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meredithmancini's review against another edition
4.0
I throughly enjoyed reading this book. The first and third parts were amazing and easy to sit down and read for hours. Part two was tough to push myself to read. This book is a classic for a reason, and I think that everyone should read it.
littlemei7's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It uses figurative language that can be a little difficult to follow at times, but it’s not too hard to read overall. It speaks a lot of truths about issues still going on today.
mythicca's review against another edition
4.0
I'll be frank with my review since this book twisted my brain quite a lot.
This book contains a very interesting aspect to the world which is so raw you have to read it over a few times.
This book provides a chilling look at reality and what may come of it.
Although this book may have had times where it was a bit confusing and dragged on, it also had some short moments that made you wince and cringe at society.
This book was pretty mediocre but was very raw.
Sometimes all we need sometimes is to open our eyes and witness something raw.
4/5 stars.
This book contains a very interesting aspect to the world which is so raw you have to read it over a few times.
This book provides a chilling look at reality and what may come of it.
Although this book may have had times where it was a bit confusing and dragged on, it also had some short moments that made you wince and cringe at society.
This book was pretty mediocre but was very raw.
Sometimes all we need sometimes is to open our eyes and witness something raw.
4/5 stars.
boink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- 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
roseastro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jem_1984's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.0
halthemonarch's review against another edition
4.0
The prose is a gem reminiscent of Orwells 1984 and Ellison’s Invisible Man, written in a sweeping, metaphorical, illustrative way. Rather than relying on the story to carry the plot beats, we follow Montag’s emotions and breakthroughs. He’s a fireman tasked with burning books in a dystopian (cautionary-tale style) future where thinking for one’s self is dangerous, feared, and immediately snuffed out. Montag meets a woman who opens his mind to ideas, and soon is tasked with burning an old woman’s house down-- The woman refuses to leave, and Montag’s new friend sympathizes before she too is disappeared. Montag runs to the comfort of his wife Mildred, but she is barely convinced. When Montag reveals a part of his book collection and dares to read poetry aloud, Mildred and a handful of her friends call the fire station. Montag’s superior, Beatty is on the scene. Radicalized, Montag has a historian in his ear telling him to be careful and to run, but after Beaty relieves him of the angel on his shoulder/in his bluetooth headphone, Montag lights Beatty up and runs for the wilderness. It’s covered on the news, but the mechanical dogs (a la that one episode of Black Mirror) lose his scent at the river and he’s able to stumble apon a troup of likeminded outcasts. Montag feels unworthy at first, for these men have memorized great books and he is new to revolt, but they assure him he’s among good company. Then, due to the welling fear and overwhelming chaos-- a bomb goes off and levels the city. Montag is moaning his wife’s name, sure she’s dead but looking toward the future with what could be optimism if one squinted. Like I said, it’s less about what happens and more about how the events made Montag (and the reader) feel.
I remember reading this in high school and thinking-- A bomb? But why? Why would the government bomb their own people for gaining information or panicking or-- it wasn’t really explained. A population at unrest is harder to control, which may have been the reason. There was poetic waxing in the forest, a glance at a pocket TV/radio, and then a bomb. I stepped back and tried to look at what the bomb could represent, and how bombings rarely if ever have satisfactory reasons for being deployed. It is a control tactic, one of terror and brutal efficiency which should be banned like chemical weaponry has been since WW2.
I remember reading this in high school and thinking-- A bomb? But why? Why would the government bomb their own people for gaining information or panicking or-- it wasn’t really explained. A population at unrest is harder to control, which may have been the reason. There was poetic waxing in the forest, a glance at a pocket TV/radio, and then a bomb. I stepped back and tried to look at what the bomb could represent, and how bombings rarely if ever have satisfactory reasons for being deployed. It is a control tactic, one of terror and brutal efficiency which should be banned like chemical weaponry has been since WW2.
hilikus_00's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book in one sitting.
Bradbury, of course is an excellent writer, the characters were well-developed and the dystopian setting was great. We meet Guy Montag, a "fireman" in a time when society becomes brainwashed and drones on through their existences distracted and unable to freely think. Instead of putting out fires like the firemen we know, these dystopian "firemen", light and stoke the fires themselves - the kindling, books. Montag is a likeable character, honest and revolutionary.
Sad that the social commentary present in this book, first published in the 50s, is so relevant today in 2011.
Bradbury, of course is an excellent writer, the characters were well-developed and the dystopian setting was great. We meet Guy Montag, a "fireman" in a time when society becomes brainwashed and drones on through their existences distracted and unable to freely think. Instead of putting out fires like the firemen we know, these dystopian "firemen", light and stoke the fires themselves - the kindling, books. Montag is a likeable character, honest and revolutionary.
Sad that the social commentary present in this book, first published in the 50s, is so relevant today in 2011.