Fahrenheit 451

Rating:
Summary: Profoundly unfulfilling.
Review: Another dark, gloomy, mildly confusing, Blade Runner-ish view of the future lacking in any redeeming qualities. "In the future, Firemen burn books" -- Bradbury creates an inventive premise but his own gloom overtakes the story. Fraught with loose ends, this is the last book you read before you set yourself on fire.

Rating:
Summary: Literal bookburning in a world too like our own
Review: In Fahrenheit 451 (the temperature at which books burn, for the curious), the Ray Bradbury evokes a terrifying America similar to our own in all respects but one- the fireman there burn books. With the aid of a mysterious girl, Clarice, who says she is "seventeen and crazy," fireman Guy Montag chooses to defy society and is forced to run for sanctuary, even as a nuclear Armageddon approaches. Bradbury's love of books is evident in his theme, and his love of language is evident in his linguistic acrobatics. Anyone with a burning love of books should read Fahrenheit 451- it is truly a masterpiece

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: Blasted me off my seat
Review: There are only a handful of books that have changed my life. Certainly Rands' ATLAS SHRUGGED is one. McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD is another. And last but not least, this classic Bradbury is one-probably the MOST influential In this novel, firemen do not extinguish fires but ignite them using kerosene. The act of seeking knowledge is frowned upon and those who insist upon reading and are caught with books have their lives burned to ashes. This book follows the life of a fireman named Guy Montag who before meeting an optimistic seventeen-year-old named Clarisse had never once desired to color outside the lines or in any other pigment than black or white. With Clarisse's wise words of a world once been wafting through his mind, Guy suddenly begins to see a world of colors and starts thinking that life is not as simple and happy, as he once believed it to be. Suddenly Guy is trapped between doing what he believes is right and becoming a fugitive, or doing what the rest of society believes to be right. This conflict of self is the soul of a novel that is filled to the brim with plot twists and metaphorical logic to make one think. Take for example the night that Guy receives some shocking news about Clarisse, a key point in the novel. This one night leads to Guy's new perception of the life he has been leading and shows him what a meaningless life it has been. Another key point in the novel would have to be the night that Guy reveals a part of his life to Mildred. This would probably have to be the most crucial part of the novel since it is the beginning of a new life for Guy and shows him who he really married and the true affect society has on people. However terrifying the prospect of living in such a time is to the readers of this book, the novel was nonetheless superbly written and portrayed the characters in all aspects of life perfectly. The tone of the book was faster pace than one would expect in a novel about the burning of knowledge and humanity but still has a darker edge to it, which helps in setting the mood for the storyline. The content of the novel was well perfectly in proportion to itself and did not go off subject or base conception once. Overall the writing was ingenious on Ran Bradbury's part. All in all, this novel is the perfect political portrayal of a corrupt society in which the man makes the rules and all must obey or die. In my opinion, everyone should be required to read this novel, student and adult alike. The writing is impeccable and so is the story plot. It makes the perfect student reading assignment and is also a great idea to read at ones leisure. This book is the quintessential literary masterpiece of our time.

Rating:
Summary: Your typical required reading material...
Review: Basically, Montag, a firefighter from the "future", burns down houses that have books inside. In the "future", books are banned, and Bradbury tries to describe a world of the "future" with big screen, color TVs. Too bad, Bradbury, that this world is already here.

It was mostly a boring read, except for a few moments. You could describe this book as depressing. Everyone, even Montag, seems to be unhappy, and I really don't care what Bradbury has to think about how depressing our world is becoming.

Rating:
Summary: Ok, but it's no 1984
Review: I read this book after 1984 and it was just not as powerful as the author intended it to be. Yes, the censorship warnings are valid and interesting (especially in these times of The Patriot Act) but for me, nothing will rival the sheer overpowering feeling of doom of 1984.Good book though, hard to read for some as it is slow, but worth it.

Rating:
Summary: fahrenheit 451
Review: Bradbury has twisted imagination, fears, thoughts and a quick lesson together to capture our senses and keep us turning the pages!
There is a certain depth to this book that is unreachable to anyone unless they are willing to dive beneath the surface to get it. Not only do the characters have feelings and thoughts; but all around the words are the feelings and sceneries that only the imagination can take in. What is actually shocking to realize is that our [country] is turning into exactly what this book says! No...were not burning books, but our entertainment and media has started controling our minds to thinking anything hard is not worth doing.
Bradbury has taken all our thoughts and fears on the future and taken to writing them down into a book. Fascinating as it is, its only our fear that our society could actually turn into this nightmare.

