Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Fahrenheit 451

This book is a classic for a reason. Prior to reading this book, I had only heard it was about book sensorship but I think that neglects so much of this story. Yes it's about sensorship, but it is also about war, technology, human connection, and what it means to be human. Feel like that makes this book even more important.

That being said, just talking about the actual reading experience, I was a little disappointed. It feels like a big opportunity was missed by starting at the point where the main character has a change of heart instead of establishing his character before the change. It made it difficult to connect or feel anything for him. I know lots of emotions are taken out because of the environment, but even the characters that were fighting felt flat and didn't elicit the emotions I was expecting.

Overall, one I think is important and a must read for its lessons and societal impact. But not as captivating as it could have been just as a story.

Content Warnings

singalana's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Omia ajatuksia ja tuntemuksia oli hankalaa summata yhteen tämän kirjan lukemisen jälkeen. Luulen, että se pitääkö tästä kirjasta vai ei, riippuu paljon siitä mitä asioita kirjassa arvostaa.

Fahrenheit 451 on dystooppinen novelli tulevaisuudesta, missä kirjat on kielletty ja ihmiset pidetään tyytyväisenä viihteen avulla. Sodat ovat normaaleja ja ihmiset tekevät itsemurhia, mutta kukaan ei pysähdy miettimään ovatko he onnellisia. Päähenkilö Guy Montag kuuluu palomiehiin, joiden tehtävä on etsiä ja rankaista rikollisia: ihmisiä, joiden hallussa on kirjoja. Kirjat, sekä niitä hallussa pitäneen ihmisen talo poltetaan. Montag pitää työstään, kunnes eräänä päivänä nuori tyttö kysyy häneltä onko hän onnellinen.

On suorastaan hämmästyttävää miten paljon kirjan yhteiskunta muistuttaa maapallon nykytilaa: aivoja turruttavaa viihdettä, mekaanisia robottikoiria valvomassa lainrikkojia, kirjojen kieltämistä. Kuitenkin on sanottava, että kirjan sanoma on vaikuttavampi kuin toteutus. Jos pidät syväluotaavista hahmojen ja maailman kuvauksesta, saatat pettyä tämmän kirjan proosaan. Täytyy kuitenkin miettiä, onko tämä tarkoituksella: onko esimerkiksi Montagin hahmon tarkoitus toimia kehyksinä, joihin voimme asettaa itsemme? Kirjassa esitetään myös muutamia hyviä havaintoja esimerkiksi siitä, mitä ihminen jättää jälkeensä kuollessaan.

Valitettavasti olen itse sellainen lukija, että kaipaan hahmoilta hieman enemmän syvyyttä. Lisäksi olisin toivonut välillä hieman viipyilevämpää kerrontaa, etenkin kun esiteltiin tarinan kannalta tärkeitä konsepteja. Fahrenheit on kuitenkin nopealukuinen ja teemoiltaan tärkeä, joten suosittelen sitä kyllä lämpimästi kaikille.

Tämän painoksen kansi on graafisesti miellyttävä ja kuvaava, ja selkämyksen kuviointi on tehty muistuttamaan tulitikkulaatikon raapaisupintaa.

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johannarose's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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nikolas_kolinski's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Fahrenheit 451 - review

"Fahrenheit 451" is undoubtedly an excellent novel, and it is easy to see why it is considered one of the great classics of modern literature. However, while the work has a fascinating premise to say the least, it still has some flaws in its execution.

Bradbury's style is engaging and capable of capturing the reader's attention, thanks in part to his frequent use of rhetorical figures or narrative techniques such as stream-of-consciousness (which can be a bit over the top at times, though).
The author is able to make interesting reflections on various themes, such as the importance of reading and free expression, as well as education and teaching, while also highlighting the possible dangers of excessive dependence on technology and frivolous and unsubstantial means of entertainment, and also managing - implicitly - to highlight some of the problems present in the society of the time (focusing especially on the issue of marital problems and marriages established solely out of necessity).
The characterization of the characters is not well developed (also due to the eximious length of the work) but this nonetheless enhances the point Bradbury wants to make, a.k.a. the loss of identity and reason in a society where one is constantly addicted to entertainment and has no time for reflection. Some potentially interesting story-lines or characters, however, are dropped too quickly or unexpectedly (

Clarisse or her family members come to mind: intriguing characters but removed from the narrative already shortly after their first appearance

), and this can certainly create confusion in the narrative rhythm.
The rather heavy presence of unrealistic elements (even though this is in fact a science fiction tale) may not always be appreciated by the reader: creative ideas such as the four-walled television set or the Mechanical Hound may even be interesting, however the final solution proposed to solve the problem of book burnings is certainly not the best one (

memorizing every book in existence in order to keep remembering is not a realistic solution, and given the subject matter of the work, the problem presented should be given at least a plausible solution

).

Overall, Ray Bradbury acts as a spokeperson for a rather profound theme that is open to many insights, approaching it in an original and compelling way but perhaps not always with the right approach; Fahrenheit 451 still asserts itself as a manifesto in honor of reading and literature, even if the goal and premise may sometimes seem better than the substance and content of the literary work itself.

Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were heading for shore.

Content Warnings