<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disturbing
Review: Before I read Fahrenheit 451, our reading teacher, MR. FLEMING THE COOL, instructed us to read Ray Bradbury's "The Pedestrian", which can be found in "THE GIVER AND RELATED READINGS". Fahrenheit 451 takes place in a future where they burn books. Guy Montag, a Firemen, enjoys his job and the pleasure of burning pages. He meets young Clarisse McClellan, a girl who changes his view of the world and of books. He begins to think and brood. He starts to question why the Firemen burn books and what secrets lie hidden in them. Thus is the bare beginnings of one of the greatest books in modern literature. There are a cast of powerful secondary characters: Beatty, the cynical Fire Captain who tries to stifle Montag's curiosity; Faber, a Professor who sides with Montag in his crusade; and Granger, the leader of a camp of refugees of society. Also Recommended for anyone who likes this book: The Giver
The Man Who Was Thursday Read all three of the mentioned books!
Rating:
Summary: Definition of a classic...
Review: I've heard so many people say they've been influenced by Bradbury (writers and others) and I can see why--this is simply a great novel. Bradbury is really a national treasure. If you ever get the chance to hear him speak, don't miss him. His stories are priceless. (Especially the one about his anger at people telling him for years that he was crazy to believe man would set foot on the moon in his lifetime. He said he called up every person who laughed in his face the night Neil Armstrong did--and pretty much laughed in their faces!) There is a fantastic one-on-one interview with him in the Walt Disney Tomorrowland-Disney in Space and Beyond DVD (interviewer is Leonard Maltin). His friendship with Disney (a fellow futurist) was fascinating. But it's the sense of wonder and child-like curiosity and optimism (not childish or blind optimism as he clearly understands what can create a dystopia) that make you realize why he is a national treasure. He's inspired me to look to the future, to look up, to look forward, to always be wary and alert to what can go wrong, (and the dangers of closed or lazy minds) BUT not to let any of that stop you--that anything is possible in a world willing to believe, in a free world with open and curious minds.
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...)
<< 1 >>
| 
