Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
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Book Reviews of Fahrenheit 451
Book Review: Fahrenheit 451
Summary: 5 Stars
Fahrenheit 451 is a very good story about a struggling public servant who is deeply confused by the twisted world that surrounds him. As a fireman in this backwards society, he is expected to burn books and the houses that contain them, but can no longer bring himself to do it as he once did. Books are outlawed and burned because they are the source of much confusion and varying points of view. The government could not bear it any longer, so it opted to simply destroy the books. Firemen are now employed to start fires instead of stopping them. The main character is Guy Montag, along with his wife Mildred and Fire Captain Beatty. Montag tries very hard to beat the system by hiding and reading books, but cannot contain his frustration. He is found out and flees to save his life.Guy Montag is my favorite character in this book. He goes through many changes and has quite an adventure. In the end, in order to escape and be free, he has to defeat his boss and kill the deadly Mechanical Hound, which is a machine used to track down fugitives.
Fahrenheit 451 is also a story about the contradictory principle of censorship. Ray Bradbury shows what the effects of censorship are mental unrest and dissatisfaction with the quality of life. He writes about it hoping to get the attention and open the reader's eyes to face this evident threat that is in fact a reality.
I can, in some way, relate to Montag. He was different from most people and managed to beat the system in the end. Although I have never killed any one or burned down houses like he did, but I do share the same spirit of dissatisfaction with the rules of society. There are many things wrong with this world that I am not happy with. Much of my unhappiness is towards hypocrisy. For example, how can the government mandate that an 18 year old male go and die for the US, yet he cannot be declared financially independent until he is 24? Or how can this same 18 year old male cast a vote to put a man into office and elect a president, but he cannot have a drop of alcohol until he is 21? Like Montag, I also struggle with society's rules and points of view. We may differ in cause, but the spirit is the same.
I enjoyed reading this book. Mr. Bradbury knows how to tell a good story. I especially liked the climax, which was, of course, the best part of the book. The only thing that I do not like, perhaps due to my impatience, are the long and wordy monologues. But then again, these are essential to the storyline of the book. This is how Bradbury is able to explain confusing parts in the story. He uses them as a movie would use flashbacks. If it were up to me, I would just put a little more action in these parts.
Of course, as would almost all readers of this story, I highly recommend this book. Students from grade level 9 and up will be able to truly appreciate it. Perhaps the misfits and outcasts in this society will enjoy it more, but in all, this is a good book for every one. Fahrenheit 451 will fit well in any literary collection, be it political or sci-fi or both.
Book Review: A message that grows more important every day
Summary: 5 Stars
It was a pleasure to burn. So begins, with this absolutely perfect opening line, Ray Bradbury's celebrated exposition of the dangers of censorship. Everybody knows that Fahrenheit 451 is a novel about book-burning, but this story goes much deeper than those not having read it may suspect. Its message truly does become even more germane and prophetic with every passing day. The skeleton of the plot is rather basic, really. Guy Montag is a fireman whose job it is to burn books and the houses in which these dangerous manifestations of inane scribbling reside - usually hidden. No one even remembers a time when firemen actually put out fires. We join Guy's life as he enters into a cusp of uncertainty. He has dared to pilfer a book here and there and stash them in his house, a most dangerous crime indeed. He soon meets a free-spirited teenager who breathes life into his state of uncertainty and opens his mind to brand new thoughts and possibilities. When she makes him admit that he is not happy, his life is changed forever. He can't take the lack of substance all around him, the wife who thinks of nothing but "the family" (a type of interactive programming that dominates the living room), the impending war which everyone essentially ignores. He knows there must be something else in life, and he comes to believe that the enlightenment he is after must surely be contained in books. Montag's conversations with his Fire Chief on this subject are quite astounding and revealing, and between this and Montag's friendship with an old former professor, we learn how Montag's world came to be this way. The government did not simply ban books overnight. Censorship started slowly and at low levels. Some minority group complained about this - deleted; another group complained about that - gone; these fellows over here object to so-and-so - zip. So many little pieces of books were removed that, over time, the very essence of books was destroyed. While the government has now come to insist that reading books is a crime, the horrible truth of the matter is that the society itself, in its fractious ways, is the party responsible for this tragic state of affairs. Can there be a more timely topic for our own time? We continually see history books being rewritten, "objectionable" words, phrases, and (horror of horrors) ideas removed from novels and poems so that no one can possibly be offended by anything under the sun. Censorship is a cancer on society, and the world needs visionaries such as Ray Bradbury to forcefully draw attention to the cold hard facts that a majority of the population seems to ignore or fails to acknowledge. Once the true meaning has been chopped out of the books lining our shelves, it will be too late to reverse the momentum without the aid of some kind of miracle. Fahrenheit 451's message is one that all people should be exposed to, and this novel is such a quick (but powerful) read that everyone really should read it. As horrible as it is to envision, I fear that this type of censorship could indeed happen here.