Rating:
Summary: With the utmost respect to Mr. Bradbury ...
Review: I could not 'get into' this book at all, and was eager for it to simply be finished by the time I got halfway through. Which is saying something- this is only 120 pages or so. I most certainly respect Bradbury and see what he is capable of in his short stories, but this novel is perhaps just a tad- what's the word- obvious for my liking.

This book was no doubt a pioneer in its time, especially in the context of Mcarthyism in which it was written; daring and controversial in its own way. That was probably where the book packed its punch ... the world has changed and audiences take more to shock them, me especially, so this tasteful story didn't hit me in the controversial spot inside.

As far as comparisons to 1984 go, I cannot honestly say 451 is in the same ballpark, or even anywhere close. It's far too simple to be seriously compared, although some have compared it. Bradbury got carried away a little too, I think, in scenes such as the chase sequence. He went overboard with repetition for some kind of emotive echo effect, I suppose intended to come across as passionate and surreal, but for me it just didn't work- it made me cringe. I felt no desire to root for the Montag, the protagonist, nor felt any emotion when he was steering himself towards danger. Bradbury was new at the gig when he wrote it, which should be born in mind; he's probably a classier act than this book might indicate.


Rating:
Summary: One of the great literary works of our time, but...
Review: The Michael Moore bashing is out of hand. Farenheit 451 might be one of the great literary works of the past century, but Michael Moore has won an oscar, so he's good too. And hey he might have borrowed the title, but hey that just proves that 452 is still relevant some 52 years later. Anyaway, see any connections, between the society in 451, and America now? Great story, and Michael Moore is not poorly dressed (ever see People's Choice Awards ad how he was dressed there?).
There, I've said it both Farenheits are great, and if you can't see the connections, then well, I guess Michael Moore is even still ahead of his time , but will never be 52 years ahead of his time... Anyway, Science fiction has a funny way of coming true...

Rating:
Summary: Fahrenheit 451
Review: Ray Bradbury is the living master of the science fiction genre. This stuff is good, written in 1953, even if you are like me and don't like science fiction. Pass on those Bush-bashing movies by disingenuous poorly dressed film-makers and go to the real thing.

This Fahrenheit is called 451 because that is the temperature at which books burn, more or less, and that is what this is about. Reminiscent of Hitlerian Germany, book burning is back in vogue in the eastern US in the late 20th century. The first ironic twist is that the firemen start the fires to burn the books, generally engulfing the book owner's home, and sometimes the book owner as well.

Guy Montag is a third generation fireman who starts to question the purpose and meaning in burning books. All homes have been somehow fireproofed, so no real fires occur, only those started by the fire department. Montag's wife sits home all day, watching mindless broadcasts on large screens, and complaining that Guy needs to earn more money in order to purchase even larger screens. Her ultimate objective is to cover all four walls of the living room with monitors.

Guy starts to sneak home some of the books and of course, he ultimately becomes the target of his own department. He learns that he should not trust his wife or his colleagues, all of whom long ago drank the kool-aid. He does make the acquaintance of an elderly professor, an intellectual and scholar from the old days, who ultimately puts him in touch with others of a similar ilk.

Perhaps most interesting is the reason givien for burning the books. Non-fiction is bad, since it is all contradictory and impossible to prove, and fiction is even worse since it is not even true, just made-up people, places, and dialogue. And dont get me started on poetry or philosophy, that will only cause confusion, sorrow, and feelings of being lost. Society has made a clear selection in its entertainment, with an absolute preference for high speed sports, action, and adventure.

More irony follows as Montag on several occasions becomes both the observer and the target as he is pursued by the authorities. Then we learn from reading a book that books are not a suitable way for humanity to store knowledge, that requires dedicated but powerless and marginalized scholars involved in constant peer review and analysis. The last irony is that Bradbury has written a very short book here, actually a novella, because he knows that we prefer action and adventure to reading.

As of this 2005 writing, I understand that Bradbury is in his 80's and still working. In various interviews, he expressed anger that Michael Moore would adapt his title for a completely unrelated and unfunny diatribe. But then, Bradbury lifted "Something Wicked This Way Comes" right out of Shakespeare. What comes around, goes around.