I started reading Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes” yesterday. I’ve read it before and thoroughly enjoyed it but was inspired to read it again after watching a creative writing podcast where the author described it as one of the books which inspired him the most.
It’s as brilliant as I remember it. Bradbury is a great writer. I mean, just the names of his characters are amazing. “Jim Nightshade” and “Mr G.M. Dark”. I recently read “It” by Stephen King and whilst “Pennywise the Clown” is a great name, it’s nor as simple or as sinister as “Mr G.M. Dark”.
I’ve loved Bradbury’s work for years, ever since being captivated by “Fahrenheit 451“, the tale of Guy Montag the fireman who saves books from burning. All great stuff. Bradbury is definitely one of my favourite authors. The words just tumble from the page.
On a sporting note, tomorrow sees the end of an era with what is likely to be the last Scottish Cup game at City Park. A big crowd is expected – Pollok are expected to bring 500 travelling fans and I can see Spartans drawing a similar number, be they hardcore fans or interested observers.
To be fair, the old girl is on her last legs. It’s a shame that football grounds like City Park just disappear into the history books. Spartans will move to a shiny new ground with modern facilities next month which is great for the club, but I can’t help but feel nostalgic for little grounds like City Park which make up in atmosphere and history what they lack in facilities. There have been some classic cup games there in recent years, most noticably the game against St Mirren, watches by around 3,300 fans in 2006.
These kind of grounds are the grounds of my youth. I remember going to numerous junior games as a teenager and enjoying the atmosphere as sometimes 800 or more fans packed into delapidated grounds for big Scottish Junior Cup games against the big clubs from Ayrshire. All fag smoke, bunnets and swearing.
Whilst I agree that we have to move with the times, I’ll miss that type of ground. Only when the last one is gone and replaced with featureless modern apartments will we realise what we had. It’s part of the heritage.
Speaking of nostalgia, there was a kid on the bus this morning who called his mum a “Nincompoop”. I’ve not heard that one in the longest time.
on Oct 3rd, 2008 at 7:09 am
I haven’t read Something Wicked…. but I love Bradbury’s short stories. I think my favourite is “The Pedestrian” from The Golden Apples of the Sun – I always think of it if I am out walking at night and no-one else is around but you can see lights and the flicker of TVs behind curtains. I may have to hit Read It Swap It now and see if I can pick up a copy of Something Wicked……