Litsy

RamsFan1963

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12/100 Its been a long time since I read this, back in high school, but I'd forgotten how sad this book is, how melancholy the whole world was, even in the lighter moments. Sometimes Bradbury leans too much into the poetic for my tastes, but his vision of a Mars that will never be, definitely stays with the reader when its finished. 3 ⭐⭐⭐💫 #ClassicLSFBC #Jumpstart2025 #Read2025

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swynn

Martian Chronicles | Ray D Bradbury

pick

(1950) I read this repeatedly in Junior high and high school, but it's been maybe thirty years since my last visit. The stories have lost some charm: Bradbury's fondness for small-town life is a faith I no longer share. And the idea of colonists recreating mid-twentieth-century Midwestern life on Mars now feels more disturbing than nostalgic. But several stories still effectively evoke a mood for me, not bad for a book pushing 75. #classiclsfbc

RamsFan1963 I'm glad my copy contain Usher II, it was my favorite story. 2w

swynn @RamsFan1963 Yes, that's a good one. “The Fire Balloons“ struck a chord with me this time, and I don't remember reading it before. Wikipedia says that is not in all editions, and some that have it don't have “Usher II“, so that may explain why I didn't remember it. Anyway, the copy I read this time has both stories, which is best. 2w

26 likes2 comments

Jess861

Mars | Michelle Lomberg

Tonight we spent our reading time learning about Mars. Simple kids book that had some neat facts. It was easy for an 8 year old to follow along. The fact he enjoyed learning the most was that the North and South Poles have dry ice.

#Mars #RaisingReaders #Space #KidsNonFiction #LibraryBook

BiblioLitten Awesome! Do you have any more recommendations for non-fiction reads? My son is 7, and they are discussing non-fiction books in school. Or any books that your child really enjoyed in the past year. 😊 3w

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 3w

Jess861 @BiblioLitten we have so many...let me go through the bookshelves and I'll post some that he's loved the most. Lately he has been enjoying National Geographic Weird but True (more facts then a book) and who would win (animals) books. What is your guy into? 3w

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Jess861 @BiblioLitten for fiction he isn't the strongest reader so he has been more into comics (dog man, investigators and bad guys). He has also recently gotten into Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He loved me reading him Dragon Masters and I think he's a strong enough reader to start reading those on his own now. (edited) 3w

BiblioLitten Thank you! I‘ll look into Investigators and Dragon Masters (he also likes Dragon Hunters). 🐉 3w

Jess861 @BiblioLitten There are a ton of Dragon Masters books in the series and they are fairly cheap to buy off of scholastic or we've always been able to find them at libraries 🙂 3w

Jess861 @BiblioLitten - Finally had some time to go through the bookshelves. Some of these he needs some help reading but these are some he enjoys most. This year he has become alot more independent reading them although still needs some help.

Eyewitness Books - some can have some pictures that some kids might not like (snakes eating mice) but in general they don't.

Smithsonian books - The Animal Book: Our World in Pictures is one of his favourites..... 2w

Jess861 @BiblioLitten

Planet Earth for Curious Kids - another book he loves - needs a bit more help reading this one.

Animals Lost & Found - Stories of extinction, conservation and survival
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (probably outgrowing soon)
Dinosaurs: 500 Questions and Answers
Discovering Sharks

As you can see our boy really loves Animals....these are some of his favourites for what he is interested in! (edited) 2w

Jess861 @BiblioLitten -

If your kiddo has any particular interests let me know as I'm sure we have some non-fiction in that subject matter that I can recommend. Our guy enjoys non-fiction more than fiction so we have a ton of books! It was actually quite fun going through the bookshelves and rediscovering some books he hasn't picked up in a while - he's now back into some of them...so thank you!! 2w

BiblioLitten This is amazing and just made my day! I can completely understand the joy of going through bookshelves. I will check out the books and see if they are in the library. My son likes the Usbourne book for non-fiction. His current favourite is learning about our bodies and about planets. 2w

BiblioLitten The suggestions are great! I showed him a few pictures of the ones you mentioned and he was interested in Planet Earth for Curious Kids. Thank you so much!! 💙 2w

Jess861 @BiblioLitten Smithsonian has a Human Body Knowledge Encyclopedia book for kids that he might like. Also on a side note our guy got a science kit for his birthday - Ooze Labs: Visible Human Body with Squishable Organs by Thames & Kosmos.

It comes with a booklet on the body too - very neat if he is into the human body. 2w

50 likes12 comments

Ruthiella

The Martian Chronicles | Ray Bradbury

Welcome to 2025 and our first book of the year.

