The BritMums Blog

Is Twitter really turning children off books?

When former MI5 director and current Man Booker Prize judge, Dame Stella Rimington claimed that Twitter and mobile phones were diminishing reading, an age old debate was brought to the fore. 

Speaking to the Telegraph, Rimington said: “I think much of the Twittering and emailing and texting and all that sort of stuff that children go in for now may be taking their eyes off reading fiction. When I was young we read more than the average child reads now.”

Rimington was clearly sharing an opinion, rather than a robust piece of research, but various studies do back up her basic assertion that fewer children are picking up books for pleasure. 

10 tips for writing your memoir

For many people blogging leads naturally to writing a memoir – it’s all about the Me (and we mean that in the best possible way). Sometimes putting your own life into a story is difficult. You have to showcase the drama and find the beginning, the middle, and the end even though your own life, obviously, continues to roll on.

My friend Steve Friedman, a journalist in New York, has always had a talent for writing first-person stories that sound like he’s sitting right next to you, cracking jokes and spinning tales. He’s just published Driving Lessons: A Father, a Son , and the Healing Power of Golf (Rodale) in the US. Kirkus has called it “inspirational” among other things.

In June, he has a second book coming out called Lost on Treasure Island: A Memoir of Longing, Love, and Lousy Choices in New York City (Arcade). One blurb describes him as “hapless, hopeful and utterly hilarious.” (You can read more about his books on www.stevefriedman.net.)

BMB and CyberMummy at @sarahbrownuk’s book launch

The first clue that this wasn’t your average book launch came as we arrived. “Don’t forget to use our hashtag – #SBBlackDoor”, two press people told us as we entered the Secret Garden at Shoreditch House last Wednesday.

The second came from the author herself, who kept her speech short, announcing, “"I won't speak long because this is a tweetup and we must get back to tweeting."

Representing mum bloggers everywhere at the launch of Sarah Brown’s new book Behind the Black Door last week was founder of BMB Susanna Scott (@amodernmother), myself (@JHowze), our CyberMummy partner Sian To (@mummytips) and Livingwithkids’s Liz Jarvis (@livingwithkids).

Don't miss Sarah Brown's Tuesday Twitter party

Loads of BMB members have been coming to our Twitter parties lately to share tips, trade advice. crack jokes and generally chat. Now you have the chance to do the same with Sarah Brown as she launches her new book Behind the Black Door!

Today at 16:30 - 17:30 Sarah will be hosting a live Q&A to talk about her new book and life in Number 10. Make sure you're following @SarahBrownUK and tweet using the hash tag #SBBlackDoor. You can find out more on her book's promotional site, www.behindtheblackdoor.co.uk.

British Mummy Blogger of the Week

 
Evening all...

We're at that stage in Boy #1's education where reading is moving from being a chore for him, to something he loves. I'm a bookworm myself so it's a delight for me to see him with his head buried in a book, even if it is about Ben 10 or PowerRangers rather than something more edifying (he is only 6, after all). So any hints on finding new books for him to read - or for me to read to him - are gratefully received, which is why when I found Natasha Worswick's blog I was immediately interested.  She writes that her blog is:

'...about lots of things really, but it tends to focus on children’s books (the ones I’ve enjoyed or not), the publishing industry, children’s marketing and tracking my son Milo’s reading habits.'

I liked her post about hospital books, and ideas of titles you can use to entertain children on long journeys. And as for the link to the Q&A page of Andrew Stanton's site - brilliant. I will definitely be adding his books to the Boys' collection.

Clare Taylor blogs at The Potty Diaries