Cedarbrae Blog

Welcome to April, month of the eighth annual Keep Toronto Reading Festival 

This year's One Book for KTR is the classic dystopic science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

On Friday April 12 at 5:30pm come explore another classic dystopian novel with us: bring your popcorn for a screening of V for Vendetta, staring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. Arguably one of the best dystopian movies ever made, it is based on the equally awesome graphic novel of the same name by the brilliant Alan Moore (other credits include Watchmen and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, to name a few).

In an alternate future in which Britain is a fascist state, a shadowy masked vigilante named "V" tries to free England of its ideological chains, using terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally.

One of the most memorable lines in the movie is the rhyme,

"Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

Did you know that this wasn't made up by Moore or the movie's scriptwriters? It's an actual English folk rhyme referring to the Gunpowder Plot to blow up parliament in 1605. "V" uses a likeness of Guy Fawkes, one of the plot's members, as his mask.

Interested in learning more? Here is some great books to check out on the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes.