451 Fridays

451 Fridays is based on an idea from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In his novel, a group of people (Bradbury calls them Book People) are trying to keep the ideas found in books alive. Instead of actually saving the books, the Book People each "become" a book - memorizing it, word for word, and passing it down to the next generation.

451 Fridays asks what books you feel passionate about. What book do you think is so important that you would be willing to take on the challenge of "becoming"?

For the second installment of 451 Fridays, I've enlisted the help of another family member - this time, my sister, Carolynn. As I've mentioned before, I'm lucky to be part of a family of readers,
and also lucky they don't mind being enlisted into service on my blog. =)

Carolynn has taken a whole SERIES of self-portrait photos with our new niece, JoAnna. Here is one of the most recent ones. I also have a very photogenic family, huh?



Now, down to business.

What 5 books do you believe are important enough to be saved, and why?

anne frank: the diary of a young girl- one of so many stories that should never be forgotten- shining a clear light on the absurdity and horror of all the -isms in the world.

just so stories (kipling)- these exotic fables just mesmerized me as a child- there's just something about them.

the chronicles of narnia (lewis)- i'm going to cheat and save them all. i don't care who you are or what you believe- this is master storytelling.

where the sidewalk ends (silverstein)- i already have half this book memorized as it is! pure imagination.

gone with the wind (mitchell)- this is the first time i ever remember being truly upset when i finished a book, because i wanted MORE (even though it was a 1000+ page book!)


Of those 5, which book would you chose to "become"?

i'd have to become the diary of anne frank. her honesty, and optimism, really changed the way i thought of my own place in the world. i checked this book out so many times from my school library they eventually refused to let me have it again. i completely identified with anne's desires to be smart and pretty and noble and good- and her successes and failures in each of those areas.

Do you have any favorites quotes from that book, so we know why you love it so much?

"I get cross, then sad, and finally end up and turning my heart inside out, the bad part on the outside, and the good part inside, and keep trying to find a way to become what I'd like to be and what I could be if...if only there were no other people in the world."

"It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."


Thanks, Carolynn! If you've missed the previous installments of 451 Fridays, you can catch up here and here. Would you like your list to appear on an upcoming Friday? Send me an email, and we will chat!