Thank you to everyone who came out to our Kick-Off Carnival on Saturday! We had over 400 visitors to our Education Warehouse to help kick-off the Big Read Lynchburg! It was great seeing so many people having so much fun!
One highlight of the day was the performances by Two of a Kind. Even better? They wrote a Big Read theme song with the help of some of our visitors. Be warned: the song is very catchy. I spent the rest of my weekend humming "It's the Big Read, the Big Big Read, it's the Big Read.... The Big Read."
I also had a great time talking to Pioneer Pete, Heritage High School's Pioneer mascot. Pete was definitely getting amped up for Pioneer Theater's production of Fahrenheit 451, which is going on October 16-19. I'm just telling you guys--if Pioneer Pete is there, it's bound to be a great time.
But of course, the Kick-Off carnival is just the beginning to the Big Read Lynchburg. We have lots of events coming up--just check out our community calendar for more details. Here's just a selection of the events that we have going on in the next two weeks:
* October 2: Book Discussion @ The White Hart
* October 3: Book Discussion @ The Mezzanine Cafe
* October 4: Candace Ransom, children's author, will be doing a meet and greet @ Amazement Square
* October 9: Book Discussion @ Barnes and Noble
* October 11: Create Book Art @ Amazement Square
And we have so much more going on! We look forward to seeing you out and reading!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
What Page Are You On?
Who's getting excited for The Big Read Lynchburg? Everyone over here is working hard getting read for our big Kick-Off Carnival on Saturday, September 27th and we can't wait to see you out there. There will be games, food, jugglers, musical performances, and much much more starting at 11am outside of Amazement Square at 27 Ninth Street, Lynchburg VA. Even better-- the 27th is also Museum Day so you can attend Amazement Square for free too, if you bring your museum day admission card.
So that's a free trip to Amazement Square, free Fahrenheit 451 goodies, games, activities, and music. It sounds like a fun afternoon to me!
As we finish rolling out our bean bag tosses and dusting off our juggling clubs, please take some time to invite your friends, families, and acquaintances to the Big Read Lynchburg. We have loads of events and contests going on from September 27 - November 13th and we'd like to see as many people come out as possible. Join our facebook group, and add us on flickr and youtube.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
So that's a free trip to Amazement Square, free Fahrenheit 451 goodies, games, activities, and music. It sounds like a fun afternoon to me!
As we finish rolling out our bean bag tosses and dusting off our juggling clubs, please take some time to invite your friends, families, and acquaintances to the Big Read Lynchburg. We have loads of events and contests going on from September 27 - November 13th and we'd like to see as many people come out as possible. Join our facebook group, and add us on flickr and youtube.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Friday, September 5, 2008
What makes a classic novel?
Minnesota Public Radio ran a great segment today about classic novels for teens, begging the question does Catcher in the Rye still resonate with teens? It's been well over fifty years since Holden Caufield's romp through New York City raised eyebrows of parents and teachers across the country. But, now, arguably, the book has lost its shock value and the question becomes whether the book stands on its own merits?
Similarly, Fahrenheit 451 has to endure the test of time. For teenage readers, Bradbury's vision of a world with wall-sized televisions and in-ear listening devices can hardly sound like the future, but rather a description of the modern world by an astonished outsider. Just as Catcher in the Rye can no longer fall back on swears and salaciousness to get the attention of teenage readers, Fahrenheit 451 can hardly call itself science fiction.
It's the themes of Fahrenheit 451 which make it timeless--fear of censorship, of government having too much power, of technology replacing individual thought, of being deprived of our right to think freely and critically about the world around us.
In any case, the MPR link is a good listen for someone who has the time. They also ask for suggestions for the new canon of teenage literature. Do you have any suggestions? Leave us a comment!
Similarly, Fahrenheit 451 has to endure the test of time. For teenage readers, Bradbury's vision of a world with wall-sized televisions and in-ear listening devices can hardly sound like the future, but rather a description of the modern world by an astonished outsider. Just as Catcher in the Rye can no longer fall back on swears and salaciousness to get the attention of teenage readers, Fahrenheit 451 can hardly call itself science fiction.
It's the themes of Fahrenheit 451 which make it timeless--fear of censorship, of government having too much power, of technology replacing individual thought, of being deprived of our right to think freely and critically about the world around us.
In any case, the MPR link is a good listen for someone who has the time. They also ask for suggestions for the new canon of teenage literature. Do you have any suggestions? Leave us a comment!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to The Big Read Lynchburg!
This fall, Amazement Square, the Lynchburg Public Library, Lynchburg City Schools, and many other community organizations and local businesses, are teaming up to present The Big Read Lynchburg, a community-wide reading initiative. We will explore Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 through book discussions, contests, film, stage adaptation, panel discussions, and more.
But first, why? Why Amazement Square? Why The Big Read? Why Fahrenheit 451?
