It's World Book Day today this 6th March and I thought I'd bring you up to date if you don't mind on a busy
couple of weeks in Reader In Residence land.
Book
groups are flourishing in libraries across the Scottish Borders and in those
two weeks I’ve visited a fair number of them. My little car rocking and rolling down
this road and up that road to the Rolling Stones Jumping Jack Flash
and always my favourite It’s Only Rock
and Roll but I like It.
I’ve
stopped off in the libraries in Innerleithen, Peebles and Kelso. Also
at
the book
groups taking root in Berwickshire High School and Hawick High School.
Books
books and more books discussed and debated over.
In that
short space of time I’ve learned about books totally unknown to me which are
now on my reading list.
That is
the thing about book groups with every meeting and visit your world expands.
Most of
the books read are new, recently new, or a book like The Talented Mr Ripley which I had never read seemed recent to me.
The
effect of the film which I had seen maybe?
Looking
it up I was shocked to discover the film was made in 1999 (never!!) and the
book published in 1955. (Get away with you!)
Funny how
the mind works shifting some memories forward and others back in time.
Which brings me neatly I hope onto the title of this blog World Book Day Ray Bradbury and me!
In the run up to and in my role as Reader In Residence I’ve been working with the librarian, teachers and pupils from Kelso High School in their build up to their celebrations on the day. Together we’ve worked on an improvised drama around favourite characters from favourite books. I’ve also read to the gathered assemblies of first to sixth year excerpts from one of my favourite authors and books.
Yep
you’ve guessed it—Ray Bradbury.
In thinking
about what I was going to read I tried this book and that author on for size. Like
many things the first instinctive thought that comes into your head tends to be
the true thing.
For me that was Ray Bradbury
and his book of short stories The
Illustrated Man. A book published in 1952 but when read feels
like it was written today.
I’ve
loved this book since I first read it in my teens.
It has remained a lifelong favourite. I've lost count of the number of times
I’ve taken it down from my shelves over the years and settled down for hugely imaginative well
told tale.
In fact
when I was looking for it this time for the reading I discovered I had three
copies!
At the
assemblies as well as reading an excerpt I explained why I so admired this book
and this author.
For one thing as a writer its the cleverness of the premise of the Illustrated Man himself as a device for linking
the stories. Almost like a modern ‘Once
Upon A Time’ with pictures that come to life and after that particular tale is
told you turn the page and another image is alive with story.
The
imagery vibrantly visual through Bradbury’s language. Above all was the fact that all this cleverness
and rich language never overshadowed the story itself. They served it. They were never tricks. They were never showing off.
It was writing
with a pure imaginative emotionally charge.
That is
why it has truly stayed with me all these years. Like many of his novels and stories do. That is why it was the first book that popped
into my mind when I was asked to read something in the run up and in
celebration of World Book Day.
As I said
to the assembled pupils and teachers he’s well worth hunting out to rediscover or if
you’ve never read him.
Give him a go and see what you think.
Give him a go and see what you think.
Did I
enjoy myself? Goes without saying. They were a brilliant audience. Thanks to them for listening and for the librarian
and staff for asking me to participate.
Today on World Book Day itself I’ll be back doing something I always fancied doing--acting as a quiz
master. This will in the school’s special World Book Day literary quiz.
What a responsibility! Should be fun.
It’ll be interesting
to see how many of the questions I would have got right without the answers in front of me of
course!
That was
going to be me for now but as I write I’ve just spotted another Ray Bradbury
book above my desk.
Zen
in the Art of Writing.
A book
you’ve gathered I keep close.
It’s a
book of essays. As it says on the blurb
on the back. ‘eleven exuberant essays on the pleasures of writing…’
It’s a
gem of a book wise and practical as well as entertaining.
I’m away
to dip into it one more time starting with ‘Investing
Dimes: Fahrenheit 451.’ Now
there’s another interesting book that seems like it was written today!
Like
visiting or being a member of a book group one book leads to another.
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