When all problems can be solved in 30 minutes, not counting commercials, and political issues are summarized in sound bites, yeah, we're living in a different world. I'm not so cynical as to call it "dumbing down" when publishers create books that are faster paced and have less sophisticated vocabulary instead, I think these books accurately reflect our culture, specifically trends in language influenced by journalism (and figures like Hemingway), as well as by other media, beginning with MTV and continuing on to social networking. I wrinkled my brow and began considering the implications of a book like this one. Then, somewhere in the distance, I heard the sound of a massive pair of doors swinging shut.
And the style is kind of contemporary, which should appeal to today's kids. At first glance, I thought, How fun! A Cinderella with simple wording for younger or less able readers. Exhibit A, though, is a 2008 version of Cinderella by Max Eilenberg and Niamh Sharkey. I've noticed because I write in this genre, and things have dried up. I'm here to write about a trend most people probably haven't noticed: the demise of the literary fairy tale.
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