tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684094023681819935.post2137791939927620288..comments2023-10-10T12:38:41.200+01:00Comments on Musings from a muddy island: Age banding/branding - updateJuliethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18055924620237477722noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684094023681819935.post-43759358808803674952008-06-12T22:23:00.000+01:002008-06-12T22:23:00.000+01:00Milk or lemon?From the statements I've read by the...Milk or lemon?<BR/><BR/>From the statements I've read by the big names, the 'top' authors understand only too well that not everyone has their clout and are speaking out very much on behalf of their mid-list stable-mates. See eg Darren Shan: <BR/><BR/>'Success brings privileges . . . Those of us who are particularly valuable to our publishers will be given a choice in this matter . . . But what about those lower down on the totem pole, those who haven’t sold millions of books, who are maybe just starting out, or who have been labouring away for many years without ever breaking the top of the best sellers lists?' <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the link to Meg's site and the sticker - bizarre and a bit disturbing! And also good to see some more pics from CrimeFest, including 'formidable' you!!Juliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18055924620237477722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684094023681819935.post-80632010599918056672008-06-12T22:04:00.000+01:002008-06-12T22:04:00.000+01:00Mine's a Darjeeling, without a teabag, thanks.I do...Mine's a Darjeeling, without a teabag, thanks.<BR/><BR/>I don't know all the ins and outs, but I have read an argument in more than one place that the "top" authors will "win", ie not have the age banding, whereas the "mid list" ones won't, as they'll just have to accept publisher's terms.<BR/><BR/>While at Crimefest, Meg Gardiner pointed to a strange sticker on a book shaped like a wheel, that provided details of all possible "offensive" content. She posted a pic of it on her blog (Lying for a Living).<BR/>To me, this kind of practice is far more damaging than an estimated age range. Can you imagine: <BR/>PARENTAL ADVISORY:<BR/>Romeo and Juliet<BR/>Underage sex<BR/>Violence<BR/>Mild swearing<BR/>Toxic drugs<BR/>Inadequate parenting<BR/>Misguided religionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684094023681819935.post-41656371014346291062008-06-12T21:19:00.000+01:002008-06-12T21:19:00.000+01:00No bullying allowed round here, Maxine - your view...No bullying allowed round here, Maxine - your views are very welcome! <BR/><BR/>I think this is getting so heated because it's about so much more than it seems on the face of it. It's about publishers' treatment of their authors, it's about supermarkets' demands on their suppliers (in this case book publishers); and it's also about whether we should turn our back on all the good work that's been done, since Puffin and Dragon books first emerged (and I'm another who grew up with those and of course they 'did me no harm' either), in understanding dyslexia and other reading problems, and also of course we now live in a society in which English is not the first language of a huge number of children, so the range of 'reading ages' is wider than ever before. <BR/><BR/>In other words, age-branding *seems* like a single issue but in fact it crystalises a wide range of other issues both in the book trade and in education. Hence the range of debate and the different focuses of many of the arguments being put forwarded, both for and against. The storm is not necessarily disproportionate if one if one looks at the whole tea-set, rather than the one cup! <BR/><BR/>(Oops, probably stretching the metaphor beyond the bounds of usefulness there, sorry - it's that word 'tea cup' which set me off!)Juliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18055924620237477722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684094023681819935.post-91493399780358164092008-06-12T20:42:00.000+01:002008-06-12T20:42:00.000+01:00I am a bit scared about commenting on any of this ...I am a bit scared about commenting on any of this because I have seen so much awful bulling on blogs where someone has a different view. But oh well, here goes. When I was young, books had ages on them (particularly puffin books which often were my favourites). They stated "recommended" ages and it was usually quite small print. I just don't see the problem -- it didn't stop me from reading anything and it was just "normal", I don't suppose anyone took much notice if they didn't want to use the information. It was just there if you weren't sure (eg a grandparent buying a book for a birthday present, and not being too sure of the level).<BR/><BR/>Of course I know that people mature at different rates, reading-wise and in other ways, but to me, this just seems like a storm in a teacup and there are so many other things that one could get upset about. Sorry. Just my opinion and you are very welcome to yours. I am usually in the minority, if I have learned anything in my years of life, I've learned that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com