A few thoughts on the late, great Ray Bradbury, 1920 - 2012.

[rose_cat]

If we listened to our intellect we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go in business because we'd be cynical: "It's gonna go wrong." Or "She's going to hurt me." Or,"I've had a couple of bad love affairs, so therefore . . ." Well, that's nonsense. You're going to miss life. You've got to jump off the cliff all the time and build your wings on the way down.
― Ray Bradbury


Many years ago, I was sitting on the stone steps of a staircase in the house I grew up in, surrounded by bookcases. I spent a lot of time in that stairwell, and in other out-of-the-way places, quietly reading. I was working my way through my father’s collection of issues of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. In the 1954 issue, I came across the short story “All Summer in a Day,” by Ray Bradbury.


It had been raining for seven years; thousand upon thousands of days compounded and filled from one end to the other with rain, with the drum and gush of water, with the sweet crystal fall of showers and the concussion of storms so heavy they were tidal waves come over the islands. -- "All Summer in a Day"


The haunting and beautiful story, of a lonely girl who’s moved from the Earth, where she grew up, to a colony on another planet, and is ostracized and bullied by her classmates for being different, resonated deeply with me and still does.


Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.
― Ray Bradbury


More quotes from the extremely quotable Ray Bradbury than you’ll ever know what to do with.


And then there’s this, which is NEITHER WORK- NOR CHILD-SAFE. (You have been warned.)
Rachel Bloom’s, err, tribute video.

Comments

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

I waited to comment until I had a chance to watch the video (Oy!)
Time to reread my very worn copy of The Martian Chronicles.

[rose-cat.livejournal.com]

That video is really something, isn't it? And Bradbury's reaction is priceless :D

(I'm surprised at how few of his books I actually have on the shelf. I'd have thought my husband would have had more of them also. I do have several anthologies, though; they most likely have more of his stories. Well, now I have more excuses to go to Goodwill. As if I needed any...)

[i-want-2.livejournal.com]

That story made me learn to despise human children even more. It was a very familiar feeling.

[rose-cat.livejournal.com]

Yes, I understand that reaction. (And I think that one of the hallmarks of a really good writer (and of an artist in general) is being able to evoke something different in everyone who experiences it.) My responses were sadness, pain and anger at the thoughtlessness and intolerance of the other children and empathy for the girl who was punished for the differences that were no fault of her own. Which were familiar feelings for me as well.

My own experiences left me with a general disdain for, and suspicion of, people who were part of what I interpreted as "the mainstream," but also with a lot of guilt for being unable to fit in, and especially for being unable to stand up to bullies and be less of an obvious target. (And, in hindsight, anger at my parents for not getting the problem at all. I remember particularly my mother being unhelpful.

Me: This boy in class keeps telling me to stop wrinkling my nose at him and then punching me in the shoulder.

Mom: Well, just wrinkle your nose at him and then ignore him.

Me: But, Mom...

Mom: *shrugs*

Me: (thinks: well, I don't see you doing that when Dad picks on you...)

(In hindsight, my parents had their own problems. But I was still angry for a long time that they couldn't see past that enough to make things better for their own kids.)

Now I have a more balanced attitude, with more confidence and more understanding of everyone involved. But the story still takes me back, and it's almost as painful as it was then.

(so ends the TMI and philosophy ;) )

Anyway, I hope the story helped some adults, and maybe even some bullies, to have some new understanding of themselves and others.

[i-want-2.livejournal.com]

Nope, they blamed the victim. Just like they do in real life.

[vail-kagami.livejournal.com]

Bradbury was (and still is) my favourite author simply by the power of his words and the inspiration his writing gives me every time I pick up one of his stories.

Thank you for the links!

[rose-cat.livejournal.com]

Indeed. And, in addition, I haven't sat down and read any of his work lately, but just the first sentence of "All Summer in a Day" that I quoted above reminds me of how wonderful it makes me feel. The beauty of the descriptions and carefully chosen metaphor and rhythm wash over me in a visceral way; I feel like I'm flying.

I've tried to do some of that in my own writing, but I could never do it as expertly as Bradbury did.

And you're welcome :) (It says even more about him that the video cracked him up. I guess he found that the internet is good for something :D )

(Nice icon, by the way.)

[vail-kagami.livejournal.com]

Thanks! My friend nightrider101 had requested it for me.