Greenhouse

I was slightly worried about a somewhat hasty decision to theme today's Reading Cafe around 'Dystopian Literature' - and then not really do much in the way of preparation - but it went surprisingly well. We had Oskar Werner (via a printed-out still from Truffaut's 'Fahrenheit 451') as our mascot and this rather wonderful quote from Ray Bradbury's book as our keynote:

The books are to remind us what asses and fools we are. They're Caesar's praetorian guard, whispering as the parade roars down the avenue, "Remember, Caesar, thou art mortal." Most of us can't rush around, talking to everyone, know all the cities of the world, we haven't time, money, or that many friends. The things you're looking for, Montag, are in the world, but the only way the average chap will ever see ninety-nine percent of them is in a book. Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore.