“I never wrote a story in my life. What I did was, I would get an idea, and then I would put it on a piece of paper—a paragraph—so I wouldn’t lose it. And another idea would come, and I would write it down.” – Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury up there with Isaac Asimov are two of my favourite science fiction writers of all time.
They crafted worlds and stories way ahead of their time and the majority of sci-fi films play homage to their concepts.
Ray was one of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers. He wrote fantasy, science fiction, horror while dipping his toes into mystery and realistic fiction.
I’ve found myself on my 3rd reading of Dandelion Wine.
It’s a poetic, semi-autobiographical novel set in the summer of 1928, following 12-year-old Douglas Spaulding in the fictional Green Town, Illinois (based on Bradbury’s hometown of Waukegan)
If you’re looking for some profound realisations about your own mortality and time. I’d 100% recommend it.
I’m a sucker for metaphors and his story is based on the preservation of memories and experiences of summer, bottling them up like the sweet golden wine Douglas’s grandfather makes from dandelion petals.
The reason I dig on this one hard are some of the lessons I’ve pulled from it and I try incorporate it into my own work:
Sensory Details and Atmosphere
Each chapter is overloaded with descriptive and specific details about smells, sounds and textures. It’s that which immerses you in the story.
The open scene describes the morning air as “a great freshness…like a clean bed”
Writing from Memory
The thing with trying to pull from memory is that we can’t get every single detail down, but it’s a springboard for ideas which we can build on and the beauty of writing from memory. You only need to write a few words and sentences and then all of the other details magically appear.
They add an archetypal significance and it shows you can embellish the writing while mixing fiction and autobiography.
Emotional Truth
I’ve also found in his novel it prioritises emotional resonance over strict plot, while the characters and situations capture fundamental human experiences.
It’s a very easy read because each chapter tickles your emotions a little and it just sends you on a journey.
I’m hoping on this 3rd reading I’ll pick up some more insights that I can pull from. Check it out when you get the chance.
Dadelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Stephen Walker