Something odd happened last week. A book was published that instantly became immensely popular and topped a best-seller list - and I wasn't able to read it. The book was The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore, and the reason I couldn't read it is that it's an iPad app. And like most people of my age, I don't own an iPad.
I'm not entirely a Luddite: I use a computer all the time; I own a Kindle (yes, I know that marks me out as belonging to a certain age-group); I have a mobile phone (albeit a hand-me-up from my daughter, replacing my first, which I disparagingly referred to as my 'Fisher Price phone' because it was so basic). But I can't see me getting an iPad any time soon.
In my ignorance, I had always imagined 'book' apps as being short, image-led, and acting merely as distractions from the text. But the Times review says that 'the interactive elements are fun without clogging up the narrative', and describes a range of different animation styles. From the website you gain tantalising hints of the story: 'Inspired by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz and a love of books, 'Morris Lessmore' is a story of people who devote their lives to books and books which return the favour.'
The subject matter may be ironic in view of the medium.
Does anyone else feel they REALLY want to read it?
But enough to buy an iPad?
If only we could see into the future and know which technologies will win ...
Thursday, 28 July 2011
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3 comments:
I think this is a game, not a book. Games have long been platform-specific whilst books can be borrowed from the British Library and have an ISBN ;-)
I have an iPad and on seeing your post, I downloaded this book! I loved it; it's a very gentle story with animated pictures. I think it's been a long time since I enjoyed artwork in storytelling so much; I often ignore any pictures (which are rare in any case) and focus on the text.
I saw a similar edition of "Alice in Wonderland" has also been made for the iPad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gew68Qj5kxw
I think it's a great idea. Electronic reading is not the same as reading paper so why try to make it so?
Very envious of your iPad and the fact that you've been able to read this - it looks enchanting!
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