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀In many of the stories, Bradbury addresses a real-world issue such as colonialism, racism, or censorship. How successful were these stories for you? Do you have any favorites?

wanderinglynn, Readergrrl, Johanna414, The_Literary_Jedi, KathyWheeler, Lizpixie, BookBelle84, Larkken, julesG, Deblovestoread, majkia, LeticiaToraci, sebrittainclark, kwmg40, rwmg, CatLass007, BookwormAHN, CSeydel, rretzler, RamsFan1963, TheSpineView, bnp, swynn, PaperbackPirate, Bookwomble, Klou, RaeLovesToRead, Roary47, MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm, AuthorCjwhitcomb , Lesliereadsalot, PageShifter, tokorowilliamwallace, MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward, Books_et_al, bookwyrm7, AnishaInkspill

Bookwomble Given that he was writing these stories in the late 40s & early 50s, as a Midwestern white man, I think he was well within the current of the Civil Rights movement. Of course, reading his expression of those ideas from a modern perspective can be cringy at times, but his liberation message is nonetheless clear. And he was getting these ideas across to a broad readership in an accessible form. I depart from him in some of his later statements, ⬇️ 3w

Bookwomble ... but if we see further... shoulders of giants. 3w

Ruthiella @Bookwomble think the anti-colonial themes particularly hold up. My favorite was probably “And The Moon Be Still As Bright”. 3w

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The_Literary_Jedi “Usher 2” and censorship. Directly connected to Fahrenheit 451 and presently to social media addiction (the irony for some on that point! Students eat it up!) Bradbury clearly believes banning books leads to the downfall of lit & society which is appropriate for 2025; when we read it in class, we try to do it during Banned Books Week annually to broaden the discussion 3w

Ruthiella @The_Literary_Jedi That story is definitely connected to Fahrenheit 451! I appreciated that little Easter Egg. I can see how parallels to social media can be extrapolated. Your students are lucky to have you. 3w

AnishaInkspill for me all of them worked, just had something about them, and each one said something but did it with a light hand so you didn't even notice, or the way I read books I wouldn't have all I would have seen is the comedy. 3w

kwmg40 @Ruthiella I too liked “And The Moon Be Still As Bright“ best. While Spender's methods were questionable, the struggle against those who pollute, exploit and destroy territories they enter, whether unwittingly or not, seem to be very relevant today. What would humans do to Mars or another planet if they were to occupy it, given they we've not had a great track record on Earth itself? 3w

Ruthiella @AnishaInkspill That‘s great! You really mesh with Bradbury as a reader! 3w

Ruthiella @kwmg40 My favorite SciFi novels or stories are those that make me think about humanity‘s current condition, for sure. Those are the ones that tend to stick with me. 3w

swynn The messages mostly hold up well. “And the Moon Be Still As Bright“ seems to address our moment even more than it did the author's, and “There Will Come Soft Rains“ still packs a punch. One surprise for me was “The Fire Balloons,“ which I don't even remember from previous readings, but speaks to experiences I've had since my last reading. 2w

Ruthiella @swynn The themes addressed in this collection are still timely, for sure. I think one or two might stick with me. I read Bradbury‘s “All Summer in a Day” as a child and never forgot it. 2w

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Ruthiella

The Martian Chronicles | Ray Bradbury

Welcome to 2025 and our first book of the year.

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀It‘s an interesting discussion point to debate if Bradbury is even a “science fiction” writer. Certainly, his writing style is special - quite poetic at times. Would you classify him as SciFi or literary fiction or something else?

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Bookwomble Literary Sci-Fi? He deliberately transgressed genre boundaries, lifting science fiction, at least somewhat, out of the pulp gutter that "serious" critics had pushed it into. Most fiction, regardless of genre, is disposable, but they condemned all sci-fi as trash, which it wasn't, and isn't, and in doing so ghettoised a generation of writers. TMC is so clearly not about Martians, little green men and bug-eyed monsters ? 3w

Ruthiella @Bookwomble I‘m trying to think of other “SciFi” writers who also don‘t exactly fall under that umbrella…Vonnegut comes to mind. 3w

Bookwomble @Ruthiella Aldous Huxley and J. G. Ballard come to mind, too, as having used the SF form while not being totally identified with it. Philip K. Dick didn't fare as well: his non-genre fiction didn't find a publisher in his lifetime but they're some of his best work, imo. 3w

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RamsFan1963 Bradbury is not a writer who can be easily pidgeon holed into one genre. He's written sci-fi, fantasy, crime noir, mysteries and even horror (I'm thinking of Something Wicked This Way Comes which could be either dark fantasy or horror of a gentle variety). Its easier for publishers to label a writer, to sell their product to a particular market. 3w

Ruthiella @RamsFan1963 I think a few of the stories in The Martian Chronicles would fit well under the horror label, personally. The most powerful for me was maybe “There Will Come Soft Rains”. (edited) 3w

