Historical February–March 2007 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Washington University, in partnership with the cities of St. Louis, Clayton and University City, three library districts, three school districts, arts and literacy organizations and KTVI-Fox 2 St. Louis, is producing a multidisciplinary program called The Big Read in February 2007. Modeled on successful “city read” programs, The Big Read is a national effort designed to encourage literary reading by helping communities come together to read and discuss a single book.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment of the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
In St. Louis, we will be reading Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
According to David Lawton, professor and chair of the Department of English in Arts & Sciences at Washington University, “Fahrenheit 451 is a fine novel in its own right, and it also raises many important questions about the power of books and reading.” Programs will focus on censorship will examine the role of the book, the printed word and literacy as essential ingredients in the development of citizens who are engaged in their communities and in the pursuit of learning.” Lectures, readings, art exhibitions, theater productions, book discussion groups and film festivals are occurring on the Washington University campus and in a variety of locations throughout St. Louis.
A full calendar of events can be viewed online at bigread. wustl.edu and is also available from the Skinker DeBaliviere Council office. Many unique events have been planned, including a fondue lunch and book discussion at The Melting Pot on Feb. 8 and 22 at noon, a book discussion and museum tour at the Kemper Art Museum on Feb. 11 and 18 at 2:00 p.m., staged readings from Fahrenheit 451 at the Kemper Museum on Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. and a film festival featuring banned-booked titles at the University City Library.
The film adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 will be featured on Friday, February 2 at 7 p.m. in the University City Library auditorium.
The University City Library is also hosting lectures on the Future of the Book, featuring Washington University Professor Steven Zwicker (Feb. 7 at 7:00 p.m.) and on Privacy and Technology featuring Washington University instructors Denise Lieberman and Scott Granneman.
In addition, there are family programs hosted by COCA and the Missouri History Museum as well as a Fire and Ice Skating and bookmaking event at the Steinberg Ice Skating Rink on Feb. 25 from 4 – 7 p.m. You can find a copy of Fahrenheit 451, as well as a reader’s guide, at the Charing Cross Branch of the St. Louis Public Library, at the University City Library or for purchase at the Washington University Campus bookstore, Barnes and Noble (Ladue Crossing and Washington University Medical School), Left Bank Books and Subterranean Books. For more information on The Big Read, call 314-935-4407 or view the website at bigread.wustl. edu.
Original photograph caption
Reader’s guide to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, illustrating The Big Read. Reproduction credit not printed.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2007.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source Programs will focus on censorship will examine sentence is malformed; retained without invented connecting text.
Original source: SD_Times2007_02.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
