09.29.08
Ray Bradbury at the West Hollywood Book Fair
My sons and I were reading one of Ray Bradbury’s books recently called, Fahrenheit 451 when we found that Ray Bradbury was going to be speaking and signing books at the West Hollywood Book Fair. Here’s a pic of the Sci-fi section of the fair, which was held yesterday. It was actually much larger than what is shown in the pic as this is only one section of the fair, but this is basically what it looked like.
Yes, my sons are old enough to read books on their own, but every so often we read one together at which time I like to take the opportunity to read more about the authors so that my boys can get a feel for what these authors are like. This time we got a special chance to “hear” one speak in person. Here’s one shot I got of Ray Bradbury speaking.
He appeared to be a very fun and pleasant man. I think he’s about 83 years old, now, but he’s still very mentally alert. Even at 83, he continues to write, and this coming Feb 26-April 5, 2009 one of Bradbury’s productions will be playing at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, Ca. The production is called, “Falling Upward.” I believe Fahrenheit 451 is currently playing at the Fremont Theater in Pasadena.
It was interesting enough to read about Ray Bradbury’s biography, but much more fun to hear him speak in person. Evidently, many of the things he’s written about is from his own experiences. Certainly they are embellished and expanded upon in his books, but the ideas began from his own encounters such as the “tatooed man” he met at the fair when he was a kid, which later became popularized in Bradbury’s “Illustrated Man.” I believe the Addams’ Family stemmed from his love of Halloween. Actually, the main theme I got from Bradbury’s presentation yesterday was, “Do what you love, love what you do, and don’t do it for money.” All the things he wrote about where things for which he had a love or passion.
I was thinking of reading Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles next, but as it turns out, I happen to have a copy of his Dandelion Wine here at home. Before Brian and I got married and had kids we used to love to visit the used book stores. As a result, we have a collection of books that can keep us busy for a long time! I’m still able to pull out books here that I didn’t even know we had! To give an idea of how old some of these books are, the price on the book reads, .75 cents. In that respect, I can relate to part of the plot in Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 of the characters who collect books. How horrible it would be if books were outlawed and had to be burned. How grateful I am that we continue to have freedom of speech and the means by which to preserve our thoughts and memories. Too bad everyone didn’t write books, or at least write so that part of them could carry on to the next generations. I think of how Anne Frank’s memory continues to carry on many years after her passing because she took the time to “write.” When I look at all the books at the bookstores or the libraries, I think of all the people behind those books. They poured out their thoughts on those pages for us to know and remember them by. And that reminds me of another blog that I visit at times. This blogger is a knitter and a writer, and she wrote some very insightful comments about what it’s like to be an author of a book. Her name is Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, and her post can be viewed on this page on the post dated September 15 titled, “It’s all the scary part.” She reflects on her thoughts just as she is about to launch her newest book, Free-Range Knitter.
If you like to read, why not try your hand at writing, even if it’s only a personal journal.
Marlakins
