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).
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
carlycormier_'s review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
4 / 5
"So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They see the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, emotionless."
I enjoyed Orwell’s 1984 in high school so I thought I would give this one a read. I am very glad that I did! This book reignited ( pun intended) my desire to read. I had, oddly enough, fallen off the train some time ago in favor of podcasts and other forms of digital media. This book put me back on the path of reading for knowledge.
Fahrenheit 451 turned out to be the first book I have annotated in a really long time. I found myself enjoying Bradbury's word choice, blocking/highlighting sections simply for how beautiful it was. I had forgotten what it was like to read something then have to re-read it to experience it again! Specifically, the vivid and lyrical imagery of fire that is conjured up is one of my favorite parts of this book.
"Delicately, like the petals of a flower. Light the first page, light the second page. Each becomes a black butterfly... Light the third page... chain-smoking, chapter by chapter, all the silly things the words mean, all the false promises, all the secondhand notions and time-worn philosophies."
Bradbury has a way of peeling back your world view and exposing it in a new light.
"How like a mirror, too, her face. Impossible; for how many people did you know that refracted your own light to you? ... How rarely did other people's faces take of you and throw back to your own expression, your own innermost trembling thought?" </spoiler>
This book is beyond its years in many ways: the plot, the ideology, the technology. It was thought-provoking in a way that I was not expecting. I knew I was going to be reading about a dystopian world that banned books, but not much else beyond that.
I am writing this review a few months later and am still thinking about this book! Not five stars simply because the ending felt rushed, unfinished even, and I was left wanting more, but not in an unenjoyable way. Montag's story fell short while simultaneously ending exactly how it needed to. Conflicting feelings on the last dozen pages, but would still recommend this book for its thought-provoking content.
As a side note:
I would recommend the copy I had (ISBN 978-1-4516-7331-9). This version includes an entire section on the history, context, and criticism of the book. It was fascinating to read more about the book from a historical standpoint, as well as a contemporary appreciation for its role within the dystopian/sci-fi genre.
"So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They see the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, emotionless."
I enjoyed Orwell’s 1984 in high school so I thought I would give this one a read. I am very glad that I did! This book reignited ( pun intended) my desire to read. I had, oddly enough, fallen off the train some time ago in favor of podcasts and other forms of digital media. This book put me back on the path of reading for knowledge.
Fahrenheit 451 turned out to be the first book I have annotated in a really long time. I found myself enjoying Bradbury's word choice, blocking/highlighting sections simply for how beautiful it was. I had forgotten what it was like to read something then have to re-read it to experience it again! Specifically, the vivid and lyrical imagery of fire that is conjured up is one of my favorite parts of this book.
"Delicately, like the petals of a flower. Light the first page, light the second page. Each becomes a black butterfly... Light the third page... chain-smoking, chapter by chapter, all the silly things the words mean, all the false promises, all the secondhand notions and time-worn philosophies."
Bradbury has a way of peeling back your world view and exposing it in a new light.
Spoiler
My favorite moments that showcase this are found in the interactions between Montag and Clarisse in the first part of the book. Clarisse's innocence sees through the falsities of the world with such purity and clarity, while also teaching Montag to do the same."How like a mirror, too, her face. Impossible; for how many people did you know that refracted your own light to you? ... How rarely did other people's faces take of you and throw back to your own expression, your own innermost trembling thought?" </spoiler>
This book is beyond its years in many ways: the plot, the ideology, the technology. It was thought-provoking in a way that I was not expecting. I knew I was going to be reading about a dystopian world that banned books, but not much else beyond that.
Spoiler
I was pleasantly surprised by the concept of censorship of citizens by citizens as opposed to our western-normative understanding that censorship is a form of governmental power. Montag lives in a world that chose to rid itself of books in favor of technological advancements. I read this during the early days of COVID-19 quarantine which lead my brain down a meandering path of questioning my own reliance on technology as entertainment, information, and daily functioning.I am writing this review a few months later and am still thinking about this book! Not five stars simply because the ending felt rushed, unfinished even, and I was left wanting more, but not in an unenjoyable way. Montag's story fell short while simultaneously ending exactly how it needed to. Conflicting feelings on the last dozen pages, but would still recommend this book for its thought-provoking content.
As a side note:
I would recommend the copy I had (ISBN 978-1-4516-7331-9). This version includes an entire section on the history, context, and criticism of the book. It was fascinating to read more about the book from a historical standpoint, as well as a contemporary appreciation for its role within the dystopian/sci-fi genre.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death
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
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
emcasmith's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide attempt
sunniva174's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Death
Moderate: War
its4am's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and War
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Gore
fluture's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
When I read this book, I couldn't help but wondering when it will be finished. The premise is unique—how books were seen as sins and how people just start burning books—but the words that are used in this book aren't enjoyable enough for me to read and keep a long span of attention. I keep realizing how I zoned out in the middle of reading each paragraph, wondering what is the real meaning behind each word.
This book is probably more suitable or enjoyable for you who like philosophical talks. If you're patient enough, the story gets a bit better at the end.
This book is probably more suitable or enjoyable for you who like philosophical talks. If you're patient enough, the story gets a bit better at the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Death, Gore, Murder, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Police brutality, War, Suicide attempt, and Medical content
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
wvelociraptor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Murder
annatan's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Suicide attempt