is ok.