Where are the standalone books?

Well Natalie I think you have many people that would agree with you.  

Growing up you only ever had to read one book to get the whole story.  This was probably because young kids wouldn't have the patience to sit down and read more than one book about the same topic, but nowadays it seems that the only books that are appealing to teenagers are a part of a series.  This is probably because on the holidays when you have nothing to do you have plenty of time to read.  However, adults always seem to have books that are standalone stories because once again they don't have the time to collect and read multiple books on the same story.

I suppose that authors write captivating stories to allow the vivid mind of a teenager to run wild conjuring up all the possible scenarios that could happen in the next story.  By hooking their audience authors are able to keep targeting the same audience for as long as they like until they either get bored or have run out of ideas.  Teenagers gossip and if they have a favourite book/series they will tell everyone, this means more and more people will go and buy the book, thus becoming a good way of advertising without spending money.  

I believe that the first book of a series is the most important.  If you have a boring opening to the series you are less likely to gain a 'following' therefore people will be tentative to buy any more of your books. If you have a wonderful series and a bad ending you may leave some readers feeling angry because the ending was so soft compared to the strength of the rest of the series.  

It is for these reasons that I along with Natalie feel that finding books to read as a teenager is very difficult.  It is frustrating to not be able to just read one book instead of a series.  Even though there would be many standalone books targeted at teenagers out there they are hard to find.  This is why I wish that there were more standalone books.  

Quote:

Eccleshare, J 2012, Why are there so few standalone books?, The Guardian, accessed 22 May 2012, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/mar/05/book-doctor-rowling-pullman-cs-lewis-hunger-games?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487>.

The retirements of 'The Wiggles'

If you haven't heard of The Wiggles in the last 21 years then surely you have been living under a rock all that time.  Famous for their children's songs and bright skivvies most of the world know them.  Most people would have listened to their boppy songs at least once in their lives and while not everyone is a fan of them I know that I sure am.




The original members pictured left.  Greg Page, the yellow wiggle, Murray Cook, the red wiggle, Jeff Fatt, the purple wiggle and Anthony Field the blue wiggle are the four main Wiggles.  They are also accompanied by Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Henry the Octopus and Wags the Dog.


When I heard on the news yesterday that three of the four Wiggles would be retiring I, along with many others across the globe, were quite upset about it.  The Wiggles have been entertaining the world since 1991 and have sold over 7 million CD's since then.

Songs like 'Big Red Car', 'Fruit Salad, Yummy, Yummy' and 'Hot Potato' have been entertaining children for what feels like an eternity.  Those catchy tunes have been stuck in peoples minds for years and it will be sad to see three of the members depart.

The Wiggles have become a phenomenon across the world.  Holding sell out tours, selling millions of CD's and DVD's (and back in the day cassette tapes and VHS) across the world they are one of the most successful 'bands' of all time.

Page, Cook and  Field had a great advantage with playing for children.  Having studied Early Childhood Education at University they were able to think of words and tunes that would be stuck in a child's mind for hours even days on end.  This could be the main attribute to their success.  Either way their music is one of a kind and cannot be copied in any way shape or form.


When Page got sick in 2006 he was forced into an early retirement.  He was succeeded by his understudy Sam Moran who had huge shoes to fill but turned out to be quite capable of the job.  In 2012 The Wiggles announced that Page would be returning to The Wiggles leaving Sam without a spot in the band. 


  While Page, Cook and Fatt are retiring it is not the end of The Wiggles... yet. 

From left to right: Greg Page, Emma Watkins,
 Murray Cook, Simon Pryce, Jeff Fatt,
Lachlan Gillespie and Anthony Field (front) 

Field is staying on to be the soul survivor of the original Wiggles but will be joined by Emma Watkins who is the first female wiggle and is wearing the yellow skivvy, Simon Pryce who is set to become the new red wiggle and Lachlan Gillespie who is the new purple wiggle.  These people have experience in the children's music industry and have worked closely with The Wiggles for years, either playing other characters, being backup dancers or understudies to the four great men themselves. 


The controversy and devastation surrounding the departure of three members of The Wiggles has left some people fuming about Page coming back and taking the job off Moran and now retiring at the end of the year anyway.  


So while some people will be angry about the retirements and others will be upset one thing is for certain, there will be many tears shared across the world throughout their farewell tour.  So long as the 'new' Wiggles continue making great sounding music for all kids to enjoy then they are still successful.  


The original Wiggles legacy is set to live on in the hearts of millions for years to come.


Article: 
Zavan, M 2012, The Wiggles announce retirements, 9NEWS, accessed 18 May 2012, <http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8469177/wiggles-announce-major-line-up-changes>.

Article/Picture:
Murphy, D & Sams, C 2012, Three original Wiggles to hang up their skivvies, Brisbane Times, accessed 18 May 2012, <http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/music/three-original-wiggles-to-hang-up-their-skivvies-20120517-1yto0.html>.

Picture:
Cuneo, C 2012, The Wiggles reveal new line-up after Jeff Fatt, Murry Cook and Greg Page announce retirement, Perth Now, accessed 18 May 2012, <http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/perth-confidential/could-the-wiggles-be-ready-to-hang-up-skivvies/story-e6frg30l-1226359111632>.

Beowulf

Beowulf's Grendel's Approach to Heorot (702b-745a)

This piece of writing shows just how much the English language has changed and evolved over the years.  Looking at this text it is hard to even decipher 10% of the words let alone figure out what the passage means.  There are letters/symbols that are no longer used which is half of the reason that it is so incredibly hard for most people to read this.  The other reason is that the majority of the words would no longer be used in everyday English.

You can read Beowulf's work at: http://faculty.virginia.edu/OldEnglish/Beowulf.Readings/Beowulf.Readings.html

Seeing how far English has come since the days of Beowulf is incredible.  It makes us wonder how far it will go and how much it will have changed in the future.

With the way things are being miss spelt in the present moment of time I wouldn't be surprised if they are permanently spelt like that in the next 50 years or so.  Confusing simple things like loose with lose and brought with bought, makes me wonder if words like loose and lose and brought and bought are just melded into the one word meaning the same thing.

Al the txt talk that hapns thes days teches peple horibl habits - If you couldn't read that I don't blame you.  Sure it is spelt phonetically and its how it sounds but it doesn't look right and the lack of vowels makes it hard to figure out the words. To reiterate it said 'All the text talk that happens these days teaches people horrible habits.'  Sure it makes talking via SMS, E-mails and programs like MSN quicker surely it is harder to read than normal.

With everyone talking like this online it is sure to carry over out of these online worlds into reality.  It is sad that even companies like Telstra are adopting 'text talk' by using words like 'thanx', they are professional and you would think that they would at least use proper English in their 'professional' messages.

Sadly with this all said I truly believe that text talk will become the new English making it hard for those of us who are adjusted to Middle English to communicate with the 'text talk generation'.  Text talk will also make it even harder than it already is for people trying to learn English as a second language.

Grendel's Approach to Heorot (702b-745a) n.d., Virginia Education, accessed 07 May 2012, <http://faculty.virginia.edu/OldEnglish/Beowulf.Readings/Grendel.html>.