Rating: Summary: It is worth reading it Review: This books is interesting. It's about a man named Montag who is a fireman but instead of putting out the fire, he starts them by burning the books he finds in other people's houses. In my own opinion I think this book is about reality, because even though we are no burning books a lot of people are losing interest in reading them. Peolpe would rather watch T.V.,play Nintendo,get on the computer and do everything from there than going through a book. So you will probably like to read this book.You will understand the importance of books and you will appreciate them more.
Rating: Summary: Still a masterpiece, and more than ever! :)) Review: I hadn't read this Bradbury's classic for 15 years. I had 14 years old then and though I liked it, I appreciate it now even more. Should I think I was not mature enough to understand all the ins and outs of the book? When Ray Bradbury published his Fahrenheit 451 several decades ago, he depicted a decaying society, only preoccupied by its facade of happiness. Not that people are entirely free of the usual constraints but everything is done through games, shows, comics for them to forget the notion of thinking, source of all distress and misery. Those who resist are destroyed, dangerous books (those *who* make think) are burnt. And finally, does it work after so much trouble? Well, at first sight, it depends on the basic purpose of the system. If its aim is to make people happy, it's undoubtedly a catastrophic failure. On the other hand, if it plans on making people believe they are happy or at least act as if they were, the answer may appear less immediate but little by little, you realize that for most of the characters, and therefore for probably most of the society, it comes to the same thing. Montag, the fireman who burns the books, is suddenly confronted to the emptiness of his life. Is he happy? No. He will refuse the system and fight, like Granger and the old Faber. Mildred, Montag's wife, has accepted it all. It's so practical for her to live without thinking, with a virtual family on screens around the walls of the parlor. She has friends she can talk with. She has plenty of leisure, goes on parties, but is she happy? Can she be happy when she frequently needs a bunch of pills to get dopey to the point of risking her life? Obviously not. Same for her friends, you'll see it fast. Two characters are really apart in this book. Clarisse, for example, doesn't like or hate that fake prosperity, simply because she doesn't care. She just does what she likes and she's happy. It's probably the only person you'll meet who is. Unfortunately, it will kill her but her short encounter with Montag will have been fundamental. Okay, I admit it, even if he's not from the "good" side, I've a compassion of some sort for the last important character of the story, Captain Beatty, the firemen's chief. He's really disconcerting, an opponent worthy of Montag. You quickly feel his cogency, his volubility. Despite his current lifework, it's easy to suspect he read a lot in the past and reflected over everything. He would once have been a precious ally for Montag but now, it's too late. He abides by the system and resigned himself, sincerely convinced of its ineluctability. So, of course, he must oppose Montag. The way he dies, the way he chooses to die, is terrible and you'll realize then what despair has haunted that man, how strong his disgust of life has been. Oh, while I'm writing this, I've just remembered a scenery. In fact, each time I think about Fahrenheit, this one always comes to my mind. At a certain point of the 2nd part, Montag thrust himself in the parlor occupied by Mildred and her friends who were watching their favorite show on the 3 walls, the White Cartoon Clown. Montag pulls the switch, and after some words exchanged about the coming war, he simply says "Let's talk." The passage that immediately follows his request is powerful, from the bewildering words of Mrs Phelps about the children she never had to the furor of Montag appealing them to get out of his house, it's a total delight! I guess it's only there that the reader discovers in what terribly absurd world s/he was dived. This passage is a great moment of literature history, I swear you! :) If you make up your mind and wish to buy that magnum opus, I suggest you buy the 40th anniversary edition for Fahrenheit deserves a choice place in your library. The dustcover is beautiful, with the back reproducing the original illustration. Now, let's remove delicately the dust cover. Wow, there's a nice hardcover under it, the main sides are light brown and my fingers can feel the author's name raised slightly in the same color :) and on the black edge, title, author and editor are in gold letters. Hum! Hum! What's more? Ah, yes, a very interesting and recent foreword by Ray Bradbury, very instructive, it explains everything: the genesis of the book, the historical context, the how and the why. The original introduction (written in 1966) is still there, as captivating as the foreword, both of them are worth reading. From all points of view, I'm very proud to own this edition. I hope you'll feel the same pride.
