I just started reading Fahrenheit 451, I am really loving it. The main reason I love it is because it is a novel that has basically come true. The idea that we are going to be overwhelmed by technology and it is going to become the new way of reading for us has basically come true. I was just "googeling" the book because I am not that far into it and I wanted to know a little more about the author and I found a few short quotes that are really interesting.
"While the novel does tough on the dangers of censorship, Bradbury was adamant that this was not his focus. The novel is about the dangers of television, he said and his fears that such mindless entertainment would replace recreational free thinking."
To further prove this point here is an segment of a letter that Bradbury wrote to a fellow science fiction writer Richard Matheson:
"Radio has contributed to our 'growing lace of attention! [...] This sort of hopscotching existence makes it almost impossible for people, myself included, to sit down and get into a novel again. We have become a short story reading people, or , worse than that, a QUICK reading people."
This letter was written fifty years ago and now today we can make the connections that this is really coming true. I consider myself a quick reader now, I try not to be but sometimes you just have to be. I know watching my dad every morning read the paper when I was little he was never a quick read kind of guy. He would take almost two hours to read the paper cover to end. Now he goes to work with out reading the paper and just reads what articles he wants on the papers website.
I really am only three and two and a half chapters deep but I have heard a lot about this book and just decided to do some extra research. I also found the meaning of the title very cool. That 451 is the degree that books burn at, and the main character being a fireman.
The idea of cycles I can tell is going to be used a lot in this novel.
Till next time.
I've heard so many positive things about this book but have never actually found out what it's about until now. It actually sounds really interesting and goes along with our class in talking about technology. I know that a lot of teachers from my high school required that their students read it but mine never did. I felt sort of left out so maybe now would be the time to read it! Would it be classified under the fantasy/science fiction genre?
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to pick it up sometime this week so maybe we can start a blog thread about it and talk about it together!!! That would be some evidence of engagement right there!
Its really good you would love it!! And it is science fiction. I will be so happy to start a blog with you ash! Start reading I have a lot to say!
ReplyDeleteOkay I'll make my mom bring it down this weekend =] I couldn't find one for science fiction so this is perfecto!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm loving that you're going to read together! I'll keep track of that. And, Ellie, I want to point out, although you know it already, that you're doing the work of a good reader again! You're going out and connecting your interest in the text through research, to find out more and stretch the personal connections you're able to make and notice with the text. That's an impressive skill. And, we often use it with classic books, but we can do it with any text--there are always ideas or materials that can be expanded on. Bradbury is often considered a "cautionary" writer--one who anticipated our love affair with technology and tried to show what could come of it. Yikes! See what you think as you keep going.
ReplyDeleteIn my author's study course, my professor said how he thinks the novel will eventually die and that poetry will live on. When I think about that idea, I fear for the future. We have switched from orating stories, to written texts that could be purchased and owned, to film. There are plenty of people in America who have the philosophy "why read it if I could watch the movie?"
ReplyDeletewell, reading enables the reader to generate his' or her's own philosophies on the text where watching a film does not.
I think 451 is more about how, because of all of our 'toys' (television, fast cars, cool phones, etc) we, as human beings, lose our power of thought and become puppets to those who supply us with 'toys'.
I'm excited to see what you make of the ending.
I just finished 451. Thank you for reccommending it because I absolutely love it...not to mention that it is relevant to our class. Although I love technology and it can is definitely a factor that can improve education, I fear that it will take control and book will become obsolete, like in the 451. I know some people (you!!) read books on Ipads and e-readers but because of my fear I can't push myself to use this technology. I like having the physicality of a book in my hand and knowing that it isn't somehow going to get deleted from my library on accident.
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