Reviews tagging 'Car accident'

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

30 reviews

woolgatherer's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

2.5

Fahrenheit 451 seems to be one of those novels that is regularly assigned in classrooms in the United States. I was never assigned the novel, so it was interesting to approach it without forced analyses coloring my reading experience. That being said, I can see why it's such a popular novel to assign: it's loaded with symbolism and the messages are graspable concepts to dissect.

That being said, like many dystopian novels written by white authors, I found myself a bit dissatisfied with the world Bradbury presented. Put simply, Bradbury presents a dystopian world that has always been a reality for those who have been colonized and, relatedly, in the context of the United States, people of color. Considering this, I don't think it's entirely correct to say that Bradbury predicted the future (other than wireless earphones and flatscreen televisions), which I'm sure people have stated since the exponential rise of book banning in the United States. Knowledge suppression and censorship have always been present. It's just that it wasn't impacting the demographic Bradbury feared would be targeted.

I also found other things disappointing about this novel. I felt the worldbuilding and character development lacked, which could have been addressed pretty easily if the novel was longer. (That being said, I imagine not many people would be thrilled by that idea, considering the polarizing opinions on Bradbury's prose, ahaha.) I had too many questions that went unanswered. I wanted to know more about Clarisse (who I thought was one of the most one-dimensional characters I've come across in a while). Captain Beatty fascinated me because he was clearly well-read, yet stood on the side of burning books. I wanted a better understanding of why. I wanted to learn more about these wars that were happening, the rise of other forms of media and their last impact, among other things. I suppose I could always look at what's happening in the world to get some idea, but I wanted to learn more about the world Bradbury constructed.

I think I'm glad to have read this novel, just for the sake of knowing why it's part of the Western (specifically US) literary canon. I clearly got something out of it, but I don't think it's a novel I'd revisit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Moderate: War and Car accident

lizziaha's review against another edition

3.75

Bradbury clearly has a beautiful writing style. The beginning of this book is breathtaking—I wish Clarisse had appeared more often throughout the rest of the book. Despite the book being obviously dated, I do think some aspects of his dystopian world were surprisingly parallel to our present. For some people to see that, of course, they’d need to think about it critically, something that can be lacking in our insular world (Bradbury definitely got that one right). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Addiction, Suicide, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Grief, Death, Child death, and Car accident

Minor: Animal death, Misogyny, War, and Abortion

izypup's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Violence, and Drug abuse

Minor: Toxic relationship, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Bullying, Abandonment, Car accident, Murder, Child death, and War

akvolcano's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

2.75

I’m glad that I’ve read this now, I doubt I’d have the same perspective if I read it in high school. I find it quite ironic and ignorant that the author claims that “minorities” are the ones destroying literature and thoughtfulness. That THEY would be and ARE the reason information censoring exists. When in current times, it is people who look and think like him, a rich white old man, who are the main source of people who like to censor stories written by and about minorities. He also thinks that complexity can only be created, exist, maintain, in an exclusionist and harmful environment. It is a shame he does not see the beautiful endless deep complexities in inclusivity and understanding and active listening and having empathy for others. He is missing out.
As for the book itself, I wish parts of the afterword was included in the book. I also wish that this book was longer….where it left off still feels like the backstory. I do enjoy the futuristic exploration! I also agree with placing high value on letting ourselves slowing down and giving us a chance to think and to feel. I would like to write down some quotes from this book!
I also find it ironic that this book has been banned on and off. I feel like it proves part of his point that it is more of so the thoughts and actions that happen after reading a book-that is more dangerous than the book itself. The power comes from people, books help with the process of  preserving and sharing those ideas.
Overall, I am glad I finally read this book myself. I wouldn’t read it again, nor would I recommend it without heavy discussion, but it does paint a good picture. Oh and also-

The idea of people memorizing books, stories, history-is not original. It comes from Indigenous people and it comes from so many other cultures. But it doesn’t surprise me that credit is not given to the source of which gave him the idea to include it in the book

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Racism, Ableism, Blood, Car accident, Cursing, Police brutality, Violence, Bullying, Miscarriage, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Abortion, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, War, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

johannarose's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicide

Moderate: Car accident, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Self harm, War, Genocide, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Grief, Abortion, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

tashcullen's review against another edition

adventurous reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

"Stuff your eyes with wonder...live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic that any dream made or paid for in factories.”
I really enjoyed Fahrenheit 451 and I couldn't put it down at times - I was left wanting more!
It is not just a dystopia about book burnings and censorship but it provides a touching portrayal of friendship, of questioning reality and of the perseverance of people. The protagonist's journey through crisis and his character development is written about in a way which makes you feel as though you are walking in his shoes. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and War

jakeaboi's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Man this thing really predicted the future well. Airpods? Seashells? Yikes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Suicide attempt and War

Minor: Car accident

agatha_hopkins's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Wow! This book really surprised me. When I first read this book sometime in upper elementary or middle school, I didn't really understand it for what it was. I couldn't see through a lot of the flowery language and metaphors (a warning for those who struggle with this). However, now that I'm a bit older, I can appreciate it for all that it is.

It's ironic that this book about banning and burning books is a banned book itself, but I bet the reasons why are because of the use of profanity and the

ripping out of pages of the Bible by Montag

.

I would recommend this to pretty much anyone as long as they are mature.

Previous rating: 4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Medical content, Death, Animal cruelty, War, Cursing, Violence, Murder, and Mental illness

Minor: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Grief, Child death, Body shaming, Suicide, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Car accident, and Abortion

lonely_tardigrade's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Gaslighting, and Violence

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Child death, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Gore, Grief, and Suicide

Minor: Drug abuse, Abortion, Alcohol, Drug use, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Stalking, and Vomit

sweetchocolatez's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Car accident, and War