Fahrenheit 451; Part 1

Fahrenheit 451 was the one book I was most excited to read in this class. I've heard so much about this book, and I couldn't wait to start it! From the beginning of Part 1 to the ending of Part 2, Fahrenheit 451 kept me on my feet. Part 1 ("The Hearth and the Salamander") focuses on Montag's job as a fireman and his home life while Part 2 ("The Sieve and the Sand") focuses on Montag's quest for knowledge. The opening scene of Fahrenheit 451 describes the pleasure he experiences while burning books. He loves the spectacle of burning and seeing things "changed" by fire. However, in Part 2 of the book, Montag begins a quest for knowledge to answer questions such as the true reason behind why books are burned. Ray Bradbury paints a clear picture of a futuristic society that has abandoned books in favor of hollow entertainment and instant gratification. It is later that Montag meets Clarisse. She is extremely inquisitive and thoughtful. She becomes a enigma to Montag because of her constant questioning of society and his beliefs. I hated the fact that Clarisse is forced to go to a psychiatrist because of her behaviors such as hiking, catching butterflies, and thinking independently. She is forced to go see a psychiatrist because she thinks independently? Seriously?! Speaking of characters of the books, I am not a big fan of Mildred, Montag's wife. Up to the end of Part 2, Mildred seems completely distant and unreadable. Her suicide attempt seems to suggest that she was trying to escape something. In short, I'm not a big fan of her. Who knows, I might change my opinion of her later on. I also didn't like Clarisse's quick death. Her sudden death kept bothering me while I continued reading. I didn't understand why Bradbury would introduce such an intriguing character so early on in the story and then kill her off so suddenly? I guess Bradbury wanted to show the readers how society reacts to "unusual" people such as Clarisse.

Overall, I am certainly enjoying Fahrenheit 451 so far. Bradbury's attempt to paint such a society keeps me interested to keep reading. I look forward to the rest of the book!