A classic I never read in school, I listened to this audio recording. Guy Montag is a fireman. But this is set in the far future and a fireman is not what we think - he sets fires, specifically, he burns books. Society has deemed books dangerous because the ideas contained in them threaten the "utopia" of not having to be uncomfortable, challenged, or offended. Written decades ago, Bradbury sees the future clearer than we might want to admit. I was utterly deprived of any legitimate literature for the past months because of (1) my thesis, and (2) my thesis. I’ve been longing to sit beside our window, drink a cup of hot tea, and read. It wasn’t until this Christmas break that I get the chance to commit to that daydreaming. And that was why when I took hold of this book, I realized that I have somehow forgotten the feeling of a paperback in my hands. And that was why, heavily thirsty for books, I engulfed this one in a short sitting. And despite my voracious and primitive consumption of the book, I’d say that Ray Bradbury is (?) was (?) one helluva writer and his book deserved to win all sorts of awards. Given all this, I’d say that if there was a book that deserves exigent reading, it should be this one. It is simple yet perfectly compelling. On a personal note, I think the book is readable, and within the simple lines are rich and powerful messages. It’s relevant to us, and it tells us important lessons. But let me justify this further. For one, the premise alone is fresh. Fahrenheit 451 was set in future dystopian America where the law mandates the burning of all books, regardless of publisher, genre, kind, etc. The compelling assertion is that books carry with them “funny” messages that drive humans crazy, insane, deranged, you name it, and that with books, people will experience arrays of emotions including pain and suffering- and many other things that the government would want to “shield” its citizen from. But ultimately, the idea was that these books are vectors of dissenting ideas that could breed a culture of distrust and eventually sedition against the government. Considering this, the future generation of American think that to resolve the “problem” at hand, books should be burnt- including even the houses where these books are located and the people who refuse to have the books burnt. Sounds like a stupid solution. Why not simple confiscate them? Put them all in a big storage room? Nope. The government has to burn them because nothing’s more painful than seeing lovely pages being devoured in inferno. (Even simple dog ears make me cringe.) What’s important is that it’s this plotline that makes a good book a good book. Although relatively reminiscent of current dystopian book themes – censorship – Fahrenheit 451 is unique in its own terms. Plus, it was published years ago so it is HIGHLY POSSIBLE that many present books derived their ideas from this kickass one. Secondly, I like the dilemma the book poses. If we were to situate this in today’s setting, I (and bibliophiles at large) will simply cease to exist. Life without books is no life at all. Might as well get over with it. That is why Fahrenheit 451 made me feel an unbearable feeling of pain and loss through sheer imagination of the absence of books. It felt like a punch in the gut and after reading the book, I realized that I needed that punch. Although we MIGHT still exist without books, we will never live again. Period.And thirdly, I particularly like the book’s simplicity. It has a lone main protagonist, Guy Montag, and some few more characters. Essentially, it was perfectly readable and there was never a moment that I found myself lost amidst the words. The linear narrative is easy to follow and I’d say is appropriate for people who want a quick tour of literature. To be honest, sometimes reading really really thick books becomes a chore. But reading this was a breeze. In summary, the book provides a pretty accurate guess of where the present generation is heading. With people’s preference skewed to instantaneous gratification and the absence of the patience to pore through thick materials, our future is looking a little bleak. We’re so blinded by a society driven by mass consumerism and vanity that we often fail to see that the greatest joy of life is often found in the pages of a good book. And by a good book, I mean stories that portray characters that are either remarkable or simple- as long as we can relate to their hardships and delights. Moreover, Fahrenheit 451, at its best, is a wonderful reminder that stories, the voices of writers, the challenges, the triumphs, the greatness of humanity, can be all found in books. Books make us cry, yes, but we have to be reminded that life is not all rainbows. Pain is a natural thing. We don’t need any form of sugarcoating because through pain and suffering, we become more of what we are, and most importantly, more human.
What do You think about Fahrenheit 451 (2013)?
A very haunting story that I had read over and over again.
—linda
