Rating: 
Summary: A brilliant, visionary book
Review: It's hard to describe what a powerful charge this slender little book carries. You read it and wonder how Bradbury was able to make a prediction so spot-on accurate way back in the 1950s when he wrote this. There are scenes and lines that are etched in my mind permanently: the Mechanical Hound and its procaine snout; Mildred crying when Montag reads "Dover Beach" to her but not understanding why; Beatty's chilly monologues on sedating the masses by stuffing them with useless facts; 17-year-old Clarisse tasting the rain on her tongue. I once read a book on meditation that described ideas as having sound, structure and weight. The ideas in Farenheit 451 seem to have those properties, so vividly does Bradbury present them.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost up to Orwell and Huxley
Review: this book was almost as good as Brave New World and 1984, but I determined that this was not quite up to the standard that these respected authors set. i am not degrading this book at all. it presented some very valid arguments, such as the degradation of the human mind through the removal of books, and thus, most of the conscious, independant thoughts. Also realistically presented was the cause of the forced demise of books, through minorities. i am personally very apprehensive of various minority groups compaining about anything that is not what they desire to hear. i personally support equal rights, but many of today's minorities seem to think that equality is not reached until their rights surpass those of everyone else. if any "questionable" material is released that disagrees with their views, the government must do something to maintain that minority's felicity. for more on this topic, i suggest reading Bradbury's "Coda". however, it remains somewhat inferior to Huxley and Orwell's dystopias because of the tendency of the book to remain at times too superficial. I understand that the author only spent about a week on the novel, so it is understandable that it would rank in just below these paramount paradigms of the dystopic future of mankind. the massive, forlorn, wretched world of hate created by Orwell is just more in-depth and depicts more intense scenes of the injustices that humans face. Huxley's world, as well, allows for the reader to get more acquainted with the main characters, and thus the readers are more shocked when Winston is torn apart emotionally by the man he once thought he could trust as a fellow usurper of the power of Big Brother.if only Bradbury had gone in-depth, such more could have been reached by the book. however, it remains a classic nonetheless, for the accurate prophecies portrayed and the fears of dehumanization and antidisestablishmentarianism.
Rating:
Summary: From Science Fiction To Science Fact
Review: We live in a disposable society, where we are expected to do and say everything we are "taught" by the "great educator", Television. Farenheit 451 is one of the most revealing books ever written and after 46 years, remains to be relevant. The reason being, it was written as science fiction and is slowly, but surely, becoming science fact. Although, I'm sure that he never meant it to be so, Mr. Bradbury has predicted the future to a degree. The main character, Guy Montag, is a man who is just doing his job. He's a fireman, which is kind of strange, because in the future everything is fireproof... except for books. Books have been outlawed, and it is the job of the fireman to find and burn hidden stashes of books. Why would someone want to burn books? you might be asking yourself. Throughout history man has always burned books that go against his: beliefs, religion, philosophies, government, etc.; because they saw these books as a threat. What better way to control a society, than if you take away their ability to think and reason on their own? Books allow us the opportunity to think and question our reality and what is going on around us. With out that, then we just become a society of mindless drones. Which is what we've become in Montag's future... slaves to our "interactive televisions". In this book, television has become our extended families, while the real families are left by the wayside because the television families seem more real. Montag questions his actions after watching a woman refuse to leave her books, while they were being burned. He can't understand how someone could care for something so much, that they would be willing to die, instead of live with out it. Read the rest on your own, because you need to, not because you have to. Read this book and then look at the world around us. You'll see what I mean when I say that this book has turned from Science Fiction to Science Fact.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great book it makes you stop and think
Review: This book was very interesting.I read it in 11th grade English. We had many disscusions and look deep in to the concepts of the book. It had our class debating on topics that were'nt even mentioned in the book, but brought the ideas to our minds.This book makes me wonder about what our future will look like with all the advanced technology thats coming about. Will we soon become the victims of a world like this book describes.....? The people in this book become almost like a slave to technology instead of technology becoming a slave to them.Is that happening to us now, always wanting fast entertainment, not applying our Knowledge to problems or circumstances in our lives,or maybe not even taking the time out to sit down and read something. Makes you think and thats what Brandbury does throughout this book. So if you like to take the time out to read a book,think about what you've read and apply that knowledge to intances throughout your life then you'll love this book.
Rating:
Summary: It's a book that makes you experience the joy of books.
Review: Of all of the books I have ever read, Farenheit 451 made me think the most. It's an easy to read enjoyable story, but it also makes you think along the lines of "What would life be like if . . ?" Most books that take place in the future involve alien warfare and voyages through space. This futuristic story, however, takes you to future earth, where books are illegal to own. After reading this book I wanted to go out and read all the classics I could find. It has been about five years since I read the book, and every time I read a classic, I think about the characters in farenheit 451 who couldn't. I've always appreciated books, but after reading Farenheit 451, I cherish them. It's one of those books where after you turn the last page, you say "Wow." And then you just sit there, contemplating how real this unreal story actually is. It's true that books are still legal, and hopefully always will be. But, I wonder, is it also true that in the age of e-mails, websites, and cell phones, can we lose interest in simple things like letter writing, non-email greeting cards, and books? I would say yes. And, I think that in Farenheit 451, Ray Bradbury says yes too.
Rating:
Summary: Philosophical
Review: This book should not merely by its face value. It is a "good" book on its plot and development alone. Its insight into life, however, knocks it up a step. It is very profound and warns us of an ignorant, entertainment society.
Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed this book
Review: After reading this book, I realize that our society is really destroying itself. I really enjoyed this book, and I think other people should read it, so they can think about ways to help society.
Rating:
Summary: The best book I've ever read
Review: This is an exelent book. I'm not quite sure why kids don't like it; I read the book when I was 12, and I couldn't put the book down. I found that the author did an exelent job showing the emotions of the characters, and made me feel almost like I was one of them. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone, but I will give one piece of advise: If you get to the second chapter, and don't like it, stop reading the book. Though it may seem like you have to finish it, if you think the first part is bad, you'll probably hate the book. Though some books have little action at the begining, then change, this book really doesn't change. There are a few parts with action, but only to a small extent. The first part may seem like it doesn't have any action, and it doesn't, but if you are waiting for the real story to start, you probably missed it. Though the entire book has little action, the author constantly adds very thought-provoking ideas, which makes the book intersting even when there is absolutley no action what so ever. One more thing, if the idea of firemen starting fires sounds like the most stupid idea ever, it won't matter. I definatly didn't start reading the book because of this concept. I thought it was a horrible idea, but it turns out, it works very well. So, read this book. If you don't like it at first (and I'm guessing but probably only about 1% of everyone who reads it won't like it) then stop reading it. It won't get much better.
Rating: 
Summary: In the words of Homer Simpson "Good, but not Great"
Review: When I was handed my copy of this book I thought that it was going to be up there with "1984" and "A clockwork Orange" "Lord of the flies", that sort of thing. But I was mistaken. The book was kind of shallow at times and left me thinking "there should be more to this" but there was not. The whole book I was waiting for something big to happen, but nothing ever did. The book did however have some good points. Bradbury has an odd writing style that I'm not a big fan of. That is why, it got 3 stars from me.
Rating:
Summary: This was an excellent novel!
Review: Even though this book was written in the 1950s, it shows life how it really is now in the 21st century. He explains life in such detail, you feel like you are really there. I had to read this as a class assignment and I honestly enjoyed reading it. It is probably one of the only books that have kept me interested in reading.Ray Bradbury is an exceptional writer!
|