The_Literary_Jedi We teach “Soft Rains” often in our 9th grade lit course as literary horror & put it up next to Dagon, Frankenstein, & Dracula. I love “Usher 2” myself and it falls in that line of a horror but set in a sci-fi atmosphere. I generally say if it‘s an extraterrestrial setting or character, its main genre is Sci-Fi & then it can be sub-catted elsewhere 3w

Ruthiella @The_Literary_Jedi Absolutely. Categories are both useful and limiting. I agree that “Usher 2” could also fall under the horror category. 3w

AnishaInkspill He just fit anywhere, but I think that‘s why this is so easy to enjoy. 3w

kwmg40 I don't think books need to be put into one slot or the other. Bradbury's stories could be both sci-fi and literary. HIs work is definitely not hard science fiction, but hard sci-fi is, these days, a small category of everything that could go under the sci-fi umbrella. 3w

Ruthiella @AnishaInkspill I agree, that is why he appeals to so many readers. 👍 3w

Ruthiella @kwmg40 I think to market books, many feel they must be presented under some kind of label. And you are absolutely right in that even under SciFi there are many subgroups. 3w

swynn I'm a curmudgeon who thinks all literature is literary, and “literary fiction“ as a separate genre is a hoax. Interestingly, my copy of TMC has an introduction by Bradbury where he says only one story, “There Will Come Soft Rains,“ is actually science fiction. But genre boundaries are fuzzy, and depending on context I think of these stories as either SF, or fantasy, or both. 2w

Ruthiella @swynn I agree that lit fic is a mirage. But genre distinctions can be helpful for a reader. And I would argue that part of Bradbury‘s appeal is his writing style. He has a rhythm and cadence all his own. I personally find him difficult to read as a result, but for others, that‘s the draw. 2w

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BookmarkTavern

The Martian: A Novel | Andy Weir

I am… having a difficult time right now. So let‘s share some of your favorite comforting reads.

This one, with Mark‘s perseverance, the story‘s respect for science & scientists, the whole community coming together to rescue him, the sheer unending hope. I actually found a substack that‘s releasing this one in chronological order, so I‘ve jumped in! 🧡

#SundayFunday I hope you are all doing well, and don‘t forget to tag me! 💛

wanderinglynn I hope things get better soon. 💛 3w

vonnie862 I'm sorry that you're going through a tough time. I hope things get better! 3w

thecheckoutstack Mine are: All Creatures Great and Small, anything by David Sedaris, The Secrets of Platform 13, the Harry Potters, Lord of the Rings (I‘m listening to the dramatized BBC recordings and they are amazing), and the dramatized Narnia audio series. 3w

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TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ 3w

AnnCrystal 🫂🙏💝. 3w

dabbe Sending 🩵🩶🩵 and hope things get better soon. 3w

BookmarkTavern @wanderinglynn @vonnie862 @thecheckoutstack @TheBookHippie @AnnCrystal @dabbe Thank you. 🩷🩷🩷 3w

AnishaInkspill sorry you're going through this, and I hope it gets easier for you. 3w

BookmarkTavern @AnishaInkspill Thank you. 💖 3w

58 likes9 comments

CatLass007

The Martian Chronicles | Ray Bradbury

bailed

#ClassicLSFBC The Martian Chronicles is a classic of science fiction literature. But I fell asleep four times while listening to the audiobook and I decided that was enough. #HailTheBail!

RamsFan1963

dabbe YES! #betterbooksahead 🙌🏻 3w

CatLass007 @dabbe #BetterBooksAhead is the hashtag I was trying so hard to remember. I think I‘ll start tagging you whenever I bail on a book. You are always so encouraging about bailing! I didn‘t even know it was possible to bail on a book before I joined Litsy 7+ years ago. I love everyone I‘ve met on here!❤️❤️❤️📚 3w

dabbe @CatLass007 Right back atcha, m'dear! 🩵🩶🩵 3w

48 likes3 comments

AnishaInkspill

The Martian Chronicles | Ray Bradbury

pick

#2025reads #ClassicLSFBC @RamsFan1963 #sciencefiction

This has been in my Kindle library for a while, this did not disappoint and was an amazing read. This has everything I enjoy in a read, quirky, poignant and thought-provoking. I have so many favourite stories but all of them have moments that stand out. I thought some stories were brave, and its light-hearted style was an invitation to just sit back, absorb and enjoy. And enjoy I did.

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kwmg40

The Martian Chronicles | Ray Bradbury

pick

I was happy to reread this novel with #ClassicLSFBC. The setting doesn't match what we know about Mars. However, in these stories, Bradbury explores social and environmental issues related to colonizing a new planet and raises questions still very relevant today.

