The amazing Beth Revis is hosting a giveaway on her blog. The task is to write about the one book that I am most thankful for. There are so many books to choose from, it’s been a little difficult narrowing it down to one book. But I dug deep, deep into my memory banks. And you know what?
I found it.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is the book that changed my life, and that I am most thankful for. I was an impressionable young teen when I first read Ray Bradbury’s masterpiece. His writing style, the world that he created, the pacing of the story…everything about it was just so enthralling. At the time, I had no idea what the real world was outside of my little naive bubble. To me, the world consisted of my family and friends.
Politics? Issues? What were these foreign concepts? My life was perfect. I accepted everything and believed anything.
Until F451. Life as I knew it changed my views of the world. Bradbury made me realize how important books, reading, and even knowledge was to me, to us, to everyone. There was this bigger purpose that I never knew about, or even realized. It made me wonder about censorship, laws, and the basis of our government. Sure, we learned a few things in history class, but nothing sparked my interest like F451 did. And sometimes, it still doesn’t. Bradbury pushed my boundaries, opening my eyes to alienation, social separation, and blind allegiance. Everything in F451 was so similar to our present and possible for our future.
Prior to F451, I read middle grade books like The Baby Sitters Club or Ramona and Beezus. I never read Science Fiction or Young Adult. I never read dystopian futures or anything with any type of violence. I never even imagined a world so definitive and descriptive that my mind took control and just ran with it.
After F451, my reading tastes broadened. I was no longer the typical teen who read the books with happy endings. I looked for similar books who challenged my thinking and my imagination. My thirst for knowledge and reading grew. I wanted to read every book in the library, and then move on to the next.
I am most thankful to Ray Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451. Because of him, and this book, I will no longer take reading for granted.
What book are you thankful for? Head over to Beth Revis’ site and let us know.
.bookchelle. 
This was really nice. I think I’ll enter this contest. Thanks for letting me know about it. I don’t know what I would put though, or what I would say.
I haven’t read F451 but have always meant to. Now I’m even more inspired. The book I wrote about – A Prayer for Owen Meany – hit me in the same way. It opened my eyes to whole new ways of thinking. The realization that maybe the world was a lot messier than I thought it was, but in amazing ways.
Great job!