The anthology books that cut down classic works to a couple of pages each so that they're easier to read. Do you think that they are more of a help or just an easy out to actually reading the original works?
2007-03-06 13:01:58 · 10 answers · asked by Alma M 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Waste of time. Books should be written as the author intended. If you aren't old enough to read the original, you should wait. I don't see the point.
2007-03-06 13:05:20 · answer #1 · answered by suzykew70 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. That's what I think about them. Just, no. I was given an abridged version of Little Women when I was younger (after reading the original from the school library) and was disgusted to find that the "condensed" and "more friendly" version ended before Beth even died! Half the book had been cut out! That's just not cool.
2007-03-06 21:06:27 · answer #2 · answered by Cat Loves Her Sabres 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can see them being useful as a thumbnail sketch to hit the high points. They may be useful for study. But after reading the cut-down version you need to read the real thing, because the author included everything that made it into the original for a reason. You cannot understand either the work or the writer unless you read the entire work.
2007-03-06 21:05:22 · answer #3 · answered by nbsandiego 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think they are all right for anyone interested in reading particular title with relatively-condensed degree of adapted vocabularies for a particular level of readers. It's a good way to familiarize the readers to understand something there, it's better than plunging to read the original ones since they're meant for general readers worldwide. I mean they are for native speakers as well as those studying/achieving high degree of proficiency in that language.
2007-03-06 21:27:04 · answer #4 · answered by Arigato ne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I don't really like them because when it comes to literature, I'm a purest. But, this year my daughter, who is in 2nd grade, has been reading a bunch of them and I'm glad she's being exposed to those classic stories, even if they are watered down. I know that her reading them will spark and interest to read the originals, so in that respect they're okay.
2007-03-06 21:06:05 · answer #5 · answered by luna 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've been in lit classes with purist profs. The survey course becomes this ramrod of 400 pages/week.
I've also been in survey courses where a "survey" was exactly what occurred--which I thoroughly appreciated. Those things that I was curious about, that I wanted to read more of, led me to pursue my own further study and exploration.
As for those "surveys" leaving something ephemeral out, I honestly felt better served by understanding writing in its historical and critical relevance.
2007-03-06 21:33:30 · answer #6 · answered by sherrilyn1999 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read for fun and I prefer the full meal deal. Maybe the condensed version is okay school.
2007-03-06 21:40:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think they're stupid. people should just read the real thing. it's the only way to really understand them.
2007-03-06 21:07:30 · answer #8 · answered by Shadow Lark 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
easy out and lame
2007-03-06 21:04:35 · answer #9 · answered by jcresnick 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They r gd.
2007-03-06 21:05:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