Book Recommendation: ‘Fahrenheit 451’ by Ray Bradbury

Recommended by GRACE JOHNSON, Pulse staffer and bibliophile

This month, our book recommendations have featured banned or challenged books to highlight Banned Books Week, which ran Sept. 18-24 this year.

For my recommendation, I’m choosing Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The story follows firefighter Guy Montag, whose job is to burn books, which have become illegal commodities. He has never questioned this way of life until an eccentric neighbor introduces him to a past when people didn’t live in fear and could explore the world through the ideas presented in books.

Throughout the years, Fahrenheit 451 has faced multiple challenges and banning attempts, primarily for its vulgarity and discussions of drugs and going against religious beliefs. The book has managed to keep afloat despite these challenges, but it’s the real-world connections that are troubling. In Bradbury’s novel, the burning of books is a tool used by those in charge to control the population and Zeitgeist – something we are seeing happen today.

Tennessee state Rep. Jerry Sexton and two members of the Spotsylvania County School Board in Virginia, Rabih Abuismail and Kirk Twigg, have advocated burning certain books. Greg Locke, founder of Global Vision Bible Church, held an actual book burning with his followers, burning titles that did not match their viewpoints.

Instances such as these and the continuing attempt to ban books from libraries and schools are strikingly similar to the situation presented in Fahrenheit 451. Although we highlighted challenged titles this month, it’s crucial to continue advocating for open access to information and literature year-round.

The 10 Most-challenged Books in 2021

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Banned, challenged and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and it was considered to have sexually explicit images.

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, and it was considered to be sexually explicit.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and profanity, and it was considered to be sexually explicit.

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
Banned, challenged and restricted for depictions of abuse, and it was considered to be sexually explicit.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Banned and challenged for profanity and violence, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and the use of a derogatory term.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit.

This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson
Banned, challenged, relocated and restricted for providing sex education and LGBTQIA+ content.

Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, and it was considered to be sexually explicit.