Saturday, January 27, 2007

Ray Bradbury Books

Just finished the sequel to Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine called Farewell Summer.  Even though first book was copyrighted in 1946 and the second in 2006 the continuity was excellent.  Dandelion wine was written for ages 12 and up which explains the juvenile charm of the story.  I did have a problem getting through this book and it took some put down-pick up pauses to finish it.  But the ideas introduced, both serious and humorous, will stay with me for a long while.

Dandelion Wine describes the rites and delights of the people in a small town through the eyes of a teenager.  The way the seasons change. What he called Green Town, actually Waukegan, IL. consisted of in 1928.  It stresses the importance of friends and family in your life.  What living in a place where your grandparents are next door, your buddies down the street, and the contacts with all the other people that make up your life.

In Farewell Summer however the reading flowed like a quiet stream.  I picked it up one morning and finished it by the next.  With 14 years behind him Doug Spaulding has decided to form and army to fight the elders of the town.  He honestly believes that they are forcing him to grow old.  The surprising conclusion makes the battle worth it. 

Throughout both books a lesson that some of us still haven’t learned is stressed.  That is to sit down and listen to the old people in our life, ask them questions and pay attention because that resource soon dies and only regret remains. 

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