If you are reading this,
then obviously
you are a reader.
The ranks of book readers
are shrinking.
are shrinking.
A recent study revealed
that
that
33% of high school graduates
plan never
plan never
to read another book ...
ever.
That same study revealed
42% of college graduates
plan never to read
another book either.
I know what you're thinking.
But You and I
are of another generation.
are of another generation.
We reflect the thinking of
the Past not the Future.
In this Digital,
Multi-Task Era,
Multi-Task Era,
our world is designed
for shallow skimming
rather than deep diving.
Think SHORT STORY
Perfect length for this
distractible time.
Don't groan.
Think H. P. LOVECRAFT
His stories existed
in a linked universe
in a linked universe
with entities and tomes
crossing over from one
story to another.
Readers did not have
to start from scratch
with each story.
The surroundings
were familiar
were familiar
although terrifying.
Or have a character common
to all your stories.
to all your stories.
Short stories bring more pressure,
because like with poetry,
each paragraph, sentence, and word
is more important
than they would be
inside a large novel.
Short stories are precise
with their delivery,
they must capture
the attention of the reader
extraordinarily quickly,
and
tell a full tale
from beginning to end
in roughly
a half hour of reading.
You're so right. There are times when I am too busy to read a full length novel and will pick up an anthology instead.
ReplyDeleteShort Stories as Reacher said, "Are lean and stick to the point." :-) Thanks for stopping, reading, and commenting.
DeleteDepressing news about the future of people finding pleasure in the reading of books, not to speak of the turning of pages in a printed one. I've rediscovered the latter recently. Lately, I've felt I was born just in time to enjoy an intellectual life of some value, books, fiction, non-fiction, short stories and long. And a phone to be used for conversations of the kind you can hear and listen to, and share. I'm about to go off on a rant, so better quit now.
ReplyDeleteIt is this way every age I think: people drop the former for the new. Sigh.
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