Okay, did I read an abridged version in middle school? One that took out the entire ending after Montag escapes? Because that's all I remember, and I Okay, did I read an abridged version in middle school? One that took out the entire ending after Montag escapes? Because that's all I remember, and I definitely don't remember the ending being that positive. But maybe I'm just conflating it with The Giver and 1984, which I read more recently.
Either way, there was definitely something eerie about listening to this just after I finished listening to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. They say the same things in completely different ways, and that's pretty amazing to me. Both books approach the idea that books and reading are integral to society as a whole, and that knowledge is what you make of it.
I will say the audio was pretty easy to zone out while listening. Narrator Tim Robbins was pretty monotone and easy to get lost in. I don't know if I recommend the audio over the physical or ebook. It's not as well done as some, although I did appreciate the side effects.
The one reason I can't give this book 5 stars is the treatment of women. Other than Clarisse, who is very clearly written as a child, women are shown either as vapid and vain, or are nonexistent. I don't understand why the men had to be the intellectuals the entire time. There wasn't a single mention of a female rebel or positive character. It's disappointing to see that even in the 1950s, prominent writers like Bradbury were unable to see women in the intellectual sphere. Yes, I know a lot has changed for women in the last 70 years, but it still bothers me, because there were many prominent women throughout Bradbury's time.
In today's society of zoom school, virtual reality, and claims of "fake news" from all angles, not to mention the constant book and information banning throughout schools, Fahrenheit 451 is perhaps one of the most realistic science fiction dystopias that has seemingly come true today. Also, it is a little unnerving that there's only one specific date mentioned in this book and it's 2022 - "We've started and won two atomic wars since 2022. There is no definite date for the events of Fahrenheit 451, and yet of all the classic science fiction that I've read (which admittedly is very little), it's the one that seems closest to today's reality. It's the most predictive of the current situation....more
I haven't read a thriller yet this year, and it's good to read more 2021 books so I have options for the Goodreads Choice Awards in a variety of genreI haven't read a thriller yet this year, and it's good to read more 2021 books so I have options for the Goodreads Choice Awards in a variety of genres.
I found the premise of this book to be fascinating. Jacob Finch Bonner essentially steals the plot for a book from his former and deceased student, and spends a lot of time arguing with himself that it's not actually stealing if it's only the claim on an idea, and not actual written intellectual property.
The Plot is told through Jake's navigation of his own story, and through excerpts from the written story, Crib, and as we get closer to the end, we learn how much these stories intersect. Both the actual The Plot and the fictional Crib are thrillers, but neither starts off in a way that indicates the genre. Walking into this with no knowledge of the story whatsoever, I'm not sure what I would think. All literature today is categorized with genres and prefaced with blurbs, so it's impossible to judge, but when Jake first hears about the original idea for the novel, it seems to him like another genre altogether. So too does The Plot, and it's hard to tell (knowing beforehand) at what point this definitively becomes a "thriller."
The characters in The Plot are well written and complex bordering on confusing, especially once Jake starts investigating. Jake is an ideal writer turned amateur sleuth, because unlike in cozy mysteries, he has purpose and drive in investigating that has to do with him personally. He also never decided to investigate per se, but just found himself doing so. In a way, it was the plot of a cozy mystery without the annoying quarterlife crisis. I really liked Jake as a character and in the way he approaches his endeavors.
I definitely plan to vote for this on the Goodreads choice award for thriller when I get the chance, and will definitely keep it in my recommendations and reread list. I have a feeling I'll be able to pick up on certain aspects I was unable to with only a single first read.
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