Sadly, it may well be that books go the way of vinyl records (I fear books are going the way of vinyl records – a rarefied pursuit for hobbyists, 6 August). For my generation – I am 15 – books are seen as an elitist, solitary pursuit, incomparable with social media.
Books don’t know that you liked and shared a passage with a friend. Books can’t predict what genre will stimulate you that day. Books can’t monitor how fast you devoured a story and swiftly feed you similar content. Books are not algorithms. However, books are far more rewarding than any social media could be. The only way for young readers to begin a rewarding journey through literature is for them to read anything and everything they wish to, regardless of what adults, the school curriculum or journalists tell them is “good” for them. This may mean that 17-year-olds are reading Donaldson and Blyton, or 12-year-olds are enjoying Camus and Kafka.
Regardless, once what they are reading interests them, they can start to build a huge collection of authors they love – authors who will provide them with more comfort than a digital algorithm ever could.
Jude Brayton
Holt, Wiltshire
• As a published author and ex-teacher, I am, like Gaby Hinsliff, increasingly concerned that reading for pleasure seems to going out of fashion, or becoming an elite pursuit. However, her sweeping reference to holiday reading being a choice of either “trashy beach reads or the Booker prize longlist” only highlights her own elitist view of reading for pleasure. I would love to hear the definition of “trashy” in this context. Just off to bash out another such novel, which I hope will provide both a relaxing beach read, something to look forward to when the holidays are over and a welcome escape when the news is particularly horrendous. It’ll never be up for the Booker prize, but “trashy”? Not on your life!
Celia Anderson
Brighton
• No, reading for pleasure will not become an elite pursuit. I was lucky. From the late 1940s, with little money, every time I suffered an ear infection my dad bought me a book. I still have them; I flew with Peter Pan, adventured with the Secret Seven, wore Ballet Shoes, explored with the Observer’s books and so on. With my son we adventured with Mr Gumpy. The resources are still there if we fight for them in libraries, or second-hand. Give a child a book, read to them. Now my greatest pleasure is to hold a book, sit and read, keeping stress at bay. My bookshelves are full but I’m eagerly awaiting two more. Nothing beats holding a real book.
Jean Jackson
Seer Green, Buckinghamshire
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