Why is a very important question, especially when taken in the context of Fahrenheit 451, a book that's main character's undoing and rebirth is a direct result of his asking this very question. When Guy Montag wants to know why a woman would rather be burned to death than to give up her books and why the government insists on burning the books in the first place, he finds an entirely new world, one where critical thinking and imagination is allowed, something he's never experience before.
As an educational organization, Amazement Square prides itself in creating a new generation of informed thinkers and imaginative minds. Believing in the importance of making reading a lifelong activity, the museum has celebrated "The Year of Authors" in 2008, profiling a new children's author each month through hands on, interactive programs and activities. While this program suits the museum's target demographic of children ages 4-13 and their families, the museum recognized the need to host a reading program that would reach the entire community, regardless of age or background. The National Endowment of the Art's informative study, Reading At Risk, explains it in much greater detail, with many more facts and statistics, but let us just say that reading is in danger here in America. College students, young professionals, and adults all report a considerable decrease in reading over the past decade. What's more, the NEA has found that people who do read regularly are almost twice as likely to engage in civic activities such as volunteering and attending or participating in arts, sports, and other community activities.
The Big Read, a major initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museums and Library Services, fit what we were looking for. The program is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. Across the nation, hundreds of communities of varying sizes and demographics take part in this community activity. Here in Virginia, there are Big Reads occurring in Charlottesville, Abingdon, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Virginia Beach, Wise, and Martinsville.
Finally, what a better book to get the community involved in reading than Fahrenheit 451, where reading and books is all but extinct. Bradbury's harrowing vision of the future rings all too close to home: in-ear listening devices, overly zealous television news anchors reporting half truths, and wall sized television sets that have replaced books and reading and other intellectual pursuits. The reader follows Guy Montag as he discovers the importance of reading, books, and even asking important questions of authority, life, aned family. As the readers follows Montag, one can't help but be re-introduced to what we always loved about books: that they can take us to places that we couldn't even dream of and that they make us explore and questions the world around us and even our daily lives.
Exploration is a key theme, that we hope you will take with you as you participate in The Big Read Lynchburg. We hope that you will explore our many events, book discussions and contests. Perhaps attend an event at a location you've never been to, talk to someone you've never spoken with before. We hope that this book and our activities will help you explore the world around you and help you reconnect with a love for literature that is so easy to forget in our busy lives.
Check back with us soon for more Big Read related content!
This fall, Amazement Square, the Lynchburg Public Library, Lynchburg City Schools, and many other community organizations and local businesses, are teaming up to present The Big Read Lynchburg, a community-wide reading initiative. We will explore Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 through book discussions, contests, film, stage adaptation, panel discussions, and more.
But first, why? Why Amazement Square? Why The Big Read? Why Fahrenheit 451?
Why is a very important question, especially when taken in the context of Fahrenheit 451, a book that's main character's undoing and rebirth is a direct result of his asking this very question. When Guy Montag wants to know why a woman would rather be burned to death than to give up her books and why the government insists on burning the books in the first place, he finds an entirely new world, one where critical thinking and imagination is allowed, something he's never experience before.
As an educational organization, Amazement Square prides itself in creating a new generation of informed thinkers and imaginative minds. Believing in the importance of making reading a lifelong activity, the museum has celebrated "The Year of Authors" in 2008, profiling a new children's author each month through hands on, interactive programs and activities. While this program suits the museum's target demographic of children ages 4-13 and their families, the museum recognized the need to host a reading program that would reach the entire community, regardless of age or background. The National Endowment of the Art's informative study, Reading At Risk, explains it in much greater detail, with many more facts and statistics, but let us just say that reading is in danger here in America. College students, young professionals, and adults all report a considerable decrease in reading over the past decade. What's more, the NEA has found that people who do read regularly are almost twice as likely to engage in civic activities such as volunteering and attending or participating in arts, sports, and other community activities.
The Big Read, a major initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museums and Library Services, fit what we were looking for. The program is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. Across the nation, hundreds of communities of varying sizes and demographics take part in this community activity. Here in Virginia, there are Big Reads occurring in Charlottesville, Abingdon, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Virginia Beach, Wise, and Martinsville.
Finally, what a better book to get the community involved in reading than Fahrenheit 451, where reading and books is all but extinct. Bradbury's harrowing vision of the future rings all too close to home: in-ear listening devices, overly zealous television news anchors reporting half truths, and wall sized television sets that have replaced books and reading and other intellectual pursuits. The reader follows Guy Montag as he discovers the importance of reading, books, and even asking important questions of authority, life, aned family. As the readers follows Montag, one can't help but be re-introduced to what we always loved about books: that they can take us to places that we couldn't even dream of and that they make us explore and questions the world around us and even our daily lives.
Exploration is a key theme, that we hope you will take with you as you participate in The Big Read Lynchburg. We hope that you will explore our many events, book discussions and contests. Perhaps attend an event at a location you've never been to, talk to someone you've never spoken with before. We hope that this book and our activities will help you explore the world around you and help you reconnect with a love for literature that is so easy to forget in our busy lives.
Check back with us soon for more Big Read related content!
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