Answer: Margie found the book strange because it was a real, printed book. The words in the book stood still, unlike the moving text on her screen.
The Fun They Had is a book written by Isaac Asimov. In this story, Margie lives in the year 2157. Education in 2157 is delivered through mechanical teachers and digital telebooks. The society is so digitalised that she has never even seen a physical book before. Hence, when her friend Tommy was able to discover a book, it became a novel experience for her.
What Made the Book Strange to Margie?
Are you asking yourself- Why did Margie find the book strange? Well, there are many reasons for it. Some of these reasons are provided below:
- Static Words– Margie’s world is accustomed to reading text that moves on a screen. Hence, she found the book strange as the words in the book did not move.
- Unchanging Pages: In digital books, the content is often changed or updated. However, the pages in the printed books remained the same every day.
- Physical Appearance: The book had yellow and crinkly pages (just like an old book). This was different from the sleek screens she was used to.
- Manual Page Turning: The pages in the digital books could be turned with a click. On the other hand, the pages in the physical book that Tommy found had to be turned manually. She found the task to be cumbersome.
Why Was This Significant?
Now you know why Margie found the book strange. Her reaction to the physical book was significant because it highlighted the difference between futuristic and traditional methods of learning. The character (Margie) was so used to the digital world that she found the printed books to be unfamiliar. Her unfamility showcases how the educational system was transformed by technology in her world. The book also highlights the tactile and permanent nature of physical books compared to digital ones.
The story The Fun They Had is a reminder of the value of traditional learning methods in a digitalised world. Why did Margie find the book strange? She found the book strange because it was tangible and had static content compared to the digital books of her time.
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