Ray Bradbury

I know this will not be the only sappy post about Ray Bradbury today, but I also don't think I can let the sun go down without posting something, if only for myself.

I feel like there will always be authors whose deaths bring me to tears. It's so interesting how we let books into our hearts—their stories, their characters, their morals—and how greatly they can impact us. And each time one of writers dies, one of these writers that we have become so intimately attached to without even meeting them, it simultaneously breaks my heart and makes me so incredibly overjoyed that they were able to contribute to the world in such a powerful way.

Since I didn't even read "Fahrenheit 451" until last spring, I never thought Ray Bradbury could be one of those authors for me. But he has suddenly become one and once again, I want to simultaneously mourn and celebrate.

To look back, here's how reading "Fahrenheit 451" impacted me just over a year ago, and why I think the burning of books is still such a powerful statement during an age of e-readers.

And also, Adam Johnson's absolutely beautiful Ray Bradbury covers.

Adam Johnson and Ray Bradbury

I know I've been talking about my new job a lot and not so much about books but there really is something great about having a job you truly love. When you care about what you're creating more than you care about your recognition or payment for it, I think that really shows in your work.

Which is definitely the case for Adam Johnson, a Senior Designer at Harper Collins. Some of Johnson's most recent work is this series of Ray Bradbury covers.

On his blog, Adam writes:

I have a passion for working on his covers because quite frankly the majority out there have not been done well enough. They seem to often paint him in a whimsical or comical light and do not take him seriously enough, nor capturing the beauty of his writings.

I want to use my powers for good, so-to-speak. I am passionate about things that are meaningful and enriching to the soul, like I find him to be. There is so much smut, filth, and degrading writing done with beautiful covers that I hope he now has fair advantage. I’m hoping new readership will come to him and that he will be seen for what he really is—a national treasure, a bearer of light & truth, and an enormous literary figure.

There seems to be a general desire among many designers I've interviewed or read about to bring design justice to their favorite authors and works. I feel like this is just part of the reciprocal relationship between author and reader, but an aspect that non-designers wouldn't really understand.

You can CLICK HERE to view some of Adam's other work, but I want to also mention his cover for "The Glory of Their Times". I have a vintage hardback copy of this book which I absolutely love and it makes me happy to see that Johnson's cover retains some of that vintage feel. In fact, I'm considering picking up a copy just to have the set.

I encourage you to check out Adam's website, including his identity and illustration work. I know that finding it has started my Saturday on the right foot.

(images / found via designworklife)

Review: Fahrenheit 451

I'll be honest, I thought "Fahrenheit 451" was going to be one of those books I heard so much hype over that it disappointed me in the end. Bradbury surprised me, though. I started the book a few days before I left for New York and finished it on the plane, leading me to think about it during my entire trip. I even went back through to re-read some passages and marked some things to remember, so I hope this review says something you haven't already heard about "Fahrenheit 451".

I also really love the cover on the copy I own, designed by Joseph Mugnaini.  I love the type, the colors and the illustration. Really great stuff.

To read the review and some of my favorite pieces click through the jump.