Published in 1953, over ten million copies of Fahrenheit 451 have been sold and its ideas and messages are still relevant today. I liked Fahrenheit 451 so much that I included its numeral in my blog's name. Things are very different in this futuristic world. Firemen now burn books and homes instead of putting out fires. Emotional connections are limited to TV presenters. Guy Montag, a fireman, meets Clarisse, a spirited young girl, and she opens his eyes to a world where he imagines and observes more. Guy is unique among firemen because he steals and reads the forbidden books. He is eventually turned in and is forced to burn his own house but he escapes arrest and joins a secret group where books and ideas are appreciated.
The most enjoyable part of reading this book was imagining every scene. The beauty of Bradbury's writing is in giving enough information to visualize the scene but letting the reader create the rest.
The book's burning message (pun intended) is the importance of connection between humans and the discussion of ideas. Whether it's through The Bible or Shakespeare, we can connect with the feelings and thoughts of people who are alive now and people who lived long ago.
I rate this book five out of five stars because it speaks to me deeply about freedom and connection in our modern society and serves as a warning about the dangers of too much government control of our lives.
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