Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury

I had previously read, and thoroughly enjoyed, two of Ray Bradbury's most renowned novels, Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles, but when I turned to Dandelion Wine, I swiftly realised that this would be something else entirely.

The novel chronicles events during one summer in small-town Illinois during the late 1920s, mostly through the eyes of  12 year-old Doug Spaulding.  The story it seems was based at least partially on the author's own experiences.

 

 

From the opening chapters, I found the book to be wonderfully evocative and affecting, with the worldly being interspersed with the ethereal and dreamy.  Rich imagery and metaphor are employed throughout, and Bradbury was expert at setting a scene lyrically and powerfully.

The wine, and the dandelion from which it is derived, serve as metaphors not only for an endless and rich summer, but also for the humble but vital and precious things which life has to offer, and youthful wonder, innocence and above all, imagination.

Some of the early passages and chapters in Dandelion Wine deal with matters of consciousness and awakening, of Doug Spaulding's discovery and realisation of what it means to be alive, and this landmark or milestone colours much of the remainder of the story.

Other themes which run through the novel include ones of "rebirth", liberation, perception and empowerment .  However, as things progress the issues of ageing, death and regret become more and more prevalent.

Inter-generational tensions are also touched on, and are dealt with quite gently, but also with some potency.

The youngsters also become acutely aware of some of the cold realities of adulthood, and many of the more unsavoury aspects of life, and that eventually the cocoon is removed, and that we are not infallible or indestructible.

"The Ravine" also acts as a kind of symbol; as a brooding counter-weight, invoking light and shade, and the vulnerability and fragility which looms on the horizon.  If it was not for the ravine, maybe everything else would not appear so wondrous and invigorating?

The Happiness Machine is another clever and inspired ingredient of the story.  The moral here for me was that there is so much to be relished and enjoyed from the "here and now", the seemingly small things which all combine to form the tapestry of life and nature. Real, organic and raw human feelings,emotions and memories are so much more vivid and satisfying than anything engineered artificially.

This "living for the moment" theme is developed during Dandelion Wine.  Can the innocence and often unique insight of children cut through pre-conceptions and traditions, and alter perspectives?

Later in the book, we see more evidence of  children being confronted with their own mortality, and coming to terms with it in their own way.  We also see how life has a "continuity" and "one-ness" about it, and how one act of kindness or selflessness can induce another, thus spreading joy and simple beauty.

After finishing reading Dandelion Wine, I did not really get any strong sense that it had one over-riding message, but that it was a series of meditations on the phases, emotions and pressures which impact on all of us. Sometimes the old, sometimes the young, but often both.  One generation can learn from, and be inspired by, how the other interprets and addresses these stages of existence.

Above all, Dandelion Wine is an enthralling and at times moving read....

The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury

Not so long ago I completed reading Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, and posted my thoughts on this blog:

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Suitably enthused, I then moved on to another of Bradbury's most noteworthy works, The Martian Chronicles:

The Martian Chronicles is a fictional account of Earth's repeated attempts to colonize Mars, presented as a series of short strories, and examines the effects and ramifications of these events over a number of years.

Many themes are explored throughout this book, often pertaining to the dichotomy between Man's idealism surrounding his journey to Mars, and the intolerance, corruption and arrogance which he also brings with him.

Another message which comes through is that the inhabitants of Earth could learn from the civilizations on other planets, and that they ignore such lessons at their peril. Some human weaknesses could be our downfall in exploring space, including greed, sentimentality and hubris.

In The Martian Chronicles, people have widely differing agendas when approaching colonization of Mars.  Some see Mars as a potential refuge for lovers of liberty, tolerance and peace, while others wish to fashion the Red Planet for their own less benign and selfless motives.

The work looks at the methods employed by the Martians to address the influx of Earth men, from the subtleties of "telepathy" to less benevolent measures as the depredations intensify.  Some uncomfortable and probing questions are posed about what lengths a people should go to in defending their own "territory" and habitat.

Some of the philosophical strands in this book really resonated with me, particularly the desire of some of the Mars colonists to live a simple existence, for its own sake, and not to be in hock to some "end" or spurious "common good".  But at the same time, the question lingers, how far should we be permitted to go in order to secure and preserve our own liberty and richness of life?

Possibly the most fascinating chapters of The Martian Chronicles appear towards its conclusion, when issues of racial persecution, war and human relationships are very prominent. Those who suffer racial discrimination on Earth travel to Mars with hope, but may end up facing the same types of oppressors on their new home.

Many of those who boarded the rockets espoused some ideals about freedom, but acted just as unethically and immorally, and with as much avarice, on Mars as they had done on Earth.  There is an attendant danger that the colonized area becomes as authoritarian and over-regulated as the mother planet. Peaceful co-existence was desired, but on terms set by the former Earth dwellers....

When a major war erupted on Earth, many of the colonists return from whence they came. For all their determination to construct a new life, the pull of historic ties, tribalism and vested interests proves stronger, and they are drawn back to support something which they profess to abhor.

