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It was a pleasure to burn.
Fahrenheit 451 is so wonderful, so beautiful, so amazing that it almost leaves me speechless. It is a haunting story of a bleak future. Our hero, Guy Montag, is in a loveless marriage with his wife, Mildred. He meets a young, vibrant girl, Clarisse, and they talk--talk of nothing and everything. She dares to think, to ask questions, to be curious, to be full of wonder and life, to have a spark of something that has almost been lost in society and civilization. But, her tragic end helps focus Montag's perspective. It has been coming for a while now, perhaps ever since meeting that old man, Faber, in the park, but Montag knows that he can no longer live the lie. He no longer wants to burn books, to burn houses of people who love books. He no longer wants to be a fireman. He wants to read books; he wants to learn; he wants to know what it is like to LIVE again, to think, to think critically, to think about things even if it means being sad or sorrowful or anxious and worried. He doesn't want to be mindlessly entertained by "the family" on three of his walls or a seashell in his ears. Even if there is a scary war coming. He wants to stand against the majority and face reality.
Favorite quotes:
Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man? Me? I won't stomach them for a minute...Remember, Montag, we're the happiness boys. We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought. (50-1)
We've started and won two atomic wars since 1990! Is it because we're having so much fun at home we've forgotten the world? Is it because we're so rich and the rest of the world's so poor and we just don't care if they are? Is that why we're hated so much? Do you know why? I don't, that's sure! Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave. God, Millie, don't you see? An hour a day, two hours, with these books, and maybe... (62)
Good God, it isn't as simple as just picking up a book you laid down half a century ago. Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord. (78)
It’s been a long time. I’m not a religious man. But it’s been a long time.’ Faber turned the pages, stopping here and there to read. ‘It’s as good as I remember. Lord, how they’ve changed it in our parlors these days. Christ is one of the family now. I often wonder if God recognizes His own son the way we’ve dressed him up, or is it dressed him down? He’s a regular peppermint stick now, all5 Comments on Fahrenheit 451, last added: 6/18/2012Display Comments Add a Comment
Oh my! I just bought this book. It sounds incredible. Can't wait to read it. :-)
I have yet to read a Ray Bradbury book. Shameful, I know. I will have to start with this one. Thank you for the lovely post. It was especially good to see all of the covers that you presented.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. The scene near the end with the people who have memorized whole books is amazing. The movie version was pretty dumb except for that last, powerful scene.
It's a must-read for book lovers.
I finally read this book, a few weeks ago, for the first time. I can't believe I put it off this long. It is such an amazing book, especially when you consider it was one of the first of its kind, and it's full of thought-provoking passages. :-)
I really enjoyed this book as well. Here's the link to my review about it: http://abigailannreading.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/fahrenheit-451-by-ray-bradbury-review.html