Rating: Summary: Scarier than LIFE Review: Learning to appreciate everything around us is difficult, in today's society. We have everything ever dreamed of, and we have barely begun. By letting "..451" into you're mind, one realizes that this fiction, is not justly so. It is apparent in our realm that this fable has already begun to happen. Change is something not always noticed. However, this book opened my eye's to to the world around me. I am certain, that "Guy Montag" the charachter, is in all of us. Just waiting to be discovered.
Rating: Summary: A major dissapointment Review: I am a huge science fiction fan and heard from many people that this is one of the ultimate Sci-fi classics. So, I decided to read it. I was very dissapointed. Though some concepts were fairly interesting they were not developed, so book had no point. I cannot understand why this novel is as famous as it is. Do not waste your time reading Fahrenheit 451.
Rating: Summary: The most important book about books Review: Not only is this novel great, but it is important. I just finished it and I can not stress enough how impressive this book is. It was absolutely amazing from start to finish. I have never known how to express my love for books until I saw the words Bradbury put into print here. It has elements of science fiction but I think it essentially for all people to read. It also is not a long book if you are concerned about that. Personally I wished it would go on for another hundred pages. This book should be required for all high school students to read.
Rating: Summary: A True Masterpiece Review: Very few authors have written a book this significant, this succinct, this brilliant. This is one of my all-time favorite books. I love how he describes everything; and furthermore, the ending was astonishing. The imagery, the action, and the meaning of it all was just stunning. Anybody who knows how to read, must read this book. Starts a bit slow, but once I got into it, I began to appreciate it for what it was. Starting with page 100, I couldn't put it down. I picked up the book at eleven o'clock at night, and by the time it was three in the morning, I was finished. It is that gripping. We need more authors of Bradbury's stature around today.
Rating: Summary: It was different from any other book I've read! Review: I loved this novel by Ray Bradbury. I am a 11th grader and the reading level was very easy for me. Some of my classmates thought this book was stupid and had no point to it. But personally, I thought it was very exciting. I couldn't put the book down.
Rating: Summary: A savagely beautiful augury Review: This spare novel is as powerful today as the day it was written, painting a rich tapestry of what is to come and what, frighteningly enough, has already happened. I feel for the junior high schoolers who were forced to read this book--it seems that most of them aren't ready for this brilliantly rendered cautionary tale, judging by their myriad spelling errors alone. It's too bad, really. The book is truly stupendous and *meant* to be stark. I only hope that the disgruntled readers hang on to their initial reviews written here for a few years so that when and/or if they're ready to try it again, they'll realize their folly. And to those who burned the book, all I can say is I hope you enjoy asking, 'Do you want fries with that?' for the rest of your days.
Rating: Summary: An Excellent Novel About The Dangers of Conformity Review: I had to read this book for my H.S. freshmen english class and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Bradbury uses a lot of good symbolism in connection with the theme of the novel. I realized that understanding these symbols and reading more into the novel is a necessity for a full understanding of the text and Bradbury's message. On the first quiz my teacher gave me, I got a 70%, but after reading more deeply into the novel (and taking some marginal notes to study from), I received a 100% on the next quiz. Unfortunately, when you look at our society today with all the ignorance, technological advancements, and anti-intellectual behavior practiced by many, you realize that it may end up a dystopia just like the F-451 society in the near future.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful, and still relevant, novel Review: This book is absolutely amazing. It describes a time in the future where censorship prevails and minds are caged. Nobody has original thoughts; with the abolishing of books creativity was lost as well. Guy Montag, the protagonist, is a fireman (firemen burn books in this story) who has to fight to pull himself from the grip of an overpowering government and tradition, only to see that it is all useless (why teach to people who can't understand?). The novel shows what censorship can do to a society, and why individuals must not accept the norm without questioning its integrity and implications. Overall, read this book immediately and apply what you learn from it into everyday life. By the way, ignore all of the reviewers that gave the book a low score because they could not understand the plot and symbolism. Their comments are similar to saying Shakespeare's works are poorly written because he uses odd vocabulary and the plot is too complex. Unfortunately, these people make of the mass of society, which is why these reviews are commonplace. (The funny thing is, the novel specifically targets these kind of people...)
|