| Once I torn up an entire Bible, a really nice edition, too, and let pages fly all over the stairs and entrances to a subway. I didn't get caught for littering, but then I didn't see anyone picking any of the pages up either. I recon, in retrospect, there is something embarassing about picking something printedoff the ground, especially if it looks dangerously religious... I gave many of my Bradbury books away. I decided to stop the practice before I have none.... Otherwise, I think it's a great idea. I always pull Bradbury books off the book store shelves and 'display' them predominantly. Did that at a mall store once, and put the Anniversary Edition of F451 in the store window. It was there for days....until Mr. Extra -Neat-&-Orderly came around and noticed some angular measurement not meeting his pre-disposed eye.... |
| Posts: 3954 | Location: South Orange County, CA USA | Registered: 28 June 2002 |
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| Imskipper: I meant it more along the lines of Steve Martin's...'craazy guy'.....In a nice way, anyhow....
Dandelion: Years back, long before metal detectors and the such, I was in that same Waukegan Library ...and there, right there on the shelf, there's this copy of "Dark Carnival" a most beautiful copy, with the Waukegan Library nameplate and card attached to the inside cover. I had an angel on one shoulder, and the devil on the other. But the good angel won out. I took the book, probably to a younger and definitely more sociable girl at the desk than the one you encountered... and told her in no uncertain terms the value of such a book on a shelf that was open to all the ways of an evil world. I said...it needed every bit of protection she could muster. The book, I recall, was never again seen, or returned to the library's public shelf...
[This message has been edited by Nard Kordell (edited 07-28-2003).] |
| Posts: 3954 | Location: South Orange County, CA USA | Registered: 28 June 2002 |
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| Very interesting stuff, Lance. Thank ya. |
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| Yes, the Waukegan Public Library is truly an inspiring structure, double ditto the Lake County Courthouse. They inspire the following thoughts, calling to mind Ray's statement that this time (referring to about mid-twentieth century on) will be looked on as the most artistically bankrupt period in history, and that Prince Charles was right in his statement that Nazi bombers left nothing more offensive behind than rubble, and it was the modern architechts who did the real damage to cities. For a real lump in the throat, take a look inside the Lake County Courthouse at the panoramic picture of the beautiful building which formerly occupied that site, courthouse clock and all. Ray has written a lot about how each city's architecture should reflect it character--it shouldn't all be identical buildings turned out of the same factory. (Think, little boxes on the hillside....) Too bad those who built the library didn't use Ray's plan. True, I think his was for a bookstore, and was mostly an indoor plan, but truly an enchanted and inspired place. Nard, your fortitude is admirable, and, yes, when I went there in 1984 trains still ran. I don't suppose that's changed? |
| Posts: 7316 | Location: Dayton, Washington, USA | Registered: 03 December 2001 |
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