Name That Book

[sillyberry]

Does anyone else ever vaguely remember something that happened in a book but then completely hit a wall when it comes to remembering the name or any other details, and you can't remember enough details to successfully google? I'm having one of those moments.

In the book I'm thinking of the protagonist (I'm pretty sure it was a she) discovered theater lighting and used gels to make the stage lights eerie and gorgeous. There may have been something where she did costumes originally but the crazy director tore them up so she then figured out the lighting to compensate, but I could me completely making that up.

ETA: this was a young adult book I read sometime in the early 90s, if that helps!

Does this ring a bell with anyone? Thanks!

Also, if anyone else has mystery books in their head, let us help!!!

 

[AGBF]

Does anyone else ever vaguely remember something that happened in a book but then completely hit a wall when it comes to remembering the name or any other details, and you can't remember enough details to successfully google? I'm having one of those moments.

Yes, I have those moments but, like you, I persevere! Often I google odd phrases and I also use Amazon.com. My having put all sorts of things into the Amazon search engine has resulted in my finding books I wouldn't have thought I could find. Asking people is good, too!

AGBF

 

[Haven]

I wish I could help, Sillyberry!

I've been trying to locate a particular short story for years. It is about two astronauts who become stranded on another planet that has very harsh weather conditions. It is extremely hot and sunny. They fear that if they take off their space suits they will die, but they have to take them off once they run out of oxygen. To their surprise, they are able to breathe without their oxygen supplies from their suits, and they slowly adapt to living life on this harsh planet. They are shocked, because the conditions appeared to be unbearable for humans. At the very end of the story the reader learns that the astronauts have adapted so much to life on this planet that they have transformed into slimy, outer space creatures.

I read this story along with Ray Bradbury's "The Sound of Thunder" in Mr. Lloyd's class in the 7th grade. I had always been a voracious reader, but the experience of reading these two stories turned me on to science fiction and fantasy, and I credit that class with my lifelong love of reading. If only I could figure out what this story is called! I often tell my students about my experience, and read "The Sound of Thunder" with them and describe, in detail, what I remember thinking while reading it. It's a powerful thing to be able to share, and I wish I could share this other story, as well.

Great thread, Sillyberry! I've asked everyone I know outside of PS for help locating this story!

 

[NewEnglandLady]

You ladies read some bizarre books.

Haven, when I read your first paragraph I immediately thought of The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury (book of 18 short stories), but then when I read you read it in conjuction with another Bradbury short story I realized you probably already explored that option. Such a bummer, I hate it when I can't remember the title of a book (or short story in this case).

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I wish I could help but sadly, can't

I've been looking for a book I read in elementary school for years now. It has to do, a bit, with Native American mythology. The son of the Sun, I think, goes down onto the earth to explore? And in the meantime he encounters various people, many of whom are afflicted with smallpox. That's all I remember.

 

[sillyberry]

Haven and BEG, I just saw this was going on (thanks to the ability to view all topics started again!) but am useless to both of you. ARG!

 

[PhillYOung]

I was reading at the Library when someone tap my back, and I found out that it was Ben, my friend from Hometown.