I really wanted to fall in love with it, besides, it's set in a world where books are forbidden and firemen burn houses down instead of saving them.
Written in the 1950s but set in the future, I just found the world-setting too abstract. It's a warning to readers about the dangers of censorship and frightens us with an alternative world where people are obsessed with their TV walls and distracted by listening to the radio with their ear pieces.
Bradbury wasn't too far off the mark. You just have to sit on public transport for 5 minutes to see that everyone is 'jacked in' either wearing earphones, or staring into the screens of their smart phone or tablet. They seem completely disengaged with the world outside or even the people next to them.
Even though I didn't enjoy it, I'm glad I've read Fahrenheit 451 now, and at least can offer an opinion. The strongest opinion I have is that I don't think it should be a part of a high school syllabus. I just think that it's too abstract and removed for the youth of today.
Do you disagree? Do you think I missed something? Let me know in the comments below.
My rating = **
Carpe Librum!
