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Big Read heats up with 'Fahrenheit 451'(Fayetteville Observer, The (Fayetteville, NC) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Mar. 23--Ready. Set. Read! It's time for the Big Read, a month-long event when the community reads the same book. This is the second time Cumberland County has participated in the program. Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" is this year's book pick. His dystopian novel of science fiction and social commentary was published in 1953. The National Endowment for the Arts designed the Big Read as a way to "restore reading to the center of American culture." Discussions, readings and other events will kick off Friday and will continue through April 28. If you don't know anything about this year's selection, this primer can help you get ready. THE BOOK -- Why that title?: The name refers to the temperature at which books self-ignite. Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore angered Bradbury when he named his documentary about the Iraq War "Fahrenheit 9/11." -- The Plot: In this future world of individual isolation, books are illegal and burned. Society is chiefly concerned with music and interactive TV. -- The novel's first line: "It was a pleasure to burn." -- The Characters: -- Guy Montag, the main character, is a fireman. His job is to burn books. -- Mildred Montag is Guy's wife. She fills her life with TV serials in a media room with three walls of screens and refers to the interactive characters as her "family." -- Capt. Beatty: The fire chief is well-read, but he hates books and is suspicious of Montag. -- The Hound: The fire department's eight-legged robotic dog sniffs around neighborhoods to find people who hide books. The dog uses morphine injections to kill those who resist arrest. -- Clarisse McClellan is a teenager who sparks Montag's awareness of the falseness of society and of his discontent. -- The Themes -- Censorship. -- Anti-intellectualism. -- Entertainment and TV are replacing books and thought. -- Conformity. (The critic and "Lucky Jim" author Kingsley Amis said "Bradbury's is the most skillfully drawn of all science fiction's conformist hells.") -- The genre: "Fahrenheit 451" is compared to other novels referred to as dystopian, including "Brave New World," "1984" and "Animal Farm." They are books describing a society that is the opposite of a utopia. 'FAHRENHEIT' IN FILM -- The 1966 movie directed by Francois Truffaut starred Oskar Werner and Julie Christie in a dual role, a casting decision that author Bradbury believed was too confusing for viewers. The movie did not include the robotic hound, another mistake, Bradbury has said. -- A new version of "Fahrenheit 451" is scheduled for production this year and for release in 2009. The director will be Frank Darabont, whose other movies include "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile." The rumor is that Tom Hanks will star as Guy. But if the best lines go to the older character and villain Capt. Beatty, will that be a preferred role for the star? -- The plot of "Equilibrium" was described as a mix of ideas and themes found in "1984" and "Fahrenheit 451." 'FAHRENHEIT' FACTS: -- A scholarly character named Faber is named after the pencil manufacturer. Montag is a brand of paper. -- The novel describes media rooms with giant screens and music ear pieces constantly playing. Descriptions of these objects were detailed in 1953 -- before color TV existed. The first coast-to-coast broadcast was Jan. 1, 1954. NBC was the first network to go all-color in 1966. "I wasn't trying to predict the future. I was trying to prevent it," Bradbury said when an interviewer asked whether he had been prophetic. * "Fahrenheit 451" was released last month in the Egyptian language for the first time and will be added to the library in Alexandria, Egypt. The burning of the library in Alexandria, possibly in 48 A.D., and the book burnings in Nazi Germany were inspirations for Bradbury's novel. -- "Fahrenheit 451" reached No. 1 on the Los Angeles Times best-seller list in 2002 -- nearly 50 years after it was published -- when it was the centerpiece of a citywide reading program. THE AUTHOR: -- Ray Bradbury, who was born in 1920, is also the author of "The Martian Chronicles," "The Illustrated Man," and "Something Wicked This Way Comes" as well as other novels, short stories, plays, screenplays and verse. He also wrote an episode of "The Twilight Zone" titled "I Sing the Body Electric." -- "Fahrenheit 451" began as a short story, "The Fireman." He wrote the story in a typing room in the basement of UCLA. He left his house to get away from the distractions of his children. He paid 10 cents a half-hour to rent the space and worried every time the typewriter keys jammed that he was wasting valuable time. -- In 2004, Bradbury was awarded the National Medal of Arts. He is a recipient of the National Book Foundation's 2000 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Sources: RayBradbury.com, LATimes.com, Wikipedia Events Want to take part in The Big Read? The Cumberland County Library is sponsoring events all month. For more information and study guides, go to www.cumberland.lib.nc.us. March 31: The Big Read -- New York's Bravest. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade can hear or read about America's first urban folk hero, Mose Humphreys, a 19th-century New York City firefighter. Then they will create an art project celebrating the firefighters throughout history. Registration is required. Visit the children's department or call 424-4008. The event is at 3:30 p.m. at the library's Bordeaux Branch. This activity will be offered through April. April 1: The movie of "Fahrenheit 451," 6 p.m. Hope Mills Branch. The 1966 film stars Oskar Werner and Julie Christie. Call 425-8455. -- "Something Wicked This Way Comes," the movie of the Ray Bradbury story, will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Cliffdale Regional Branch. Call 864-3800. April 2: Get Fired Up! The Big Read: "Fahrenheit 451" Book Discussion at noon at the Charles W. Chesnutt Library at Fayetteville State University. