School reading lists can really be a drag. Especially when those lists require students to suffer through tedious, dusty old books from authors that seem to enjoy lulling their readers into a state of catatonic bewilderment.

For this year’s sophomores, the list includes some of the works of Shakespeare, Harper Lee, Sophocles, and the very infamous Ray Bradbury and his Fahrenheit 451.

Many sophomores are approaching the year with teeth gritted in dread, especially when it comes to the first assignment, Fahrenheit 451.

“It’s the weirdest book I’ve ever read. I hate it,” sophomore Morgan Bonner said.

Others have found a new favorite book. As sophomore Tucker Douglas puts it, “I’m diggin’ it.” If you learn to appreciate literature and are willing to keep reading to the end, many of these books– especially Fahrenheit 451- can be enjoyable.

Admittedly, the book can be confusing at times and is a bit boring in the beginning. But just like any classic, don’t read and try to decipher every word; instead, get the main idea of the passage and go back to read in depth after you know what’s going on. The beginning may be boring, but keep reading. It gets better.

Overall, Fahrenheit 451 is an amazing work of literature. It tells a beautiful and chilling story of a world without words or true feeling, where literature is banned and the people move so fast that there is no time for thought and emotion. The predictions that it makes are unnervingly real in today’s fast-paced world. The book can be described as “one of those books you have to read in your lifetime.”