The Lakewood/M-Streets book club, The Book Trotters, visited the future this month when they joined The Big Read Dallas, choosing Fahrenheit 451 for their April read.
During the month of April, the Dallas Public Library, D Magazine, and D Academy have partnered up for a month-long program to get the entire city of Dallas to read Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 together. This is Dallas’ first year to take part in the Big Read project.
The Book Trotters met at Times Ten Cellars on Monday evening, April 1. Local author and reviewer, Rose Mary Rumbley, was the club’s special guest.
Kathy Harris, co-founder of the book club, brought a "Reader’s Guide" with questions to prompt discussion of the science fiction novel.
Although the book was written in 1953, it prompts some important questions for today, including: has Bradbury’s prophecy in Fahrenheit 451 finally come true? What smells are associated with the pages of a book? Are there any circumstances where censorship might be beneficial to society?
The Book Trotters considered this interesting question as well: "If you had to choose to memorize one book to prevent its extinction, what would it be?" Answers included Gone With the Wind, To Kill A Mockingbird, Persuasions, Harvey, The Screw Tape Letters, Woman of Substance and the Girl Scout Handbook.
These points and others were discussed by club members over Scalini’s pizzas and Times Ten wines.
Where will next month take the Book Trotters? To Biscayne Bay. Club member Lynda Collier selected the novel, Stiltsville, by her niece, Susanna Daniel, and gave each member a copy of the book to enjoy before the May meeting.
Don’t forget sunscreen, Book Trotters, as you head to the beach.