Fahrenheit 451

Apologies again for the lack of service - I've been in Scotland with no internet, which was a slight impediment... Today's novel is another sci-fi type novel, which I do like, I think partly because of my geeky history. Anyway, before the review, I should give you a heads-up - it will be positive. In fact, almost all the reviews you read here will be positive. This is because I am not reviewing books as I read them.

I am actually mostly reviewing books I read in the past and still remember. Unfortunately, I tend not to reread books I don't like, as a result of which, unless I happen to have just finished a novel, I am likely to give it a decent review. Maybe think of them as recommendations? Maybe just think of me as a positive person? Either way, if you want horrible reviews, you'll have to go somewhere else! Though I don't know why you would - I'm so witty and entertaining...


Anyway, now that you're sufficiently prepared for the positivity I am about to spout, I shan't let you down - I really liked this novel. Apart from anything else, I loved the title and what it means. I do like dystopia novels generally, which meant that I had a pretty strong feeling I would like it before I read it, but I thought it threw up some interesting ideas about how it's our culture that makes us what we are, rather than what we are that shapes our culture.

It has to be said that I don't believe the situation presented in the novel would ever come about, but then I tend to think that about most dystopia novels - the excessive pessimism is sort of the point... (I wonder what my love of them says about me - hmmmm...). While I accept the point that the majority of people don't read the classics, they tend to be sort of in the air, and people absorb them without reading them.

I also believe that most people like to feel that they could read a classic, and indeed will read a classic, just as soon as they finish this slightly trashy novel. Rather like diets, one wants to know change is possible, even if we aren't going to partake ourselves. This, I think, would prevent the world ever ending up in the situation presented 'Fahrenheit 451' (I hope!). That said, I thought it was a beautifully structured story, with some fascinating characters.

Clarisse is charming, and I really wanted to get to know her better. Guy strikes me as something of an idiot, if I'm honest, but at least he's an idiot who wants change and will risk anything for what he believes in. I actually thought Captain Beatty was one of the most interesting characters in the novel, fulfilling a similar role to that of Mustapha Mond in 'Brave New World', as the morally ambiguous, but nevertheless rather sympathetic, boss/leader/chief.

Definitely worth a read, particularly if you are a fan of sci-fi or dystopian novels!