Ray Bradbury turned 91 on Monday and received some enviable presents. Alice Hoffman published a tribute in the L.A. Times, describing how, as a teenager, his books insulated her “from the despair of a family that was breaking apart.”

News also broke that Mike Medavoy (Black Swan) is producing a film version of Bradbury’s 1957 novel Dandelion Wine (Knopf). Bradbury, who will write the screenplay, expressed his joy over the new project,

This is the best birthday gift I could ask for. Today, I have been reborn! Dandelion Wine is my most deeply personal work and brings back memories of sheer joy as well as terror. This is the story of me as a young boy and the magic of an unforgettable summer which still holds a mystical power over me.

For those who haven’t read the book in a while, this line is a reminder of the book’s magic,

Dandelion wine. The words were summer on the tongue. The wine was summer caught and stoppered.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 at 8:46 am and is filed under Books & Movies, Fiction. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.