Book Review: Fahrenheit 451
Summary: 5 Stars
Guy Montag is a man who has lived his life without asking questions, he goes to work and does as he is told, his marriage is seemingly perfect; he and his wife express no form of dislike or flaws in their marriage, no arguments, no discussions about their feelings and no oppositions on the others thoughts .With such a perfect life what can Ray Bradbury possibly write about in Fahrenheit 451?
Fahrenheit 451 is a story of censorship on anything that causes controversy which for the most part is everything .This book describes the most severe ,and for the most part the most unrealistic outcome of censorship .It is written in such an incredible and odd way that it is easily related to real life .This book shows Bradbury's brilliance ,because while this is his most down to earth book compared to his others ,(The Martian Chronicles, Illustrated man and many others) he still leaves a lot to the mind by painting a very vague image of the world that Montag lives in .The setting ,time ,and the past are all described in this book ,but for the most part ,all that is known is that this book takes place sometime in the future .So without a specific time ,the book can always be timeless .
Bradbury does a fantastic job at keeping your finger craving to turn the page .He does an even better job at keeping the reader up all night with his mind numbing visuals and brilliant craftsmanship of wordplay .In Fahrenheit 451 ,Guy Montag plays the role of a regular man given the chance to see the society for what it really is .This is given to him by Clarisse McClellan (sort of like Morpheus gives Neo the chance to take the red or the blue pill in the Matrix) .Clarisse is the character of self questioning .Every good book has a character like this , but Clarisse plays this role extremely well because without her ,there is no chance of a story as magnificent as this .Don't get me wrong Bradbury does a very good job of making an extraordinary and well balanced cast .Characters like Professor Faber ,Captain Beatty ,Mildred Montag and Mrs. Bowles all do a good job of sparking key elements and reactions out of Guy who completely morphs into a different man as the story proceeds .There is always a light in the back of your head letting you know that not all the characters aren't truly who they appear to be .The best example of this is the antagonist in this book .The antagonist in every sense of the word is everybody excluding Clarisse and the others who know about the truth of their society which is very little .When I say society ,I do not mean the government ,but the people.
I was very happy with the ending and would rather not spoil the it ,so I'll just say there could be no better ending .The only true disappointment is the fact that the book was so short .I feel that there should be some sort of sequel ,but that can never be .All around ,this book was awesome, and any true lover of literature should pick this book up.
Book Review: Classic Science Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
Fahrenheit 451 is a classic science fiction novel written by Ray Bradbury and published in 1953. This book has followed in the purpose for which the genre of science fiction was created; to predict and speculate about what will happen to humans in the future--and especially--to warn readers away from the less desirable futures. So much of what is written in this book has already or may come to pass that readers may find it disturbing to read.
One aspect of Fahrenheit 451 that I thought was particularly well done is its realistic portrayal of human behavior. One instance where this was displayed occurs right after Guy Montag had turned traitor and started both reading and trying to save the books he was supposed to be burning. The very firehouse he worked for programmed a mechanical hound, called simply, the "Hound" to search for and destroy his DNA code. As the media built up feelings of antipathy and hatred of Guy, the public responded by growing increasingly excited and exultant about seeing him caught and killed, even to the point of following the media's suggestion that everyone check to see if Guy is outside of their house. This, to me, sounds like an accurate representation of human responses to the media's stimuli.
