Better Living Through Literature
Words + Projects + Stuff I Like
Yesterday, it was the birthday of both Dorothy Parker and Ray Bradbury. (Ray turned 90! Way to go, sir.)
Here’s a list of 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Ray Bradbury (actually, you might know them, but it’s still fun to read).
And here’s one of my favorite quotes ever from Mrs. Parker:
“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.”
I don’t know why the heat is bothering me so much this year–maybe because it’s hotter than it ever got last year? Because it hasn’t been cooling down at night? Anyway, here’s something from Dandelion Wine about the heat in Greentown:
Air ran like hot spring waters nowhere, with no sound…Tar was poured licorice in the streets, red bricks were brass and gold, roof tops were paved with gold. The high-tension wires were lightning held forever, a threat above the unslept houses.
I am going to say it, even though there was snow ten days ago. This is the opening of Dandelion Wine, my summer book:
It was a quiet morning, the town covered over in darkness and at ease in bed. Summer gathered in the weather, the wind had the proper touch, the breathing of the world was long and warm and slow. You had only to rise, lean from your window, and know that this indeed was the first real time of freedom and living, this was the first morning of summer.