Favorite Character

Who is your favorite character in this book? Or do you not like any of the characters?

Book Discussions

If you want to discuss this book "in person", why not start your own book discussion group? It is easy and fun. Your discussion can be as "book-y" as you want. Some people use the discussion as a social event, others read reviews, and other materials and share it with the group. If your group holds a Fahrenheit 451 discussion, please let us know. We need to report back to the NEA on how Norwalk has participated in THE BIG READ.

River

Why do you think Bradbury uses a river as Montag's mode of transportation? Is it because it is only because it is a way for him to escape the mechanical hound? Does Bradbury mention the river earlier in the book?

Writing

While this book talks about people acting as firemen and some of the men that Montag meets were teachers, none of the people in the book seemed to be writers. The people who were saving books, either physical books, or the "remembered" books, did not seem to be engaged in writing their own materials. Obviously some new "writing" was occurring in the society because the plays that Mildred was watching were written by someone and she received a script for at least one of them. Why does Bradbury's work-Fahrenheit 451-not seem to be concerned with the creative process-only with the final form of the process-the printed book? Or do you think he does deal with the issue of creativity in some way?

The Sieve and the Sand

This is Part Two of the book. What does this refer to?

May-The discussion continues

Our discussion of the Big Read-Norwalk book, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury continues this month. There is so much to say about this book, and we want to encourage as many people as possible to participate in the discussion, we felt that we had to give it another month here on the Laid Back Book Club blog. So, tell your friends.....

Film Showing-This Saturday

The film, Fahrenheit 451 will be shown this Saturday, May 3, in the Community Room at the South Norwalk branch library (10 Washington Street), at 2 p.m. The event is FREE. Hope to see you there.

Sea shell radio

Why do you think the sea shell radio was portrayed by Bradbury as a bad thing? Is it not good to block out noise on the subway or listen to music while trying to sleep?

Fahrenheit 451-Controversial?

This book has often been challenged by parents and by others who believe it should not be in libraries or in schools. Why do you think it has been challenged? Do you agree?

Faber as a manipulator

Faber exerts control over Montag. As Montag is struggling with his conscience, Faber provides Montag with a radio and directs his actions. Faber's radio acts like Montag's brain. Faber's fear keeps him from doing what he tells Montag to do. Is Montag truly acting on his own as he goes on his journey? Or does Montag act as a surrogate for Faber? Does Montag seem to resent Faber's control over him?

Beatty's monologue

Pages 57-63 contain Captain Beatty's philosophy. One of his statements is that what people want is to be happy and since the civilization has so many minorities that might be upset, somebody is always offened by what is in a book. If the books are burned, then everyone is happy. Is there any logic to this argument?

Bradbury's style

What do you think about Bradbury's style of writing? Do you find it easy to read the book or difficult?

Books

Do you think you would die rather than give up your books? Even for those of us with very large personal libraries, I'm not sure how many of us would die for them. Maybe the old woman who decided that she would die rather than live without her books was crazy. What do you think?

Mildred

Mildred seems to want attention and love. She likes her friends and her "Family", but she does not seem to be too interested in her husband. Why do you think Mildred is not more interested in her husband and his job and his concerns?

Firemen

Would you want to be a fireman? A fireman's job is just about the toughest there is. Why do you think Bradbury chose to have the firemen be the people who destroyed the books? Did he not like firemen?

Books are available

Free copies of Fahreheit 451 are always available at Norwalk Public Library. We have many copies that you can check out and return to us (thus, they are free as long as you bring them back). We also have free copies of the book that you do not have to bring back if you have a Norwalk Public Library library card. Along with the "free" free book, there is a discussion guide that you can use for your group discussion, or you can comment on the questions here on this blog. We can't wait to hear from you!

Sam Weller and Ray Bradbury

I hope some of you saw Sam Weller, author of the Bradbury Chronicles, when he was here in Norwalk this past weekend. He provided a wonderful in-depth look at Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451. Mr. Weller obviously knows Bradbury well, and is a fan, as well as a biographer. We have copies of Mr. Weller's book at the library if you want to read a bit more about Ray Bradbury.

April's book

is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Check out a copy of the book from the library or stop by the library at One Belden Avenue or the South Norwalk Branch and pick up a free copy of the book on or after Monday, April 7.

THE BIG READ!

Starts Saturday, April 5 with the Kickoff at Norwalk Community College. The Big Read-Norwalk, this year features the Ray Bradbury book, Fahrenheit 451. On Saturday, April 5, the event will begin with a talk by Sam Weller, author of the Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury, the only authorized biography of the American author Ray Bradbury Mr. Weller is a full-time professor at Columbia College, Chicago. He will be speaking at 10 am. There will be other events on Saturday as well. Please visit the Big Read's website, www.thebigreadnorwalk.org for more information. And the Laid Back Book Club will also be reading Fahrenheit 451 this month. Look for many more posts and discussion of the book here.

Why?

Why do you think this book is so very popular? Are there some of your friends, or family, or co-workers who are also reading the book?