Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel written by famous American writer, Ray Bradbury. It is set in a world where books have been banned and any piece of writing discovered is burned by the “firemen”. The main character, Montag, is a fireman and loves being one. But his world view changes as he engages in conversations with a young neighbor called Clarisse. Her curiosity and inquiry about the world around her makes Montag second-guess what he truly knows about this society. He searches for answers, like the origin of the firemen, but history had been rewritten to justify the new policies and ideology of this society. Montag now knows that books may uncover the truth about the world he lives in.
I read the book in my English class. The setting and characters in the book are very interesting and worthwhile. It is a unique idea to create a dystopia by banning books to rob people of knowledge and creativity. My only problem with the book is the ending. After a suspenseful and exciting climax, the resolution stops the pacing of the story in a very abrupt way that left a bitter taste in my mouth. Regardless, the book is well written and I highly recommend it.
- Antonin Ducroux - USA (East Coast)
