Fahrenheit 451 - Book Review

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Fehrenheit 451 is set in one of those ‘alterative universe’ kinda places. The main protagonist is a guy called Montag whose job is a fireman – A fireman not in our traditional sense but rather in this universe it is one who sets fire for the greater good of humanity. More specifically it is the job of the fireman to seek out books and torch them, arresting those who harbour these texts that remind us what asses and fools we are.

Montag is happily married and been working as a fireman for quite some time. His wife suffers from terrible dreams and sucicidal tendencies. This seems to be managed by some sort of vacuum contraption carried by the EMTs which literally sucks out these thoughts along with any memory of the incident itself. Montag is not unhappy just becoming tired of this somewhat limited existence.
Finally several incidents collide, causing him to call his profession into question: 

• firstly, he happens upon a 17 year old girl, Clarrise who world view is somewhat broader than his own and she opens his eyes to new possibilities such as the simple delight of tasting the rain
• secondly, Montag, hios captain and the squad on assignment when a library is discovered. It is their job to clear the house, pour Keresene, and light it up. Only the old lady whose collection it is refuses to leave, instead she strikes the match herself, flames engulfing along with her books.

Montag begins to question, choosing to save and read a few books here and there. I won’t spoil the ending for you, simply to say he begins to seek out like minded people as he reflects on how:

The sun burned every day. It burned Time. The world rushed in a circle and turned on its axis and time was busy burning the years and the people anyway, without any help from him. So if he burnt things with the firemen, and the sun burnt Time, that meant that everything burned!

All is focused around Montag however it is Faber I connect with. He’s the wise old professor who has been safe guarding books by reading and memorising them. Montag seeks his help but Faber is weary of him, with being a fireman and the questionable change of heart, is it a set up? That mix of eagerness and caution toward change I find relatable. Too often I think we, and when I say we I really mean I, allow caution to paralyse me into inaction or perhaps eagerness and enthusiasm run away with me. There should be some carefully considered balance in my decision making.