I read this interesting but rather sombre article on the Guardian this morning here. The article sparked my interest and concern for the new generation of tweens who will miss out on a whole generation of books that I grew up on, along with so many others in my generation of kids who lived through the 90s.
I think the reason for this disinterest is the fact that these kids will not be able to relate to all that we did to keep ourselves entertained. Just as well, because personally I could not relate to “The Bourne Identity” after having read spy novels and watched movies with more technological sophistication. With changes in the banking systems, navigation tools in cars, advent of the mobile phone, I could not easily imagine why Jason Bourne would have to go to the Swiss Bank branch to actually withdraw or transfer money, why he could not make his way around Zurich without Google Maps, or need to use the pay phone to talk to Marie St Jacques. I am a 90s kid and have lived both the absence and plethora of technology and I guess I felt weird reading the book, because I just recently started, after owning and generously using gadgets ranging from tablets, smart-phones and e-readers. Can you imagine such a situation for kids of today? All they indulge in are their PlayStations, Xbox’s or Wiis.
I vicariously lived in a boarding school through Darrell Rivers, made friends with Silky the fairy, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew, realized I was not alone in my teenage angst with Judy Blume. They will never be able to feed on their own imagination, or devour book after book or wait in anticipation for the next book in a series. Why wait when a movie will anyway come out in a couple of years? I am dreading such a world, where kids don’t read books, where they don’t exercise their brains, don’t prank their teachers, don’t spend summer afternoons playing hide-and-seek, police-robber, or hopscotch. Green parks have truly been replaced by electronic wastelands.
What can one do to make this situation better? Is it necessary for kids these days to actually read books? How do we cultivate the spirit of adventure in the real world? How will we ensure that kids are fearless not driven by violence but by having confidence in themselves? Mind you, I am not married yet and no kids either, but I am worried! I have not let my mum give away my R.L.Stines, Harry Potters, Famous Fives away hoping my kids will read them some day. I truly hope the day comes when I see my kid sitting on a ledge and asks me, “Mum, what is a crumpet?” Pray for the new generation. All of you.
Page and Palate 