Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Wow. Just wow. Fahrenheit 451 is one of those books that I've always meant to read and never done (until now.) It's a short little book, only 150 pages or so. In terms of reading time, it was a fast little book, but it took me over a week to read it. I knew before I read it that it would be powerful, I mean, how could it NOT be??

Here's the part of the summary from Amazon.com:

"In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic, frightening vision of the future, firemen don't put out fires--they start them in order to burn books. Bradbury's vividly painted society holds up the appearance of happiness as the highest goal--a place where trivial information is good, and knowledge and ideas are bad. Fire Captain Beatty explains it this way, "Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs.... Don't give them slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy."

So much of this book is scarily like today. People don't want to think or read challenging things. *I* don't want to read challenging things. I like my life to be easy and happy. Bradbury takes it to an extreme. Decades of life without books, without philosophy, poetry, fiction. No one just talks. Families aren't in love, parents don't care about kids, school is only about the sciences. Politics are boiled down to soundbytes. Happy ones. There is a war, but it's vague, and no one knows the details because it's not about them. Sound familiar?

Fahrenheit 451 is fast. The action is non-stop. One event leads to the next with no pause for breath. The entire book is a buildup to the climax. I really enjoyed this. I can't believe I never read it before. If you haven't read it, go read it now. (Hmmm. A challenge? Shall we? Let me ponder this...)

Bookish Ramblings

A couple of things happened today that seem interesting enough (to me, at least) to post about. First, I had someone in my office today for a small vacation loan. We talked a bit about various places she had been, and the subject of books and bookstores came up. Now, I admit to some stereotyped ideas about her based on age, occupation, and manner of speech, but honestly, I was suprised. In the conversation that followed I learned that she is possibly more obsessive about books than I am. I admit to being a little shocked, but definately learned my lesson.

I was off at noon today (don't get too excited, I have to work Saturday to make up for it) and had the entire afternoon to myself. What to do??? I started with a trip to Hobby Lobby to fondle the yarn. I was strong, and did not buy any. Then I drove through the parking lot at Borders- BUT RESISTED! I had a quick lunch then came home to read a bit (more on that later). I decided to go to the library (haven't been in months due to PBS books) and pay my fine and get a couple of crochet books. The selection was pitiful. I did find one with some incredibly cute afghans, so brought that one home. At the last minute I checked the catalog for The Book Thief, and amazingly, it was on the shelf, so I brought that home too. That is not a small book! I need to finish my current book, and probably at least start The Inheritance of Loss first.

Several weeks ago I posted in a Thursday Thirteen that I had problems with conflict in books. I can't just read through conflict. I have to stop, regroup, then continue reading. No speeding through to see what happens for me, nope nope. I'm sure this says something about my need to always be in control. Anyway, the book I'm reading now is Fahrenheit 451. I've never read this before (yeah, I know) and when I had to stop reading during lunch I had to laugh at myself. It's not fight scenes that get me, it's almost always scenes where some secret (good or bad) is about to come out. So 50 pages into a 150 page book, and I had to stop. Sigh.

Incidently, the copy I have was published in 1967. It was priced at $.50 and advertises The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in the back. $1.00 each! including shipping!