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You might be looking at my rating and thinking “Amber, what the feck is wrong with you?”. I wouldn’t blame you. Fahrenheit 451 is a much beloved classic, and is a favourite of many of my friends, and two stars is a bloody low rating. It probably seems appalling that I have rated it so low, but I want you to know that I did appreciate what the book was saying, even if I didn’t particularly enjoy reading it.
I’m not making much sense because my feelings for Fahrenheit 451 are all over the place. On the one hand, I did like the premise of a guy who had been brainwashed basically doing a 180 and saying FUCK THE GOVERNMENT. On the other, Bradbury’s writing wasn’t compelling enough for me, and the execution of this novel was a let down.
The characters were very underwhelming because they just weren’t developed. I think Bradbury probably meant for it to be this way, but I didn’t like it. I wanted more fleshed out characters, although I did like a couple of them… but I can’t remember their names. Ha. Oh well.
Guy was a good character to follow because I love the idea of a character being brainwashed for his entire life, leading to him getting a job where he pretty much burns everything good to the ground for no reason, to suddenly undergo an awakening and rebel. I can see why dystopia is such a popular genre because dystopian societies are freakin’ awesome and scary when they’re created and developed properly.
Overall, Fahrenheit 451 is a good book, although it’s definitely lacking in some places and it didn’t live up to my expectations at all. I’m glad that I read it though because OH MY GOD, they burn books and it was very unsettling when I was imagining firemen running into my house to destroy my bookshelves. Sob.
Teen Underground says
I completely understand because I’m not a huge fan of many of the so-called classics (Fahrenheit 451 is an exception, but to each their own) that so many people rave about. Lord of the Flies—probably my least-favorite book of all time. The Great Gatsby—I can’t make myself like the characters or appreciate the story. Anyway, you get the idea. But, as you say, regardless of how you feel about the book itself, its message is such an important one, especially this week—Banned Books Week!!
The Avid Reader says
I haven’t read this since I had to for school and I honestly can’t remember if I liked it or not! But I enjoyed reading your review. 🙂 Undeveloped characters would bug me so I may pass on doing a re-read of this one. I actually just bought 1984 on a whim so I might pick that up instead!
Tanya Patrice says
I read this a few months ago and I totally get where you’re coming from. At times, it was downright boring.
Cassidie Jhones says
I remember reading this a while ago. I never finished it though. I was really really bored. And the whole “going against the government and refuse to burn books and fleeing” thing just didn’t work out for me as I would have liked it to.
April @ My Shelf Confessions says
It’s ironic because I’m not really a fan of classics at all. I’ve only found a few I’ve enjoyed reading them and this was definitely one of them that I enjoyed, such a bummer you didn’t – but understandable since I don’t like a lot of these “beloved” classics.
Hopefully the next classic you attempt to read will go better!