This sci-fi classic, first published in 1951, takes place in the "future" (actually one source says 1999) when books are outlawed and burned. In this frightening and violent society, those who try to hide books have their entire homes burned down by firemen, whose jobs are no longer to put out fires, but to start them. (Book paper burns at 451 degrees Fahrenheit, hence the title.)
The main character is one of these firemen, who becomes very curious about books. Turns out there is a subculture of people who want to preserve whole books in their memories so they are not lost. But I won't give away any more!
It is always interesting to read how people from the past imagined the future to be. Obviously, in the 1950's Bradbury had no inkling of the internet, and his money-related examples are way off (a fireman's yearly salary is $6,000). But he does incorporate big-screen TVs taking up entire walls in people's homes and, as one blogger wrote on another site, "A mindless virtual reality, much like TV today, took care of everyone’s needs and killed their curiosity. Also, an intense athletics and action-based culture made sure no one had the leisure to think or examine life." Independent thinking is quashed because it's "dangerous."
Reading this as an adult is so much different from reading it as a high school assignment. I have a completely different viewpoint of it now, a much richer understanding of its meanings and implications.
It's not a long book, and I didn't feel it was a GREAT book, but I did enjoy it. There was also a movie and a play based on the book, but with differences.
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2 comments:
It always seems strange to me how different a book is when read again as an adult. Boy, do our perspectives change! Mary
It always seems strange to me how different a book is when read again as an adult. Boy, do our perspectives change! Mary
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