Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury
First published in 1953
165 pages
Published (this edition, anyways) by Del Rey
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Earlier this year I started listening to an audio version of Fahrenheit 451, and I loved the narrator…he had this deep, rumbley sort of voice that was perfect for the dark atmosphere that the novel evokes.
But then I stopped listening. Not because I didn’t like it. I just sort of lost my enthusiasm for audio books (I find it hard to focus. In other words, I’m a poor listener).
Then, a few weeks ago when I was in Santa Barbara for a book blogger lunch (which I never posted about, not because it wasn’t fun, but because I’m lame) we had an epic book swap to which one of Leah’s contributions was Fahrenheit 451. My greedy mitts snapped that up faster than you can say “Ray Bradbury is still alive and kicking.”
And I came home and read it (well, I read the parts I hadn’t listened to). Yes, I know, I’m odd. But listening to half of a book and reading the other half totally works. You should try it some time.
The best part was reading and still hearing that awesome narrator’s voice as Montag, our main character who is a fireman of the future. Thing is, firemen in the future don’t put out fires. They start them. With books. Because books are bad.
Bradbury has created a chilling world, where people are encouraged to be mindless drones. He does a wonderful job of making the future a dark and joyless place (although let’s face it…as soon as you say books are bad, whammo, instant darkness and gloom). The part that wasn’t so clear to me (and maybe it’s because I did that listen to half/read half trick) was why books became the enemy. Something about people not wanting to worry and think, and preferring to sit in front of a television screen (which has taken over the walls of the house) all day long…
I think it’s more like the books, particularly fiction, gave people false hope and unrealistic pictures of reality. I’m not sure why nonfiction was banned, but I’m guessing in the end it’s because they didn’t want anyone to think for themselves.
I found this book amazingly powerful when I was a freshman in high school – in part because it may have been my first dystopian novel and as such was something entirely new. I
Trisha´s last [type] ..Sunday Salon- Semantics- Pulp Fiction- and Remakes
If you’re odd for listening to half a book and reading the other half, then I am odd too. I do this fairly often. Some weeks I am in the car more than in my home office, so I’ll have an audiobook – and then, my schedule lessens but I am in the middle of the audio with fewer opportunities to listen. So I’ll pick up the book.
Odd, I know.
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Okay, accidentally hit Submit Comment. I mean, good lord, does anyone ever hit Submit Comment by mistake? I’m such a weirdo. Anyway, what I was going to say was: I think the book banning was the combination of thought and hope. The powers that be didn’t want the people to question their own lives, to see what else could be. And now I’m off to purposefully hit Submit Comment. With conviction even…
Trisha´s last [type] ..Sunday Salon- Semantics- Pulp Fiction- and Remakes
I read this in high school and was just chilled to the bone. Now that I am a much more avid reader, I think it would probably give me a heart attack to think of books being burned like that! I am going to have to revisit this one, so thanks for bringing it up after all this time!
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I can’t stand listening to audio books because I get so distracted, but I think I’m going to have to try again. I read Fahrenheit 451 when I was younger, and I think it’s definitely worth a re-read!
Coffee and a Book Chick´s last [type] ..Jadore New York- by Isabelle Lafleche
This was a book where I really enjoyed the ideas (well, enjoy might not be the right word, but you know what I mean), but I did not enjoy the writing at all. I found Bradbury’s writing too folksy or something and it really put me off. Interesting premise ruined by the prose for me!
Hm, television screens taking over the walls of the house sounds rather familiar, doesn’t it?
It has been a while since I read this one. Now I want to read it again. Francois Truffaut directed a film version in the mid 1960′s that is quite good.
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I definitely process information via sight than sound (despite my terrible vision), and that’s a big reason I’ve never taken to audiobooks. But one way or another, I really should read this again.
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I did that with Moby Dick – listened to part and read part – I loved doing that – it worked out great!
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I love audio and the way you describe the narration AND the fact that this one is still on my “wow I hope to read that some day “(and my voice echos off the word day) makes this a must connect to my library now and see if they have it.
Thanks Jill
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I’m a bad listener too … way too impatient and easily distracted. I did listen to the first part of Pride & Prejudice but then read the last half. It actually worked better when I listened to it though. Actually, the only time I can listen to books is when I walk (as in exercise walk).
Jenners´s last [type] ..A Musashi Readalong Join Me Why Dont You
After reading your review I’m 50% sure that I read this one back in high school. Sadly, I can’t say for sure and I’m definitely at a lack for details. Looks like this book is going to have to be reread (I think or maybe I just need to read it..lol). It sounds really interesting though so thanks for sharing your thoughts on it and reminding me of it
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So glad you finally got to read this; it really is an amazing book! So much of what we have today appears in it. We read it in a library book group at school and read it. It was interesting to hear students and staff discuss the book. Then we got to hear Ray Bradbury speak at a local theater (and I met him!)
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Love this book! Love it. It’s one of those I read in high school when I discovered that classics could be twisty and weird and wonderful. It’s been a many-times-over re-read.
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LOL. I tried listening to audio books last year, but I have a really short attention span… Anyway, great review. I read Fahrenheit 451 last August, and I thought it was amazing.
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I am glad you finally were able to finish this one, Jill. I really liked Bradbury’s book and found it just as relevant today as it was when it was originally written.
Anytime I catch myself thinking I wish I could tune out the bad stuff, I remember this book and where that can lead . . .
Literary Feline´s last [type] ..Readers Imbibing Peril V Challenge
I’ve had this one laying around–I think my husband just read it actually. I will get to it some day, that I promise!
Like you, audiobooks tend to fizzle out for me. So much so that I just gave up on them all together.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Q&A with Helen Brown
Oh dear, I had such problems with Bradbury as a whole, and I wish I didn’t. I’m glad you were able read and enjoy this one through two mediums!
Banning all books and promoting senseless television programs is the perfect mind control. Scary!
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Bradbury is one of the few authors that can still freak me out, but I haven’t read this one.
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You know, I didn’t get to read this one in high school. We read “1984″ instead. Probably because I graduated in 1983 and they wanted us to discuss how close we were (or not) to the reality of 1984
. I’d like to try reading this sometime, though (and come to think of it, re-read 1984 too).
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hmmm, maybe i’ll listen to this on my daily commute. i’m ADDICTED to audio books and can’t drive without one. i have the book version but never got around to reading it. i’m such a bad english major. hahahah.
It’s been a hundred years since I read this — good to know that it holds up. Sometimes I listen and read at the same time — so I can go from reading print on the deck to listening to audio while cooking and then back to print …. It does work.
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I’ve alternatively read/listened to books before. It does work (I’m not a very good listener, either).
Have you seen the movie?