Fahrenheit 451...The Temperature at Which Books Burn

"Books bombarded his shoulders, his arms, his upturned face.  A book lit, almost obediently, like a white pigeon, in his hands, wings fluttering.  In the dim, wavering light, a page hung open and it was like a snowy feather, the words delicately painted thereon.  In all the rush and fervor, Montag had only an instant to read a line, but it blazed in his mind for the next minute as if stamped there with fiery steel.  'Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine.'  He dropped the book.  Immediately, another fell into his arms.

'Montag, up here!'

Montag's hand closed like a mouth, crushed the book with wild devotion, with an insanity of mindlessness to his chest.   The men above were hurling shovelfuls of magazines into the dusty air.  They fell like slaughtered birds and the woman stood below, like a small girl, among the bodies.

Montag had done nothing.  His hand had done it all, his hand, with a brain of its own, with a conscience and a curiosity in each trembling finger, had turned thief.  Now it plunged the book back under his arm, pressed it tight to sweating armpit, rushed out empty, with a magician's flourish!  Look here!  Innocent!  Look!"

Farhenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

Comments

[jmfausti]

I love this book!!! It's an amazing tale and my worst nightmare all at once. Following along as the Montag character goes from ignorant fireman to a man who understands the beauty and power of the printed word and as he sees that saving that is worth any sacrifice makes this such a powerful read.

[Danielle]

I can't believe I have never read this book. It is really good! I am hoping to get it read this weekend, as it is quite short. Have you seen the movie? We have it at my library, so I may check it out as soon as I finish the book!

[jmfausti]

I have not seen the movie, is there a remake in the works? I think I remember reading or hearing that somewhere.

I went through a Bradbury phase in junior high and when I first read "Fahrenheit" it was as likely to me as "The Martian Chronicles." Rereading it as an adult whose views on the power and necessity of books and my stance against censorship, it seems much more frightening.

[Hailey]

Good site