Another aspect of Fahrenheit 451 I liked was that the main characters are given backgrounds and histories to make it possible to understand their actions, opinions, beliefs, and morals. For example, the book describes an occasion in Guy Montag's childhood when power was down for an evening and he and his mother used candles instead of electric lights, and talked, instead of watching TV, which helps to explain Guys rationalizations for preferring real people and hating the characters on the three-dimensional TV. Also, Clarisse, one of the supporting characters has a very rich past that is highly developed. In her case, this takes on the form of her father and uncle, who greatly influence her opinion and provide the background and embodiment for most of her convictions. They never actually appear in the book, but Clarisse's descriptions of them and constant references to them make them seem almost like characters themselves.
One of the things for which this book is the most renowned--and, in my opinion, is its most valuable feature is its philosophy. No matter which opinion is being portrayed, the dialogue and explanation of that philosophy is passionate and convincing. For example, when Guy first goes to the retired Professor Faber, Faber describes three things which men need if humanity is to be truly free. The first is, a wealth of information, the second, time to analyze this information, and the third, the right and ability to act on this information.
I have given this book a five-star rating because I consider it to be one of the finest literary works of this century, because not only did he right it with fine character development, but also with a unique plot and profound philosophies.
Book Review: A thinker's treasure, but not for the shallow of mind
Summary: 5 Stars
We all hold some novels so close to our hearts that we cannot view them dispassionately. For me, one such treasure is Fahrenheit 451. This is the novel that first awakened me to the possibility that science fiction could be about more than just action heroes, quick thrills and mindless drivel: that at its best, it honours a unique literary duty, allowing us to glimpse horrific futures that may actually come to pass if we leave the path of wisdom.Fahrenheit 451 is one of the finest examples of that sub genre of science fiction called dystopian fiction. Every science fiction writer of note has drawn from this well, but few as successfully as Bradbury. The only other authors to realise equal successes are Orwell with 1984 and Huxley with Brave New World. Some would add Gibson and Dick, but theirs are derivative works of a later generation. Of all such works, Bradburys is the most accessible. At his centre, Bradbury is an optimist while the others are not. Consequently, Fahrenheit 451 holds out the light of hope when the others leave us despairing.
This book operates on countless levels. It can be read as a futuristic fable, a psychological drama, or a social commentary. It is a rich character study; a pounding plot-driven quest; an overwhelming thematic work, or a setting of sterile horror. In actuality, it is all of this and more. Rarely does one happen upon a work in which the parts fit together so exquisitely, and for this reason alone, it deserves its reputation as one of the greatest works in the genre.
But it is the characters that make this book come alive. When the protagonist experiences the emptiness of a hollow life, the anguish of guilt, the glimmerings of a real love, the terror of blind panic or the despair of pursuit, it is as if these things are happening to us. Bradburys skill transforms science fiction into literature.
This is not a book for juvenile minds. While it is written in tight, almost Spartan prose, and reads like a childrens novel, it is actually a highly philosophical work. In some ways palpable, but in more ways subtle, it focuses an unflinching light on those ugly aspects of our nature that impel us towards superficiality and mental sloth. It is no wonder that shallow readers and idle thinkers find this book unrewarding and depressing; even vaguely insulting. More thoughtful readers will be disturbed, but that will only be to Bradburys purpose.
This work is really written for brave thinkers - those willing to confront unpleasantness and sweat for their rewards. Such readers, no matter what their age, will fall in love with this book. Bradbury exposes the failings of our natures with a perception and a depth of wisdom that few science fiction authors can reach. Most of all, his love for humanity shines through the darkness of his cautionary tale: and he has the literary courage to warn us against ourselves without the addition of artificial sweetener.