Although it’s felt like it for well over a month now, the temperature outside is not actually 451 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a good thing, too, because that’s the temperature at which paper burns, which would be disastrous when you tried to carry your books out to the car (not to mention when you tried to go outside yourself, or had to pay your electric bill).
If you’re thinking I totally knew that bit about paper burning at 451°, you probably have Ray Bradbury to thank (also possibly a degree in science). Now you know another Ray Bradbury fact: it’s his birthday (he’s 91). What better way to celebrate than by (re-)reading Fahrenheit 451, his classic novel about a world where all books are burned? Plus, it’s a great way to prepare to celebrate Banned Books Week, which is coming up about a month from now (more on that later).
One of the most entertaining ironies in literary history is the fact that, over the course of several years, the publishers of Fahrenheit 451 slowly censored something like 75 different passages, cutting out little bits that they feared might contaminate the minds of the young. It would have been a great practical joke, had they not been serious.
Or, if you’re not into dystopias, you can always try Something Wicked This Way Comes. Everyone loves coming-of-age stories centered around evil carnivals, right?
| Jake Gauslow |
| Adult Services Librarian | |
| jgauslow@friscotexas.gov |
Tags: Banned Books Week, books, censorship, Frisco Public Library, Ray Bradbury
That’s a great visual – taking a burning electric bill in for payment. I’ve felt the same way about mortgage payments.