Hey, Book-Lovers! Welcome back to another BOOKS article. In this post, I will be discussing my view and opinions on my latest read, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. If you haven't already read this book, then maybe by the end of this article you'll want to! Enjoy!
It's the second time I read this book, and it still is a page-turner. I absolutely love Ray Bradbury's style of writing and engaging choice of words. He wrote this book in 1951-- but because it's futuristic, you really can't tell. In this future, there are... TV walls, cars that drive faster than average speed, radio ear-pods, and firemen who burn books.
"It was a pleasure to burn." ----Fahrenheit 451
If you don't know already, the title of the name is Fahrenheit 451 because this is the temperature in which paper burns. People in this future do not like books. They think it causes unhappiness and misery- so they have decided to burn all books and arrest or kill any readers who might have the threatening knowledge of words. It's a horrible future, but I mean it could happen!
Everyone in this world is the same, and everyone is happy. Nobody needs to think or contemplate life. In this dystopia, thinking is actually shammed upon. You'll be labeled antisocial if you talk about topics worth thinking about. They're supposed to talk only about themself, and maybe their 'family' (which is really just TV). Speaking of the 'family'... do you like TV? Because if you do, you'll probably like this future. TVs are as big as walls! And you can have a screen on each wall of your parlor, so there's nothing to do but watch mindlessly day after day.
'Intellectual' is considered a bad word in Bradbury's book. It's a dirty word that should never be spoken out loud. Withholding knowledge is horrible and brings great dangers your way, so it's better to watch TV and play dumb. Most of the people in this society aren't playing dumb, though- that's the sad part.
The main character, Guy Montag, is a middle-aged fireman who enjoys burning books. He has a wife, a house, and a great job. He never once stopped to think about his life, or doubt his doings- until he met Clarrise; An antisocial teenager who gets him thinking about things he never realized he could think about. She talks about trees and the history of firemen. Because this girl was so different from everyone else, he begins to question the world around him.
Something inside of him sparks. He wants to be able to think more. He wants to be able to feel emotion and filter thoughts. But most importantly, Montag wants to read books…
I'm not going to give out any spoilers, so you're just gonna have to read it! Trust me, you won't regret it. It's an easy read for the most part. If you're into science fiction, political fiction, and dystopian fiction- then this should be your next read for sure. In a way, it reminds me of 'The Hunger Games' and 'The Giver'(which are also fantastic books!).
The reason why I am rereading Fahrenheit 451, is because I just started a new class at my co-op called Political Literature. It's kind of like a book-club, but it's great. We talk about our views and a little history on the background of the story. The next book I'm assigned to read is 'The Man In The Highcastle' by Philip K Dick, and I'll probably write a post on that one too! I hope you enjoyed this article, and decide to read Fahrenheit 451! Remember to like, subscribe, and come back for more!
Fabulous, memorable book and and you wrote an excellent review. I read it in 9th grade and remember it vividly still. It hits a little close to home - do you think? Do you feel like we, as Americans are pressured not to think, to just do as and believe what we are told?
Great review of a great book. Makes me want to read it again. I like your perspective.