Instead of "The Miracles of Jamie," the first story could have been "Accidental Curses of Jamie."
The second story didn't remind me directly of a Bradbury story, but so much of the sequel to "The Lake" in The Bradbury Chronicles, I almost expected the narrator to name his daughter after the girl. And, of course, "that journal entry thing" is straight out of Dandelion Wine.
The third deals with PTSD, which Bradbury brilliantly portrayed in "Lafayette, Farewell," though in that case it was delayed and brought on by the vagaries and lessened activity of old age.This message has been edited. Last edited by: dandelion,
11 September 2008, 09:16 PM
dandelion
Thinking about this thread again today as I helped myself to some free dirt. Goin' back again tomorrow. Three large buckets of cemetery soil, no stories...so far.
I will recommend a story to you all, "The Grave," by Katherine Anne Porter.
11 September 2008, 09:29 PM
Doug Spaulding
quote:
Originally posted by dandelion: Three large buckets of cemetery soil, no stories...so far.
This American Life has delivered another priceless gem. This episode http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=319 is required listening! The whole show is fascinating. (If anyone listens to these programs I recommend, please indicate.)
Act Two, "The Hitcher," is the most Bradburyesque. You can picture this as being a lost adventure of Doug and Tom Spaulding, or of their grandsons fifty years later. It is part "The Night" and part "The Burning Man," not told in Bradbury's style, but a riveting tale.
In Act Three, the story of the monster at the Halloween party, though not as gruesome as "The October Game," certainly put me in mind of it, detailing as it does the destruction of childrens' sense of well-being, trust, and the enjoyment of a holiday which delights so many when handled in a remotely sane manner. What's really unthinkable in this case is the outcome didn't result from the deranged actions of one parent or set of parents, but the conspiracy of a whole group. They've no doubt paid dearly in terms of dealing with kids' nightmares and bills for therapy which certainly should have resulted. It is interesting that the police were called but what resulted from that is not detailed.
By the way, a four-year-old boy related to me once how his daycare class was standing on a corner around Halloween when a couple of college kids drove by. One had on a fright mask, and several of the children began crying. His mother said, "That was nearly a year ago! They must have REALLY scared him!"
14 November 2008, 06:35 PM
fjp451
Rocketmen: Inspiring, awesome, intense, poetic, simply off the pages of Mr. Bradbury's first chapters of Martian Chronicles and numerous space flight related short stories. Go "full screen" and ride with Endeavor as she lifts off and heads into space.
As kids in elementary school, we would cram three classes of students into one room where there was a b&w television set up for us. We watched the Mercury and later Gemini crafts shot into space. Walter Cronkite or Huntley and Brinkley were the commentators. Each was a captivating American event. Today...have we come to take such a magnificent reach for the stars for granted?!
I am still that kid sitting on the floor in great apprehension of "10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1" whenever I watch a rocket blasting away from the gravity of Earth.
(The numerous space related videos linked in this site are all very interesting ~ if you are so inclined.)This message has been edited. Last edited by: fjp451,
30 March 2009, 01:04 AM
dandelion
Is anyone watching that Discovery Channel series, Planet Earth? The one they showed Sunday was about rain forests. It depicted mushrooms sprouting before one's very eyes, and a special fungus which attacks insects and takes over their bodies, different strains for each insect, as well as nightmare-inducing fungus growth images. Very Bradburyesque in a Mars and Venus way.
Since this is the cemetery where Emmett Till is buried, perhaps it should be mentioned in his thread as well. At least he was returned to his grave intact.
