Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury!
When
did science fiction first
cross over from genre writing to the mainstream of American literature?
Almost
certainly it happened on October 19, 1953, when a young Californian
named Ray
Bradbury published a novel with the odd title of Fahrenheit 451.
In a
gripping story at once disturbing and poetic, Bradbury takes the
materials of
pulp fiction and transforms them into a visionary parable of a society
gone
awry, in which firemen burn books and the state suppresses learning.
Meanwhile,
the citizenry sits by in a drug-induced and media-saturated
indifference. More
relevant than ever a half-century later, Fahrenheit 451 has
achieved
the rare distinction of being both a literary classic and a perennial
best
seller. The Monroe County Public Library is stocking extra copies of the book for community discussions and local bookstores have the book available for purchase.
The Bloomington Area Arts Council is announcing an extensive list of free community events featuring the book during the spring of 2007. Events scheduled include:
February 28: 'Ex Libris' Book Discussion Group at Borders Books & Music, @7:30pm
March: Brian Chase "Tube Fed" Exhibit at Buskirk-Chumley Theater
March-April: Related Exhibits at Monroe County History Museum and IU Lilly Library
March 4: BOOKSPLUS Monthly Discussion Group at Monroe County Public Library, @2pm
March 20: Book Discussion at Meadowood Retirement Center, @2pm
March 24: Book-Making Class for kids/teens at John Waldron Arts Center, 9am-noon
March 24: FREE Book Giveaway at Bloomington Fire Department station, Noon-3pm
March 28: Book Discussion at John Waldron Arts Center Firebay, @7pm
April: Companion Book List available for kids/teens at the Monroe County Public Library
The Big Read-One Book One Bloomington display in Showers Building
and "The Science of Combustion" at Wonderlab
April (every Friday 9am-4pm): "Random Acts of 451 Reading!" (812-334-3100)
Any Friday in April please call the BAAC offices and ask for a "random act of reading" by
our staff celebrities including Heather Lynn, Miah Michaelsen or Mike Price!
Request a specific page from Fahrenheit 451 or have on chosen for you at random!!
April 2-27: "Artist Inferno- Hot, Hotter, Hottest!" Art Contest in Showers Building Atrium
April 9: Fahrenheit 451 Film Viewing/Discussion at Buskirk-Chumley Theater, @7pm
April 19: Panel Discussion of Fahrenheit 451 in Waldron Auditorium, @7pm
April 24: Discussion of Fahrenheit 451 at Banneker Community Center, @7pm
April 28: Burning Ritual/Luncheon at the Tibetan Cultural Center, 11am-2pm
May 2: Fahrenheit 451 Staged Reading and Talkback in Waldron Firebay, @8pm
May 11: "Burnin' Down the House" Party at Karst Farm Park! @6pm
A huge bash with campfires, dancing to live music with the Toby Myers band, food and drink catered by Panera, and a book exchange!! Fun for everyone!
This year One Book One Bloomington and Beyond is partnering with The Big Read, an
initiative
of the National Endowment for the Arts, which is in partnership with
the
Institute of Museum and Library Services, and in cooperation with Arts
Midwest.
It is designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American
popular
culture. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America,
a
2004 NEA report, identified a critical decline in reading for pleasure
among
American adults. The Big Read aims to address this issue directly by
providing
citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within
their
communities. In addition to grants, the
NEA also provides participating communities with a library of free
materials,
including reader’s and teacher’s guides for each of the Big Read
novels, an
audio guide for each novel featuring distinguished actors and writers,
an
online organizer’s guide for hosting a Big Read program, a customized
television public service announcement, Big Read display materials, and
a
comprehensive program Web site. "The Big Read" is a new national program by the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Arts Midwest, that encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss one book. The organizations selected to participate in the Big Read will receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 to promote and carry out month-long, community-based programs. The Bloomington Area Arts Council received a Big Read grant in October, 2006.
"Unlike many of the other Big Read communities, Bloomington has had a successful community read program, One Book One Bloomington and Beyond for the past six years, but partnering with The Big Read offers exciting opportunities to grow OBOB", explains BAAC Executive Director Miah Michaelsen: “The grant support we receive through The Big Read partnership will allow us to add some exciting new events to OBOB, including visual arts, performance and music opportunities. In addition, we’ll be able to reach out to underserved communities with book distributions and programs for at-risk youth and adults.” Adds Michaelsen: “It’s an honor to be selected for The Big Read initiative, and a real testament to the leadership of OBOB, who has so carefully built the program for the past six years.”
The National Endowment for the Arts website has information on all the 2007 Big Read Nominees: http://www.neabigread.org/
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
Farewell to Arms
by Ernest Hemingway
Their Eyes Were Watching God
by Zora Neale Hurston
The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck
The Joy Luck Club
by Amy Tan
My Antonia
by Willa Cather
Votes had to be submitted by DECEMBER 20th at 5pm
There were two ways to vote:
--Email your choice to info@artlives.org (with "The Big Read" in the subject line please)
--Complete a ballot at one of the locations around Bloomington and put into the provided ballot box
Ballot boxes were
located at the following Bloomington locations:
Aurora
Alternative SchoolBarnes and Noble Booksellers
The Book Corner
Borders Books & Music
Boxcar Books
Bloomington Adult Community Center
Bloomington City Hall Atrium
Bloomington North and South High School Libraries
Caveat Emptor
Edgewood High School
Fountain Square Lobby
Harmony Education Center
The Herald-Times Lobby
Howard's Bookstore
Indiana University Bookstore in the Indiana Memorial Union
Indiana University Main Library
Ivy Tech Community College Library
John Waldron Arts Center
Meadowood Retirement Community
Monroe County Public Library
TIS Bookstore
For information on previous One Book, One Bloomington winners see our Past OBOB Winners Website.
The BAAC
thanks
The National Endowment for the Arts, the Indiana
Arts Commission and AuthorHouse for support of the
project. Co-sponsors include City of Bloomington Parks and
Recreation, Monroe County Public Library, Monroe County Community
School Corporation, and the Indiana University Libraries.
|
Bloomington
Area Arts Council John
Waldron
Arts Center |
