Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Would an "easy reader abridged edition" stay combined with the full work or separated?

I think they should be separated, like adaptations. Earlier today I came across two publisher's series with abridged classics for children. Most of them were indeed separated from the main work and had the adapter as primary author.

Thanks :)

See this example: https://www.goodreads.com/series/1225...

That series isn't necessarily the same thing. I think this is a situation we should wait to hear from Rivka.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "That series isn't necessarily the same thing. I think this is a situation we should wait to hear from Rivka."

The edition I'm asking about is 1000 headword level.

Will wait for rivka, but here it is: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

I think that one should be separated because I think it is an adaptation.

https://www.worldcat.org/title/death-...

Some of the easy reader are not so clear, so this may be one of those situations that gets determined on a case by case basis. I have left some and I have separated some.

In the same vein, 'retold' editions should always be separate from the full work, right?

In general, abridgements should NOT be separated from the unabridged works.

As Elizabeth said, "easy reader" editions can vary greatly. Some are merely abridgements; some are actually adaptations.

Edit: homophone

rivka wrote: "In general, abridgements should NOT be separated from the unabridged works.

As Elizabeth said, "easy reader" editions can vary greatly. Some are merely abridgements; some or actually adaptations."

I've seen some adaptations are being kept separated as well. I'm not really planning on going and fixing any of those unless I see any obvious ones.

Thanks.

Another question. Few of the easy readers and English learner books I've seen on Worldcat say "adapted by" and then authors name. Is that a good source for telling if a work is adapted or is it not reliable.

Also wold level/word count and page difference matter? I think 1000 words is one of the lowest?

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Another question. Few of the easy readers and English learner books I've seen on Worldcat say "adapted by" and then authors name. Is that a good source for telling if a work is adapted or is it not reliable."

I would not rely on that alone, but it is a piece of information, and in combination with other pieces, may provide a clear picture. (Or not.)


Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Also wold level/word count and page difference matter?"

The question is whose words are in the book: the original author's (but not all of them) or someone else's? Reading level and word count alone don't tell you that.

rivka wrote: "The question is whose words are in the book: the original author's (but not all of them) or someone else's?"

Ah, OK. I think I can work with that. So a 'retold' edition has someone else's words.

Usually, yes.

Translations get sticky, of course.

If a translated edition says on the title page (or the cover) that it's 'retold by...' I think we can safely assume it is different from a normal translation.

What about this one: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Here is worldcat: http://www.worldcat.org/title/peter-a...

Doesn't mention Prokofiev at all

How about this one: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

it's the default edition with nearly 5k adds, however it is adaptation with primary author J.R. Cuenot. Se worldcat: http://www.worldcat.org/title/don-qui...

141 pages, comes with an hour long VHS.