@RamsFan1963
#52bookclub (Title starts with letter “M“)
#gottacatchemall (Sliggoo: re-read a book) @PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper ❤️❤️ 3w

50 likes1 comment

RamsFan1963

The Martian Chronicles | Ray Bradbury

Hello everyone!! I hope you're doing well in the first month of 2025, not too snowed in like we are in West Virginia. Of course, bad weather is just another good reason to stay inside and enjoy a good book. I hope everyone was able to find a copy of The Martian Chronicles, and has enjoyed reading it. Just to remind everyone, February's selection for #ClassicLSFBC is The Zero Stone by Andre Norton. Good luck and good reading.

RamsFan1963 @Bookwomble @Ruthiella @TheSpineView @BookmarkTavern @wanderinglynn @Readergrrl @Johanna414 @Lizpixie @BookBelle84 @Larkken @julesG @Deblovestoread @majkia @LeticiaToraci @sebrittainclark @kwmg40 @CatLass007 3w

RamsFan1963 @BookwormAHN @CSeydel @bnp @PaperbackPirate @Klou @Roary47 @AuthorCjwhitcomb @PageShifter @MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward @Books_et_al @rwmg @tokorowilliamwallace @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @rretzler @RaeLovesToRead @The_Literary_Jedi @KathyWheeler @Lesliereadsalot @AnishaInkspill @bookwyrm7 3w

CatLass007 My library hold finally came through but I haven‘t started it yet. Not to be nosy, but where are you in West Virginia? I‘m originally from Beckley and still have family in Pineville, Mabscott, and Charleston. When I was growing up we rarely got snowed in, no matter how much it snowed, because in West Virginia snow was always expected and cities and towns always had plenty of snow fighting equipment, materials, and personnel. I live (cont)⬇️ 3w

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CatLass007 in East Tennessee now. My Mom transferred from the Beckley VA to Mountain Home in Johnson City. I lived in South Carolina, Virginia, and New York before moving to Tennessee to care for my parents. But from 1980 to the early 2000s, Johnson City was never prepared for snow. I think they finally figured out that using up all the salt in December was a stupid way to do things, especially since the worst weather was always in January and (cont)⬇️ 3w

TheSpineView I have read this several times. If time allows, I will reread it again. My library has both the physical and ebook format available 3w

CatLass007 February. People here still don‘t know how to prepare for snow. People either panic if they even think about snow or they refuse to even acknowledge the need to drive more cautiously whether there‘s normal summer rain or a true blizzard. There are people who just don‘t adjust their speed because of precipitation. I‘m not uncomfortable driving in the snow but it‘s taking your life in your hands to go out and be around the nuts who live here. 3w

KathyWheeler We got 7.5 inches of snow down here around the Gulf Coast! Needless to say, we were definitely snowed in as we have no equipment to deal with that! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the Norton one. 3w

PaperbackPirate Stay warm and safe everyone! ☕️📚 3w

RamsFan1963 @CatLass007 I currently live in Parkersburg, WV. It's funny you mention Johnson City, TN, I grew up near Bristol Va and spent plenty of time in the Kingsport-Johnson City area. I made many trips to the Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million in Johnson City. 3w

RamsFan1963 @KathyWheeler I saw on the news how much snow Georgia, Florida and Louisiana got, it's crazy. I mean when the record before that was 3 inches back in the 1850s, who could imagine almost a foot of snow hitting so far south. We ended up with about 13 inches between two different storms. 3w

CatLass007 @RamsFan1963 I am always amazed when I experience something that makes me realize what a small world we live in. I only went to Parkersburg once. Winter of 1977 my high school won the state football championship. I don‘t think I‘ve ever been so cold in my life! There used to be a B. Dalton in the Kingsport mall. I don‘t know if there‘s even a bookstore in Kingsport anymore. My favorite bookstore in Johnson City is Mr. K‘s. It sells new (cont)⬇️ 3w

CatLass007 and used books. But Books-a-Million sells used books now, something that was a big surprise when I found out. And now so does Barnes & Noble. I guess it‘s an attempt at competing with online booksellers. 3w

KathyWheeler @RamsFan1963 Alabama and Mississippi too. My sister-in-law, who lives in Nebraska, said they haven‘t had anywhere close to this amount all winter. Btw, my husband is from Huntington — that‘s the only place in WV where I‘ve spent much time. 3w

RamsFan1963 @CatLass007 OMG!! I had totally forgotten about Mr. K's in Johnson City. Wow!! That brings back so many fond memories 😁 3w

CatLass007 I don‘t know when you were last in the area. Mr. K‘s is now in a two-story building at the top of a steep but not very tall hill on Mark Twain Court. It was jam packed when it was in a one story building just off North Roan Street. Its current location is not far from its previous location. It‘s no longer even a new location because I remember telling someone who was new in town in 2010 about the store. 3w

RamsFan1963 @CatLass007 My last visit to Mr. K's was about 10 years ago, right before I moved to WV. It was on the hill at that time, I don't think I ever visited the other location. 3w

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