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. April 5: Family Fire Safety, 2 p.m. North Regional Branch. Call 822-1998. April 6: The movie "Fahrenheit 451" will be shown at 2:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. April 7: "The Case of the Disappearing Books" puppet show for children ages 3 to 5 years will be at 10 a.m. at the Headquarters Library. * We've Got It Covered: Handmade Books, 6 p.m. Spring Lake Branch. Twelve-year-olds through adults can learn how to craft a blank journal or a book by hand. Registration is required. Call 497-3650. Other branches will offer this activity. Check your nearest library for times and dates or go to www.cumberland.lib.nc.us. -- Book Burning in Nazi Germany. Gerhard Weinberg, a University of North Carolina professor and an internationally recognized authority on Nazi Germany, will speak at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. The program is co-sponsored by Carolina Speakers. April 8: Handle With Care: Preserving Your Precious Books, is 10 a.m. at the Headquarters Library. Registration is required. Call 483-7727, ext. 308. Other branches will offer this activity through April. Check your nearest library for times and dates or go to www.cumberland.lib.nc.us. * Sam Weller, author of "The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury," will speak at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. The Big Read Spanish Book Discussion with Dr. Jane Peacock -- La Discusion El Big Read en Espanol del Libro "Fahrenheit 451" -- will be at 7 p.m. at the Charles W. Chesnutt Library at Fayetteville State University (La Biblioteca Charles W. Chesnutt, La Universidad Fayetteville State). April 9: Fayetteville Writer's Group will discuss science fiction and fantasy at Cliffdale Library at 7 p.m. at the Cliffdale Regional Branch. Call 864-3800, ext. 235. * Get Fired Up! The Big Read: "Fahrenheit 451" Book Discussion will be at 7 p.m. at the Davis Memorial Library, Methodist University. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. April 10: Science Fiction Writing Workshop for youths ages 12-18 is at 4:30 p.m. at the North Regional Branch. Call 822-1998. * Teens Take on "Fahrenheit 451" will be at 4:30 p.m. at the North Regional Branch. Call 822-1998. -- Reality Bites Cafe for teens will discuss how it would feel to be stripped of personal rights, as in the Bradbury novel, at 6 p.m. at the Cliffdale Regional Branch. Call 864-3800, ext. 228. -- April 12: The Big Read Read-A-Thon is at 9 a.m. at the Headquarters Library. Government leaders and others will read aloud "Fahrenheit 451" from start to finish. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. -- "Something Wicked This Way Comes," the movie version rated PG, will be shown at 3 p.m. at the Bordeaux Branch. Call 424-4008. April 13: "Fahrenheit 451" the movie will be shown at 3 p.m. at the North Regional Branch. Call 822-1998. April 14: Science Fiction Writing Workshop for youths ages 12 to 18 will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. Call 483-7727. * "Fahrenheit 451 and the Mind of the Censor" will be David Carr's topic at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. The program is co-sponsored by Carolina Speakers. April 15: "Fahrenheit 451: A Dramatic Reading" will be at 11:30 a.m. at the John L. Throckmorton Library, Fort Bragg. Students from Terry Sanford High School will do the readings. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. Wild About Books -- Bookmaking Program for ages 5 to 11 will be at 3:30 p.m. at East Regional Branch. Registration is required by calling 485-2955. "Heated Discussions: Teens Take on "Fahrenheit 451" will be at 6 p.m. at the Spring Lake Branch. Call 497-3650. Basic Book Repair will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Cliffdale Regional Branch. Call 864-3800, ext. 226. * The Big Read Spanish Book Discussion -- La Discusion El Big Read en Espanol del Libro "Fahrenheit 451" -- at 7 p.m. at the library's Spring Lake Branch -- La Biblioteca de Spring Lake. Call 497-3650. April 16: Get Fired Up: "Fahrenheit 451" Book Discussion will be at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. April 17: Heated Discussions: Teens Take on "Fahrenheit 451" at 6:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. Call 483-7727, ext. 300. * "Something Wicked This Way Comes" will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Spring Lake Branch. Call 497-3650. -- The Big Read: The Movie, The Book. See the film and then discuss it and the book with Dr. Booker T. Anthony of Fayetteville State University at 4 p.m. at the John L. Throckmorton Library, Fort Bragg. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. April 19: "Fahrenheit in Fabric": An exhibit features local quilters starting at 9 a.m. at the Headquarters Library. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. The display will remain through April 20. April 21: TV Turnoff Week: Libraries have events for children to get away from the tube and into books. Check with your nearest branch or go to www.cumberland.lib.nc.us. April 22: "Fahrenheit 451," the movie, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. at the Bordeaux Branch. Call 424-4008. * "Fahrenheit 451," the movie, will be shown at 7 p.m. at the East Regional Branch. Call 485-2955. Get Fired Up: "Fahrenheit 451" Book Discussion is at 6 p.m. at the Hope Mills Branch. Call 425-8455. Public Forum: Censorship in Times of War will be at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. Panelists will provide short commentaries, followed by a question and answer session. Call 483-7727, ext. 210. April 25: An Evening of Music and The Big Read, in celebration of The Big Read and The Dogwood Festival, at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. April 28: Get Fired Up: Discussing "Fahrenheit 451" at 6:30 p.m. at the Bordeaux Branch. Call 424-4008. To see more of The Fayetteville Observer or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fayobserver.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Fayetteville Observer, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 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