The Art of Reading Isn't Dead Yet

[therealsnape]

Today kellychambliss made a post about the complete lack of reading skills in a) her students, b) journalists reporting on Maggie Smith's statement re. the future of Downton Abbey. It's not flocked, so you can hop over if you want to read it.

But there's hope yet. Trust the old curmudgeon, there's hope.

Just look what happened to me today.

Years ago I wrote a little guidebook for Paris. I called it The It's Not a Guidebook to Paris" because it's a collection of very personal favourite addresses rather than another book that points out the merits of the Louvre and Notre Dame. Some of you have read parts of it.

In the section on the Marais, I wrote:

At the end of the rue du Roi de Sicile you really must make a little detour to the right, into the rue du Bourg Tibourg. On your right hand, on number 30, you'll find Mariage Frères, the most famous tea shop in Paris. They have hundreds of different types, from fairly reasonable to highly exclusive. My two favourites are L’Opéra, a lovely, lightly-perfumed green tea, and Éros. Yes, folks, Éros. Paris will be Paris. Éros is a black tea with rose leaves and lavender. 100 gram of each, please, I'll pay you upon delivery. This is a serious order; there's a reason I said 'you must make a detour'.

Today I got a mail from a very young colleague. I had given her a copy years ago, for her first romantic weekend with the young man with whom she has now bought a house, and they both loved it. She wrote to suggest a date for dinner with a few other friends/colleagues, and she added, "also, I have some tea to deliver to TRS. The guidebook didn't mention what would happen if one fails to fulfill the order, but I'm so not going to find out."

Not only can the child read, but she's clearly also an excellent judge of character. And I should call her a young lady, really, but when I met her six years ago she was barely twenty.

There's hope for the younger generation yet.

Comments

[ysilme]

Oh, indeed! And how lovely!
I didn't know about this Not a Guide Book yet, despite all our natterings about Paris in general and MF in particular.

(my icon couldn't fit better this time... you doubtlessly recognise the cups?)

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

I certainly recognise the cups - sweet memories. And I only sent a few translated chapters of the booklet to flisties who didn't know Paris very well. It was self-published, not an official book.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Snort. I should write a guide book to London which requires people to give me chocolate

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

I do offer to pay for it, mind. But I'd buy your London guide at once.

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

See -- people will almost always live up to the expectations of stern and demanding teachers. Minerva was right.

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's lovely when it pays to be stern. Says she, while planning a stern email to a current student - plenty left to whinge over. But at least I can have a decent cuppa with my whinging.

[cranky--crocus.livejournal.com]

There's hope for the younger generation yet.
I should hope so; sounds as if she's got a year on me.

I was always very sure to keep aware of a stern and supportive teacher's 'must's.

(My student learned I loved chocolate and brought me Lindt chocolates. Yes, dear child, well done. None of that Hershy's nonsense.)

*Raises tea in hope for the future.*