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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 26 2010 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
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Do you "do" abridged versions of books?
I have mixed feelings about these. Some- like the My First Little House series- are so wonderful. Also, an abridged version of The Five Little Peppers recently got my dc hooked on the book, which we have now listened to on tape unabridged (more times than I wanted  )
Recently I tried one of those Chick Fila freebie abridged books (which people are always giving me).  It was their version of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. We read two pages, and then I "lost" that copy. In reality, it was so chopped up that I stopped reading it because it was very hard to follow, and I want my dc to read and enjoy the original.
I always thought it was great to see classic literature in Happy Meals, but now I think not. I think this might be a topic for Oprah: Abridged Versions: Friend or Foe?"
Maybe there is just an art to condensing a book. I'm not a big fan of most of the Illustrated Classics books, either.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 26 2010 at 8:19pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
I think this might be a topic for Oprah: Abridged Versions: Friend or Foe?"
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This has me rolling, Melinda!!!!
In general, I have avoided abridged versions of books preferring instead to find whole books that are age appropriate and are inviting on their own. I've never had a problem really, so I guess I haven't really considered abridged as an option. I also inherited a large reading library so I had a quantity of lovely literature on hand. It's never been a big question I guess, but your pondering made me wonder a bit. I'm trying to remember and failing to locate the memory cell wherein this thought is contained...but I remember coming across an idea for making use of an abridged book that I thought made sense.
Like you, we really enjoy the My First Little House series! And my children really enjoyed the abridged Father Brown stories by G.K. Chesterton - this book, The Father Brown Reader: Stories from Chesterton by Nancy Carpentier Brown...which is actually more of an adaptation, so does that count as abridgement? Are they double first cousins? I feel like we're on the Oprah couches... "Hello, Mr. Abridgement. You thought you were alone, didn't you? But no. We have surprised you and invited your estranged cousin, Mr. Adaptation! Now, what do you have to say for yourself?"
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Erin
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| Posted: April 26 2010 at 8:45pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
Do you "do" abridged versions of books?
I have mixed feelings about these. Some- like the My First Little House series- are so wonderful. Also, an abridged version of The Five Little Peppers recently got my dc hooked on the book, which we have now listened to on tape unabridged (more times than I wanted )
..... I'm not a big fan of most of the Illustrated Classics books, either.
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Melinda
I'll admit to not doing abridged versions either, in fact the Little House Series have been the first I have actually purchased. Most other abridged generally go in my throw pile.
I have become a fan of illustrated books though since my dd devoured a couple of books that she wouldn't look at previously. Although I suspect this is not what you mean by "Illustrated classics"??
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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JennGM
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Oh, I'm generally not a fan of adaptation or abridgement. The Little House were my first ones I purchases, too! Generally, I say no, that's ny standard answer. But I do reconsider on an individual basis.
I have to tell this story. I recently attended a very large used book sale. I was in the children's section, and this young girl (I'm going to guess 9 or 10 years old) was gathering different versions of Black Beauty. She turned to me and remarked on how many different editions there are.
So I started chatting with her, and said it was that exact book that I read, and was so proud of myself for reading an extra long classic. And then as I closed the book, I noticed the inside had "abridged". I felt robbed of my "claim" to finishing the book in entirety.
The girl then said, "hmmm...I always wondered what that meant" and started looking through the copy she was considering to see if it was abridged.
Her mother was standing on the opposite of her daughter, and was just glaring at me. The daughter took some time to thumb through, couldn't find anything that said abridged, so said to her mother "I don't see abridged, do you think it's okay?" Her mother replied in a rather impatient tone, "I'm sure it's fine!"
It was an odd exchange, to say the least. I still think abridged or adapted versions are robbing me of the actual author's message. I know I'm not the only one, because there is such a big clamor about the original Little House series being abridged. It's a SIN!  (Okay, close to one!)
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Kathryn
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| Posted: April 26 2010 at 10:20pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
I think this might be a topic for Oprah: Abridged Versions: Friend or Foe?"
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Oh my goodness! You should sooooo write her show and tell her that!! That IS a great idea! 
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 27 2010 at 6:37am | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
| I feel like we're on the Oprah couches... "Hello, Mr. Abridgement. You thought you were alone, didn't you? But no. We have surprised you and invited your estranged cousin, Mr. Adaptation! Now, what do you have to say for yourself?" |
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: April 27 2010 at 7:14pm | IP Logged
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We don't really do abridged versions either. The only one I can think of that we've ever looked at is Swiss Family Robinson, and it has collected dust because the kids haven't read it. I am not necessarily opposed to abridged versions if they are well written and not dumbed down, but I haven't looked for any.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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4Real Forums : Picture Book Discoveries
Topic: Abridged versions
