Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Fahrenheit 451


I finished another one. This time, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I'd been meaning to read this book for awhile, but I'd never gotten around to it until now. It's a fantastic book! And really powerful. It made me reconsider the amount of time I spend watching TV, it had me wondering if I really listen to the people I care about, it made me more aware of how little I am aware of current events. If ever a book made me really stop and think about my, then this book was it.


It's set in a future where books are banned and no one thinks for themselves in order to achieve happiness. No one listens to what other people have to say, everyone's lives are very superficial and based around silly nonsensical TV programmes. Life is very fastpaced and surrounded by noise and chatter and materialism.


The protaganist, Guy Montag is a fireman whose main responsibilites are to burn books and to burn the houses of people who still own books. He meets a strange girl who asks him unusual questions and helps him to realise that he isn't happy, he isn't in love with his wife, and this kicks off a very quick moving, scary novel.


I zipped through it really quickly, partly because of how interesting the subject was to me, and partly because of the style in which Bradbury writes which just forces the reader to continue. This is a very short novel, but I assure you, Fahrenheit 451 is one of those books that will stay with you long after you've read the last page!
(and don't forget to check out other reviews from other members of the Dystopian Reading Challenge at the main website here)

8 comments:

  1. I love that book. I read it as a teen and have gone back and re-read several times. It's such a fascinating topic. And yes, very thought provoking.

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  2. I read it as a teen too. It was a very good read. Ray has a lot of neat books.

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  3. I am glad you enjoyed the book. I got a lot out of it when I read it at the beginning of the year. It really hits home even today.

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  4. that book is awesome. i read it for the first time a few years ago. crazy how it still hits home. probably even more so now than when it first released.

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  5. I'm glad you liked it Bradbury is like one of my scifi heroes

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  6. I love science fiction books, and even though it has been a long time since I read this book, I remember most of it.

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  7. I've read it over and over along with 1984 and Brave New World. In my mind, they're linked together.

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  8. This book should be burnt! Montag wants to get laid by Clarisse! She is only 17. He even says in the book "All day I fantasized about pounding Clarisse's P***y".

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