After the exodus back to war-ravaged Earth, the few people left on Mars try desperately to establish contact with each other, but in this context the journey proves more seductive than the cold reality upon arrival. The craving for human interaction proves to be delusive, with the inference that we are best left to reach our own equilibrium, and form relationships "organically". This struck a chord with me, I must admit!

The final chapter is more hopeful, with a group of humans finally severing all ties with Earth, and looking towards the future.

The Martian Chronicles was at times a demanding read, as there is comparatively little in the way of exposition, and intense concentration may be needed to get the most out of it, and interpret all of the imagery.  However, if one persists there is plenty at which to wonder, and with which to exercise the mind.

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury - book review

One of the authors who I had been meaning to check out for a while is Ray Bradbury, having been intrigued by what I had read and heard about his work and life. So, whilst in a bookshop the other day, I took the plunge, and purchased Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles.

First to receive my attention has been Fahrenheit 451. These are my own observations on what I think that Bradbury was trying to say, and the themes of the book. I accept that others may place different interpretations on things!

The plot concerns a future dystopian society (it is not specified which year this was), in which books have been banned, and the main role of firemen is now to burn any books which come to light. The main character, Guy Montag, is a fireman who begins to question the status quo. This process is accelerated following Montag's discussions with a girl by the name of Clarisse McLellan, who has managed to retain some imagination,curiosity and appreciation of life for its own sake.

As Montag wrestles with his conscience, we learn more about the circumstances in which people are living. Books have been outlawed because they encourage creative and critical thinking, and these things in turn engender inquisitiveness, doubt, uncertainty and instability. The mass media, medicines and repression are used to crush these things, in favour of certainty, homogeneity and equality of outcomes.

At various stages, Montag's resolve wavers, and we wonder whether he will decide to acquiesce, and become subsumed into the sheep-like majority, observing the maxim "anything for a quiet life". Eventually, following the plan by the firemen to burn books concealed at his own house, he makes his bid for freedom,  linking up with a group of intellectuals who are dedicated to preserving knowledge by memorizing books. The story ends with an apocalyptic war, and the opportunity for some kind of "rebirth".

The first thing which occurred to me when reading Fahrenheit 451 was the style of story-telling. No detailed explanations are given of some of the elements of this dystopia, and readers are left to deduce some things for themselves. This is partially the case with the Mechanical Hound, which is the subject of several of the most harrowing passages.

Some of the stark imagery in the novel is really quite unsettling, but probably essential in conveying events, and concentrating the mind of the reader.

Fahnrenheit 451 was published in 1953, and thankfully most of the restrictions depicted within have not yet materialised in our world. However, whilst reading the book I was conscious of the extent to which some of the phenomena discussed therein have seeped into our existence. Indeed, it is believed that in writing the novel, Ray Bradbury was commenting on the direction of post-war America.

In the novel, much is made of the use of "trash" culture and medicines to induce a type of numbness, helping to create an illusion of happiness, activity and prosperity, and as a means of suppressing original and dissenting thought. Filling the minds of the populace with ample but useless information. In our own 21st century context, reality TV and consumerism are added to this cocktail. Suitably anaesthetized, people allow their thinking to be done by others on their behalf.

There are several quite disturbing references in the work where characters display a chillingly blase and matter-of-fact attitude to war, violence and death. Of course, such "desensitization" is often remarked upon as a cause for concern in current times. People becoming divorced from pity, empathy and emotion.

One of the scenes in the novel which had the most prescience was the one in which politics was discussed. The merits of presidential candidates were debated entirely in terms of their physical appearance, speaking style or perceived personal charisma. Ideas, principles and values were of secondary importance. Does that sound familiar? The phrase "dumbing down" had not yet been coined in the early 1950s....

Another part of Fahrenheit 451 which jumped out of the page was the effort by the authorities to orchestrate the manhunt for Montag. When the fugitive proved elusive, matters were stage-managed in front of the TV cameras, and an innocent person used as a "prop". All to keep the masses docile and subservient. In the view of the powers-that-be, the ends justified the means.  Truth and justice were secondary. Shades of  21st century media manipulation...

What conclusions do we draw from the fact that Guy Montag finally resorted to violence?  Was the author hinting that subjugation can only go so far before some citizens "snap"?  On the other hand, matters truly came to a head when the books in Montag's house were discovered. Is it the case that humans often only lash out when their own domain is threatened?  Montag's own moral compass seems confused in this part of the story, perhaps illustrating how repression causes people to behave irrationally and vengefully.

The dilemmas faced by some of the characters also pose the question of whether in life we should accept things as they are, however unsatisfactory, or rather be true to ourselves. The latter course of action may lead to doubt and uncertainty, but allows us to feel truly alive, vibrant and fulfilled.

Fahrenheit 451 is definitely one of those novels which sets you thinking....