Fahrenheit 451 Post 1: About the Author

Ray Bradbury (1920-2012)

According to The New York Times, Ray Bradbury was a “master of science fiction”. The New York Times writer, Gerald Jonas, couldn’t be more wrong.

"I don't write science fiction. Science fiction is a depiction of the real. Fantasy is a depiction of the unreal."

– Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury

Literary technicalities aside, Bradbury was a phenomenal writer who changed the world. He lived to be 91 years old and died peacefully this past summer on June 5th. 

Ninety-one years ago, Swedish immigrant Ester Moberg Bradbury brought Ray into the world. He would later go on to win the Pulitzer prize in 2004. Many famous people seem to know what they're going to do with their life from a very young age. Mozart began playing music in public at age 6. Shirley Temple starred in her first movie at age 3. Ray Bradbury decided he wanted to be an author at age 12 (somewhat old when put in perspective). However, Johnny Depp didn’t begin acting until his early 20’s.

Ray Bradbury didn’t just write books. He wrote short stories, and he wrote for theatre, cinema, and television. 

His most famous book, Fahrenheit 451, was published in 1953. It was later made into a movie in 1966. 

To Kill a Mockingbird Post 9 (Final): Chapters 27-31

Chapter 27

In this short chapter we see that Mr. Ewell is a legit creeper. He follows Mrs. Robinson around everywhere... creepily. Mr. Deas tells him that he better stop, and he does. Aunt Alexandra is rationally worried because Mr. Creeper Ewell looks as if he is holding a grudge against everyone involved with the Ewell vs. Robinson case. SPOILER ALERT: Mr. Ewell dies at the end, so there's nothing to worry about.

Did you know that ham could save your life (Answer at beginning of chapter 29 summary)?

I played a wise man once in a Christmas pageant and hated it. Maycomb is a different sort of town. They host Halloween pageants. Scout is a ham. No, really, she plays a ham in the pageant. Jem has to walk his sister to the school for her performance because the rest of Scout's family was too tired to come see it (Supportive, right?).

Chapter 28

Remember Cecil Jacobs from earlier in the book? Me neither. Anyway, he pops up out of nowhere and scares Jem and Scout on their way to the school. It's pitch black outside, so it was a simple task for Jacobs. Once it's time for Scout's big show, she falls asleep. The director of the pageant went on for a half an hour about Maycomb. I would have fallen asleep, too. Scout's super late on her entrance when the word "PORK!" is yelled out as her cue. This small kerfuffle causes laughter from the audience, and embarrassment from Scout.

On their way home, the most exciting thing in the book takes place. I'll explain it from both kids perspectives.

The Reader's (Scout's) perspective:

Jem and I are walking home. We hear footsteps behind us. Is it Cecil? No, Cecil would have scared us by now. It must be someone else. The footsteps get faster; Jem and I begin running. My stupid ham costume causes me to trip and fall. I'm being attacked! Now Jem's being attacked! *Crunch*! What was that? Meh, I'll figure it out in three more chapters. Ahh!! I have no idea what's going on! I can't see hardly anything! This is a real drag. First I mess up the Halloween pageant and now this! Jem! I need a flashlight. I can't see a thing. I'm having the greatest feeling of pietrisycamollaviadelrechiotemexity!

Jem's perspective:

Scout and I are walking home. We hear footsteps behind us. Is it Cecil? No, Cecil would have scared us by now. It must be someone else. The footsteps get faster; Scout and I begin running. Scout's being attacked! Now I'm being attacked! *Crunch*! My arm! My arm! Ahh!! I have no idea what's going on! I can't see hardly anything! This is a real drag. I can't see a thing. I'm having the greatest feeling of pietrisycamollaviadelrechiotemexity!

Is there a doctor in the house? In Scout's case, yes. There was a doctor in her house. Doctor Reynolds to be more specific. He's taking care of Jem, who is unconscious. Scout must be scarred for life. Mr. Ewell is lying outside dead with a knife in his ribcage.

Chapter 29

We find out that Mr. Ewell tried to stab Scout, but her ham costume prevented it. Told you ham could save your life! Scout noticed earlier that someone carried Jem home after the attack. She realizes in this chapter that it was Boo! And he's in her living room! Scout stays calm and says, "Hey, Boo."

Chapter 30

Boo and Scout go and sit on the porch. They overhear Atticus and Heck Tate discussing in an angry fashion (also known as arguing). Atticus is convinced that his son killed Mr. Ewell. Mr. Ewell says the death was an accident and that Bob fell on his own knife. Mr. knows the truth: Boo killed Bob. He quotes Jesus's words from Matthew 8:22: "...Let the dead bury their own dead." Mr Tate wants to cover up the truth so Boo isn't bothered by the law.

Chapter 31 - The Final Chapter!

To Kill a Mockingbird doesn't have the type of conclusion I was expecting. In fact, Lee leaves a lot up to the imagination. A sequel would be appropriate for this story, but alas, it will never be written. Scout walks her new friend (although she probably feels like she's been his friend for a long time) home. She never sees Mr. Arthur Radley again. Scout briefly imagines what it's like to be Boo Radley. Jem never meets Boo as he was unconscious during Boo's entire visit. Thinking back to chapter one, I now know how Jem broke his arm. 

“When they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things . . . Atticus, he was real nice. . . .”

“Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.”