Attleboro's Big Read

Like Norton's One School, One Book, program but on a much larger scale, the city of Attleboro has embarked on a reading program of its own. Called "The Big Read," this town-wide initiative has the town reading and talking about Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Bishop Feehan and Attleboro High Schools have gotten involved, as have many community groups, including the Larson Senior Center, the Attleboro Garden Club, and local churches. A variety of free activities have been developed to accompany the book, including numerous book discussions, guest speakers, and movie screenings. Though I read this book many years ago, I thought it was worth another look and I was not disappointed. The book recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, yet it is as relevent today as it ever was. This futuristic look at the dangers of censorship, the effects of mass media, and the dangers of a too powerful government (to name just a few), is particularly important today in the face of political correctness, reality TV, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you haven't read Farhenheit 451, or if like me, you haven't read it in a long time, it is well doing. Several copies are available in the Norton High School Library.