Introduction | Something About the Author | Events |
Running a Discussion Group | Talk about the Book | Further Reading
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Glastonbury Reads A Book (GRAB) is a community-wide program that encourages local residents to read and to promote community spirit by encouraging as many people as possible to read the same book and get together to discuss it.
In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic, frightening vision of the future, firemen don't put out fires--they start them in order to burn books. Bradbury's vividly painted society holds up the appearance of happiness as the highest goal--a place where trivial information is good, and knowledge and ideas are bad. Fire Captain Beatty explains it this way, "Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs.... Don't give them slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy." Guy Montag is a book-burning fireman undergoing a crisis of faith. His wife spends all day with her television "family," imploring Montag to work harder so that they can afford a fourth TV wall. Their dull, empty life sharply contrasts with that of his next-door neighbor Clarisse, a young girl thrilled by the ideas in books, and more interested in what she can see in the world around her than in the mindless chatter of the tube. When Clarisse disappears mysteriously, Montag is moved to make some changes, and starts hiding books in his home. Eventually, his wife turns him in, and he must answer the call to burn his secret cache of books. After fleeing to avoid arrest, Montag winds up joining an outlaw band of scholars who keep the contents of books in their heads, waiting for the time society will once again need the wisdom of literature.
Bradbury--the author of more than 500 short stories, novels, plays, and poems, including The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man--is the winner of many awards, including the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America. Readers ages 13 to 93 will be swept up in the harrowing suspense of Fahrenheit 451, and no doubt will join the hordes of Bradbury fans worldwide.
--Summary by Neil Roseman on Amazon.com
How Do I Participate?
Get a copy of the book! Copies may be borrowed from the Welles-Turner Memorial Library, East Glastonbury Public Library Association, and the South Glastonbury Public Library. Copies may be purchased from the local book stores. Barnes & Noble, the Book Rack, and Buck-a-Book are offering special discounts.
Read the book! During the months of January-March, join family, friends, co-workers, and members of the community and read it.
Participate! Join one of the scheduled discussion groups (TBA) or conduct your own in your neighborhood, church, or at a local restaurant.
Something About the Author: Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois on August 22, 1920. He spent his early years in Illinois and Arizona. His family moved to Los Angeles, California as he was entering his teens, a move which had long-lasting implications. Although his interest in writing began very early, it became his career only after he gave up his early dreams of being an actor. He received his first paycheck for writing in 1941 when Super Science Stories printed his "Pendulum". He soon began drawing serious attention, with stories appearing in Best American Stories 1946, 1948, and 1952. He published his first short story collection, Dark Carnival, in 1947, and followed that with The Martian Chronicles in 1950, The Illustrated Man in 1951, Fahrenheit 451 in 1953, Dandelion Wine in 1957, and Something Wicked This Way Comes in 1962. He is the author of dozens of books and short stories, in addition to screenplays, musicals, and poetry. Many of his works have been adapted for television and movies.
Besides his talents as a writer, Bradbury is also very involved in city planning. He worked as a consultant on the 1963 World's Fair, helped design the Spaceship Earth ride at Disneyworld's EPCOT center, and has even helped design malls as part of his work with the Jon Jerde Partnership.
Bradbury has won many awards, including the O.Henry Memorial Award, the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the Grand Master Award from Science Fiction Writers of America. Dandelion Crater on the moon was named in honor of one of his stories. He was nominated for an Academy Award and won an Emmy for his teleplay of "Halloween Tree".
Bradbury married Marguerite "Maggie" McClure in 1947. They have four daughters.
Resources: http://www.spaceagecity.com/bradbury/bio.htm, http://www.gradesaver.com/, http://raybradburyonline.com/biography.htm. See also World Authors 1900-1950 (1996), published by H.W. Wilson Company (article availabe via iConn under Wilson Biographies Plus). You can also visit Ray Bradbury's official web site at www.raybradbury.com. However, this does not seem to have been updated since 2002, although the forums are still active.
Ray Bradbury was recently interviewed on Fox News.
| DATE | EVENT | TIME AND PLACE | NOTES |
| Monday, January 31, 2005 |
Unique Evening with Ray Bradbury | 7:30 P.M. Glastonbury High School 330 Hubbard Street |
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| Monday, February 28 |
Fahrenheit 451 Movie | 1:00 P.M. Senior Center |
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| Wednesday, March 2 |
Book discussion | 2:00 Senior Center |
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| Monday, March 14 |
Fahrenheit 451 Movie | TBA, Welles-Turner Library Friends Room |
Refreshments will be served. |
| Monday, March 21 Snowdate: March 23 |
Forum on Civil Liberties | 7:00 P.M., Town Hall Council Chambers |
Discussion will be led by Michelle Jacklin, the Hartford Courant's political writer. Refreshments will be served. |
Questions can be found on many web sites, including
Updated February 23, 2005
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