This is my homage to Mr. Ray Bradbury, writer extraordinaire, whose contributions to American literature include
The Martian Chronicles, Twilight Zone, and
Something Wicked This Way Comes, and whose life ended this week at age 89.
Of all his works, my favorite remains
Fahrenheit 450, a horrifying (to this English teacher) look at a futuristic society that burns books. O.k., I trust you know this whole story.
I had the pleasure of teaching the novel for many semesters, and showing this 1966 film, directed by Francois Truffault, with Oskar Werner and Julie Christie. Bradbury's sobering warning to us about the dangers and consequences of censorship and the squelching of individual thought, shocks the reader/viewer into a new appreciation, even reverence for intellectual and creative freedom. Heavy stuff.
I also had the privilege of meeting Mr. Bradbury following a talk he gave in Scottsdale years ago. I treasure my signed copies of
The Martian Chronicles and
F450.
Do yourself a favor this week: watch this film. It's a goodie.
RIP, Ray.
This is my homage to Mr. Ray Bradbury, writer extraordinaire, whose contributions to American literature include The Martian Chronicles, Twilight Zone, and Something Wicked This Way Comes, and whose life ended this week at age 89.
Of all his works, my favorite remains Fahrenheit 450, a horrifying (to this English teacher) look at a futuristic society that burns books. O.k., I trust you know this whole story.
I had the pleasure of teaching the novel for many semesters, and showing this 1966 film, directed by Francois Truffault, with Oskar Werner and Julie Christie. Bradbury's sobering warning to us about the dangers and consequences of censorship and the squelching of individual thought, shocks the reader/viewer into a new appreciation, even reverence for intellectual and creative freedom. Heavy stuff.
I also had the privilege of meeting Mr. Bradbury following a talk he gave in Scottsdale years ago. I treasure my signed copies of The Martian Chronicles and F450.
Do yourself a favor this week: watch this film. It's a goodie.
RIP, Ray.
Wonderful tribute to Ray Bradbury, Valerie. Thank you...very touching. We got to know Ray personally through Daryl, our son the writer! When Daryl was 15, we took him to the L.A. Book Fair, where he/we met Ray Bradbury. When Bradbury learned Daryl had published a best-selling kids' book at such a young age, he put his arm around him and gave him lots of encouragement. He was so personable, so kind. He told Daryl that writing was hard work but so rewarding. Just another aspect of this great writer. I agree that his vision of book-burning was haunting...of course, that's exactly what the fanatics in Germany did during WWII.
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