Beth in SW WA Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 You know I can't read this w/o talking about it w/ someone! I might have nightmares if I don't! :) I'm curious what the hive has to say regarding this modern classic which is found on many must-read lists. Thanks in advance! Warning-- My April book list is: Fahrenheit 451 The Giver Lord Of The Flies Scary, huh? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 DS (16) had to read this book for his honors English class this year, and he asked me to read it as well. Fascinating. We had some great discussions about it. Creepy, yes! Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 My daughter was on a kick for dystopian novels, and we both read a few. I was absolutely floored by how prescient this novel was, and what it had to say about our society. Brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 My dd has read F. 451 and Lord of the Flies on her own and found them very thought-provoking and discussion-worthy. But she also describes herself as "fascinated by dystopian societies," so take that for what it's worth. :tongue_smilie: If you're Christian, Lord of the Flies can lead to excellent discussions about our sin nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I really enjoyed both F451 and The Giver. I did the first by myself and the second with a book club. Because I had to research and lead the girls through The Giver, I really dissected it and looked at each symbol. I wish I had slowed down and been able to do the same with F451. It's such an easy read, and the drama is so compelling that I read it too quickly trying to untangle the book. Maybe the next go 'round with my youngers, I'll be able to s-l-o-w down. And I'll make them talk to me about it. ;) At a speech and debate tournament earlier this year, I saw an excellent interp of F451. I knew by the first line of the interp he was Guy Montage. :D Have fun! Lisa P.S. I found a strong pro-life theme in The Giver and was able to discuss that in book club. Not sure that was the author's intent, so I'd be interested to know if you see the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Heaven Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I was absolutely floored by how prescient this novel was, and what it had to say about our society. Brilliant. yes, I agree. I do think the adults were more amazed at the author's foresight then the kids were. but the kids liked the book too. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennW in SoCal Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I was also struck at how prescient Fahrenheit 451 is, but I also found the book to be a manifesto for homeschooling. The conversations Guy has with Clarisse, and how odd her family is considered because they like to have conversations together rather than watch the tv shows -- it reminded me of how we homeschoolers seem odd to others! That and the fact that we are read the classics and are becoming the "book people" -- the keepers of our literary history. Yep, it is one of those books you have to talk about when you read it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 It's part of our "Worldviews in Sci-Fi and Gothic Lit" that we made for ourselves this year. We're finding F451 less disturbing than Brave New World, and I'd say also much less disturbing than Lord of the Flies (which we'll do in our English lit year). It's sparked GREAT conversations on a variety of topics. DS is really enjoying the poeticalness of the language, too. I definitely would not shy away from this one. It's not a "tough" or "intense" book -- but very prophetic, with depth. BTW, in case you were wondering what else we're doing for our "home grown" 10th grade lit, I've listed the works and their worldviews below. DS has several times let me know how much he's enjoying our literature this year! Enjoy! Warmly, Lori D. - Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Christian) -- Progeny Press guide - Frankenstein (romanticism and gothic elements) -- Progeny Press guide - The Time Machine (socialism and evolution) -- online guide - Animal Farm (communism) -- Sparknotes - The Giver (utopia/dystopia) -- Garlic Press guide; Sparknotes - Brave New World (dystopia and social/genetic engineering) -- Sparknotes - Farenheit 451 (loss of literacy/thinking; rise of shallow visual entertainments) -- Progeny Press; Sparknotes - A Canticle for Leibowitz (post apocalypse; repeated unstable cycles of the State vs. preserving role of the Church) - short stories from "Cosmicomics" (evolution; humanist/existential worldviews) - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (absurdist) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I read it recently, as did Calvin - we both enjoyed it. Calvin read it as part of a series: Huck Finn, The Day They Came to Arrest the Book, then Fahrenheit 451. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 - Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Christian) -- Progeny Press guide - Frankenstein (romanticism and gothic elements) -- Progeny Press guide - The Time Machine (socialism and evolution) -- online guide - Animal Farm (communism) -- Sparknotes - The Giver (utopia/dystopia) -- Garlic Press guide; Sparknotes - Brave New World (dystopia and social/genetic engineering) -- Sparknotes - Farenheit 451 (loss of literacy/thinking; rise of shallow visual entertainments) -- Progeny Press; Sparknotes - A Canticle for Leibowitz (post apocalypse; repeated unstable cycles of the State vs. preserving role of the Church) - short stories from "Cosmicomics" (evolution; humanist/existential worldviews) - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (absurdist) Thanks. Calvin's read 451, J&H, Time Machine, AF and Hitchhiker's. I'll look into the others over the next few years. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 BTW, in case you were wondering what else we're doing for our "home grown" 10th grade lit, I've listed the works and their worldviews below. DS has several times let me know how much he's enjoying our literature this year! Enjoy! Warmly, Lori D. Oh, that is a good list! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frontier Mom Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I read it and found it eerily current. I even started putting a quote by Ray Bradbury in my email signature. "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." I've had a few comments back on these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Beth, you are going to have a great time with those 3 books! I remember the boys reading The Giver in middle (public) school. Lots to talk about. I love Lord of the Flies, too--I have a clear memory of seeing an old black and white movie of the story, late one night--great movie, too. There's this website where you can take a little quiz on LotF and do some activities for review Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted April 3, 2009 Author Share Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) Thanks gang. We had a great conversation about this book last night. How have I missed this book until now? What other gems have I missed? :) To think he wrote this in 1953 before the internet, ipod, etc. were invented. His references to the Bible are fascinating. What is Bradbury's religious persuasion? I'm 3/4 into the book and will finish it this morning. A quick read, but I'll go back more thoroughly on my second time around. JennW, I agree w/ your impressions of Clarisse. Clarisse's family was radically different from the masses. They taught her to think. I only wish the book would have explained her demise. The character of Mildred is just bizarre. I could go on and on. My dc will read this in May and it will surely spark many more conversations about our culture. Thanks again!! Edited April 3, 2009 by Beth in SW WA changed "was" to "is" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 What other gems have I missed? :)/QUOTE] Running out the door, so I'll shoot for a longer answer later, but DEFINITELY read Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes" -- GREAT book! The boys and I read it this past summer and all loved it. Creepy creepy -- but what a wonderful picture of temptation, willingness to stand for your friend, and a father who willingly suffers to redeem his son and his son's best friend!! -- later! Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-FL Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 It seems Fahrenheit, 1984 & Brave New World are the big 3 in this type of lit. All creepily prophetic too. BTW, Bradbury is sill living (b.1920). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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