What are you reading in 2025?

[Paul Farquhar]

I got into a debate with someone a while back with someone who said that school libraries should only have academic works, and not contemporary popular fiction (including graphic novels, manga, etc.). My counterpoint was exactly what you said here: that schools should have things which make reading fun for kids, rather than seeming like work.

Eventually the debate shifted to "well, why can't they just go to public libraries for the fun stuff?" which went down an entirely different avenue regarding accessibility, parental oversight, and several other issues.

It would be odd to have any academic books in a primary school (age 5-10) library, but my partner, who is a primary English specialist, has had to fight for the inclusion of graphic novels and the like over just "classics" in school libraries, especially when she was working in a private school.

When I was at primary school I was slow learning to read (I was later diagnosed as dyslexic) I was not allowed to choose books from the library, and had to wade through boring reading scheme books aimed at significantly younger kids. Fortunately, my parents took me to the public library every week and left me to choose books for myself, whilst they went off to choose their own library books. Thus, I taught myself to read, and quite by chance read a few classics, such as 20,000 Leagues, The Jungle Book and Coral Island, along with plenty of pulp fiction.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

On the topic of Ulysses, one benefits from an annotated copy. Which one of course as one redditor stated "ask 2 Ulysses scholars the best annotated version, get 3 different answers"


My opinion, if one is not taking a class on it, to have the annotated version where the annotes (why isn't "annotes" a word?!?) stand in for the teacher, to some degree.

I enjoyed reading Ulysses in college - but it was my final semester and I had trouble a) making it to class and b) finishing the final paper on time. My prof took pity, giving me a D so that I could graduate. BUT I did enjoy the book, especially the puzzle-like nature of it. Still have my college text around here somewhere.

Just use it as an excuse to take a holiday in Dublin.

 

[Retros_x]

That attitude from my parents got me through the Satanic Panic. They didn't care what I was reading as long as I was reading.

My mother was pretty strict with buying me new toys and stuff, I could beg as I wanted in a store, she never just spontaneously bought me something I wanted - with one exception: books. That was her one rule, if I wanted a book, she bought it. Or got it from the library. I had my first own library card when I was 7 or 8!

I had a big reading lump when smartphones and PCs entered my teenager life but in recent years I rediscovered my love for reading and I am pretty sure the reading base and love for books I built in my childhood were important building blocks for my general development and now me coming back to books.