It’s 2049 in Ray Bradburn’s Fahrenheit 451 and social norms are vastly different from the world we know today. Guy Montag, the protagonist, is a fireman who does not put out fires or saves lives. Instead, he burns down homes that contain books, a cause in which he thoroughly believes. That is, until he meets Clarisse. 

Clarisse is his neighbor; she is a young woman who inquires about the way the world used to be. Since she understands a world where reading books is normal, even encouraged, and firefighters save homes, she finds it bizarre that in this society, the reality is drastically different. Montag finds himself not only looking forward to his chats with Clarisse, he grows an attraction for her. 

With Clarisse soon influencing his world, Montag begins to question things in his life. Does he truly love his wife when he doesn’t even remember how they first met? He begins to notice more differences with his wife than similarities. Why had firefighters begun to burn books and get rid of “unwanted information?” 

One day, Montag approaches Captain Beaty, the head of the firefighters, with his questions. Beaty responds explaining how books are irrelevant to society yet, interestingly, while doing so, he quotes information that could only have been found in the books he’s read. Montag suspects that the Captain himself had also broken the law about reading books. When Montag returns home, he receives information that Clarisse has passed away.

My favorite part of the book is following Montag’s journey as he becomes his own person. With Clarisse gone, Montag realizes that he no longer wants to be a firefighter. He wants to get a hold of books and this becomes a turning point for Montag. He is determined to carry on the memory of Clarisse, as well, by seeking out books. He turns to Faber, an elder person who was alive when books were read. Montag brings a Bible and with Faber’s help, learns a valuable lesson about books and also gets pages printed for an extra copy so he can keep one with him. I like how Montag chooses not to follow the others since that is the way I want to live my life. If one could possibly become a leader, why follow others? Montag breaks away from societal expectations and charts his own course in life. Not only this, I admired how he took a bold stand against Captain Beaty when he was confronted about his own books. Montag did what he was expected to do and burned down his own house. 

Something unsettling about the book is all the bizarre technological advancements in their society. From “seashells” to “Parlor Walls,” ear pieces that distract people from the real world to TVs that make you believe you’re interacting with its on-screen characters to mechanical hounds – it all borders on disturbing. To be controlled by these new gadgets and beasts that have the power to kill you makes me hope this is not something that will eventually happen to us. 

In spite of this, I’d say, overall, this book was fascinating. Seeing how in just a couple of decades, society could take such a turn is astounding. From being taught in one that books make you knowledgeable to seeing how they become totally disregarded goes to show how life can be so unforeseeable. I rate this book a 4.5/5 since I believe it also teaches how in such a short amount of time, anything is possible to change. 

Check out Fahrenheit 451 from NBPL!