Adina (notifications back, log out, clear cache) 's Reviews > Anthem
Anthem
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Adina (notifications back, log out, clear cache) 's review
bookshelves: short, dystopia, fantasy-sf
Feb 22, 2016
bookshelves: short, dystopia, fantasy-sf
Read 2016
I've been thinking for a while if I would ever like to read an Ayn Rand book. As both her main literary achievements are a bit intimidating in size and controversy I was undecided and confused whether I would enjoy her work. An article came to my help where I was recommended to start with Anthem in order to get a basic understanding of her ideology. At 100 pages or so, Anthem seemed the perfect place to start and I thought after reading it I will have a better idea if I want to more of Rand.
Well, tough luck because I still do not know if I want to read anything else by the author. I liked some of the ideas in the book, I can understand where she's coming from, taking in consideration her background but I also believe her individualism is a bit extreme. Although the 'I' is very important in a person's life, I do not think it is everything. Thinking only about oneself will not necessary make a person happy and fulfilled. Sometimes happiness comes from seeing that the people you love are also happy, which does not seem to matter in Rand's philosophy.
I though that in the end the main male character changed into a selfish prick especially in the way he treated the Golden One, his "true love". He proved bossy when he chose the new name for her. He talks about the power of the "I" and making individual choices but does not allow her the option to chose her own name. Hmmm.
I thought it was a bit like the Reader but maybe for a more grown-up audience.
I've been thinking for a while if I would ever like to read an Ayn Rand book. As both her main literary achievements are a bit intimidating in size and controversy I was undecided and confused whether I would enjoy her work. An article came to my help where I was recommended to start with Anthem in order to get a basic understanding of her ideology. At 100 pages or so, Anthem seemed the perfect place to start and I thought after reading it I will have a better idea if I want to more of Rand.
Well, tough luck because I still do not know if I want to read anything else by the author. I liked some of the ideas in the book, I can understand where she's coming from, taking in consideration her background but I also believe her individualism is a bit extreme. Although the 'I' is very important in a person's life, I do not think it is everything. Thinking only about oneself will not necessary make a person happy and fulfilled. Sometimes happiness comes from seeing that the people you love are also happy, which does not seem to matter in Rand's philosophy.
I though that in the end the main male character changed into a selfish prick especially in the way he treated the Golden One, his "true love". He proved bossy when he chose the new name for her. He talks about the power of the "I" and making individual choices but does not allow her the option to chose her own name. Hmmm.
I thought it was a bit like the Reader but maybe for a more grown-up audience.
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Reading Progress
February 22, 2016
–
Started Reading
February 22, 2016
– Shelved
February 22, 2016
– Shelved as:
short
February 22, 2016
– Shelved as:
dystopia
February 22, 2016
– Shelved as:
fantasy-sf
February 26, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-21 of 21 (21 new)
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Multumesc pentru apreciere! Nici eu nu stiu ce limba sa folosesc :) Anthem se citeste foarte repede (1-2 ore maxim) si este gratuita pe Goodreads asa ca nu ai mult de pierdut daca vrei s-o incerci.
You might change that opinion if you give one of Rand's complete novels a try. Heroes of say Atlas Shrugged are full-fledged and have to make hard choices involving happiness of others - eg. Rearden deciding whether to surrender his metal to protect Dagny...
You might change that opinion if you give one of Rand's complete n..."
Thank you for your comment. I consider reading one of Rand's novels. The characters in this novella are two-dimensional (to be expected) and it is good to know that it is not the case in her other books.
That’s exactly the point! The book has a few interesting ideas (like the need to think by oneself and the urge to write), but she takes a very extreme path from there. Overall, a very dangerous book on the wrong hands and minds.
But then I read another friend's reviews of some other books by Rand - wow! Still too extreme for me, but powerful and far more nuanced and complete than Anthem or what I thought of Rand previously.
But then ..." I know of her other books but I do not think I can stomach more of her extreme ideas. And for 500 pages or more.
She's written some really beautiful novels.
I bet you might like and of these:
Country of the Heart (1987)
A Tale of the Wind (1991) — nominated for 1992 Prometheus Award
Venetian Song (1994)
She's written some really beautiful novels.
I bet you might like and of these:
Country of the Heart (1987)
A Tale of the Wind (1991) — nominated for 1992 Pro..." No i haven't. I will check them out.
I would take issue with Carlos's "summarizing" which seemed far from accurate for me. How an author affects someone can be very different from how the author's writing affects others, for sure. But what Carlos said about Rand's writing, besides how it affected him did not seem correct to me at all.
If Rand's style of writing is annoying to you, OK, don't read it.
But if she deals with substantial issues that bother you, perhaps it might mean that you should rethink what you previously believed or thought true/false about those issues?
Rand, more than almost anyone I know, has helped an incredible number of people see reality clearly about many important issues.
Is she perfect? Far from it.
Is she for everyone? NO.
But does she explain some complicated and crucial issues so that people can understand them better and more successfully deal with seeming contradictions in life - ABSOLUTELY.
Multumesc pentru perspectiva eficienta si balansata!