A review by reila
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A piece of work worth revisiting every now and then. You find something different every time, and realize just how disconnected people are from the community via technology; the suffocation of the individual in the masses; the overall loss of attention span in folks these days that are detrimental to the enjoyment of life, diverting to the violent, flashy, and often cruel means of entertainment. Bradbury's writing here is well-done (definitely flowed better than Something Wicked This Way Comes imo) and even better when read aloud, as if sharing a story over the fire. 

This was definitely a book I was unable to enjoy in school, but coming back to it as an adult really puts things in perspective. Especially when our old men (Captain Beatty and Faber) start talking; one spouts sophistry, and the other as a knowledgeable source in their field; one barks loudly, and the other a self-claimed coward.

The educated outcasts are a happy medium (in my eyes), as they acknowledge the importance of knowing that one is not important (the 'dustcovers' to the books) that will give knowledge to those who are open and ready to listen and apply.

There are so many delicious things to pick apart in this book, and is unfortunately, very timely in this, year of our lord, 2024.