The other day I met a lovely woman who, when asked what she did for a living, lowered her eyes and replied “I’m a librarian.” “Why sound apologetic?” I responded, “There’s nothing wrong with being a librarian. I bet it’s a great job.” She looked up and replied that she loves her job and that it can be very varied, but that people assume she sits around all day reading books and shooshing visitors. “It’s not like that at all!” she explained. I sympathised and we then went on to discuss books, particularly children’s books. I asked her if she can see a change in the way they’re written today. Did she think, like me, that they are less lyrical […]