Fahrenheit 451 - Book Review

Wade Bruffey

Book Review – Fahrenheit 451

Farenheit 541, by Ray Bradbury, is a fictional novel about a time in the future where books are burned, and owning them is a horrific crime. The book takes place in a distant future, where the “firemen” exist for one purpose, to burn all the books. A thirty year old man named Guy Montag is one of these firemen, but when he starts to question his job, the plot takes flight. This book has a racy plot, characters that will have you rooting for them all the way, and the author has a grand writing style that makes the book even better.

The story begins with Guy Montag returning from a late night raid on a house whose owner had been hiding books. Guy is a fireman, so his job is to burn books, and the houses where they are hidden. Guy meets a young girl who asks him many questions about his job, which leaves him curious to find out the answers himself. There comes a point in the book where a lady throws herself into the fire of her burning books and perishes. This is when the story takes off. Guy realizes that what he is doing can no longer be right, so he sets out to save books and redeem his past. This book has a fascinating plot, that will keep it’s readers on the edge of their seats and unable to put the book down. There are many twists in the story that will leave you wondering whether or not the characters will live to see another day.

There are several characters that play a particularly large role in the book. One of course, is the main character, Guy Montag. All of his life, Guy has wanted to be a fireman. All he has ever known is burning books. Clarisse McClaren, a 17 year old girl who asks Guy a lot of questions about his job, is the character who sets the entire story in motion. Later on in the book, Guy meets an old man named Faber. Faber is an old professor who helps Guy later on in the book escape his past and make a new life for himself. The book’s main antagonist is a man named Captain Beatty. Beatty is the chief of all firemen, intent on destroying every book that the world has ever known. These characters are all very deep in their emotions and you will feel a great connection to them while reading. The author writes in a brilliant fashion that will have you cheering the characters on the entire book.

Ray Bradbury, the writer, has a fantastic writing style that goes above and beyond conventional storytelling. The writer keeps you actively engaged and interested throughout the entire book. The writer does an excellent job of developing a gripping story, then beautifully tying it all together in the end. For many readers, the style in which the book is written will be the highlight of their reading experience.

All in all, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is a phenomenal piece of literature from its plot and characters to its incredible writing style. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading fictional novels and is of reasonable reading ability. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is sure to please.