Fahrenheit 451

Author: =][= Morok
evilcanofjoy@kidsloveguns.com

So, the other day (last Thursday I believe) I was getting out of my English class and I went up to the teacher to ask her some questions. She’s one of the teachers that I like (in fact, this semester I picked some good ones… yay). So, anyway, I was walking up to her and started to ask the question, “I was gonna do the essay on the book Fahrenheit 451 and I was wondering…” to which she stuck out her hand. I took it and she shook it quite vigorously. “I love that book.” I was a bit surprised, but composed myself (surprised not that she liked the book, any sane person would, but that she was so enthused by it) and tried to start the question. Before I could, my one friend chimed in. Now, I like the kid, he’s a good kid, but can he talk. Usually it doesn’t bother me, but he started talking about how F 451 was bad because the Firemen in it were burning books and that it promoted burning books.

On the way to the Library doors we had a discussion on the books meaning. Now, I’m not a scholar of English Literature, but I think I have a good understanding of the book. Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 as a warning of political correctness and the extreme of censorship. When all the small interest groups started to complain about things that were being written, it set off a chain of events that ended with books being banned al together. The hero, a fireman named Guy Montag, starts to read books and eventually joins up with other professors and people that are branded as outlaws, waiting for society to destroy itself and reclaim it for knowledge. (Yes I know it’s a brief description and there was lots of parts left out, I didn’t want to spoil the book for anyone).

Then I started to think about what a great book Fahrenheit 451 is and about all the books I’ve read in the past that were excellent. Then I decided that I’d list all of my favorite books and why. Why would I do such a good thing as promote reading on a web site that promotes war and things like that? Cause its just that important. People stopped reading in Fahrenheit 451 and then books burned. I’d like to see that not happen. People’s ignorance will bring down society, and I’d hate to see it go down with a fizzle instead of a bang.

• Fahrenheit 451: This is a great book. A good sci-fi read and a good social commentary read.
• The Great Gatsby: A book about identity and past lies. Another great introspective book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• A Catcher in the Rye: J.D Salinger hit with this book about the young, misguided Holden Caulfield’s adventures through events to find himself.
• Of Mice and Men: One of the finest books I’ve ever read. Based in the great depression and about a man and hi retarded friend. Ends on a sad note, but a good story none-the-less (of coarse any book written by John Steinbeck is a good book).
• Starship Troopers: You’d think after the movie (and the next one coming out that looks halfway decent) that the book would be bad too. But, usually books have to be good to be made into a movie. Written by Robert A. Heinlein, this book is more social commentary than action, but still great and much different from the movie.
• Catch 22: Another great book I picked to read. The WWII bombed pilot Yossarian and his attempts at trying to avoid flying bombing missions. Hilarious book and with yet more commentary and a great story. Written by Joseph Heller.
• The whole Gaunt’s Ghost series: A total of seven books (so far) my favorite author Dan Abnett. Not so much social commentary or political assertiveness, but if you like action, Abnett delivers. Abnett writes better than most big names writers writing today do. If he ever did a serious book, your kid probably would be reading them in school.