Fahrenheit 451

Can you be disappointed by something you ultimately admire?

I think this story itself is quite meaningful, as well as surprisingly prophetic in some ways, given when it was written. And it could've been really interesting, except that it was ruined by one of its most admirable features (this sounds nonsensical, I know) - the writing style.

This whole story is written like a fever dream and though it follows a linear storyline, it often doesn't feel that way.

We have characters whose behavior is so erratic, that it feels illogical at times, which made me struggle to follow and understand their motivations.

The scenes were unfolding chaotically and the book as a whole had a very awkward pacing.
And I get it, this style is meant to represent the confusing neutered state in which humans have been trained to live in the new society. It was very impressive how precisely the author has managed to illustrate the general fuzzy reality and our main character's struggle to think through it. I get the intricacies and complexity this style carries and I am dully impressed.

But... I didn't like it still. Reading a full novel written in this abstract style is frankly uncomfortable and to me it was unpleasant. Trying to follow a storyline through the muddled half-thoughts and neurotic existential monologues of semi-lucid people was draining, and kind of made the story itself secondary. And as such, it killed both stakes and suspense.

I think had the book been written a bit more “conventionally” it would have made the story way more accessible and impactful. At least to me.