Hmm, again and again...

[varshaac]

Been away too long. Got to get back. And as usual, it is a book that prompts me into writing. However, no new book this. For the umpteenth time, turned the pages of Atlas Shrugged. Whew!! haven't I mentioned enough of that book already! I can hear cries of plea, of restrain.

This time, Henry Rearden meets with Francisco D' Anconia, in a party

Comments

Re: TODO

[varshaac]

:) It works for me. I have known others who completely disown Atlas Shrugged.

Re: TODO

[poovanna]

I too need to read this book.
Welcome back! :-)

Advice

[anonymous]

Chanced on your journal after a long long time. I don't know whether you remember me at all. But as some one who has been systematically disillusioned with Ayn Rand and her credo of Ego with a capital E, I can only offer you one piece of advice. Read Steinbeck. Specifically the Grapes of Wrath. There are many ways of looking at the world. To say, categorically and without brooking argument or alternative ideas, that "I am right, and if you disagree with me, you are a whining incompetent parasite; to say that requires a kind of desperate conviction. And that kind of conviction comes with being wrong, not right. Rand is a brilliant writer. She writes scathingly and bitterly and magnificently, but her ideology is flawed beyond belief, her propaganda is poisonous. I am normally not so vehement about anything, but it only takes a little thought to figure this out, as I did. And the best way to do so is to read Steinbeck. Start with the 'Grapes of Wrath'. And then maybe you'll write less about the virtues of unbridled capitalism and

Noted.

[varshaac]

I remember you. :)

hmm, food for thought. Though I admire Ayn Rand's writing, I like being objective, I dont really know too much of her other works. I always maintain that I like Atlas Shrugged. And I didnt like We, the Living, and Kira, I think both are majorly flawed, and the descriptions of Soviet Russia are too dark for my taste.

Inspirational? Because, the characters are perfectionists, and I would like to achieve that state of perfection some day. Atlas Shrugged contains characters, some of whom I would like to emulate. And having zero insecurities in life is a state of confidence in itself.
The books that you mentioned are noted for future reading. :)

Re: Noted.

[anonymous]

Kira flawed? Among all Rand's heroines, she is the most tender, and the most vulnerable, and I think, the loveliest. Anyway, that's a personal opinion. But Rand had some sort of grip on reality when she wrote we, the living. After that she lost it. Completely.

You know, I find it funny. That you find descriptions of Soviet Russia dark, and yet don't find the idea of the perfect world (as per Rand) scary. Also that you think that her world is perfect. Really? I think it is terribly inconsistent, full of glaring contradictions. Maybe you should read her non fiction work- the virtue of selfishness, and capitalism, the unknown ideal; these are impractical and faintly silly...But more than anything else, Rand's world is characterised by a distinct lack of humour. Her characters have absolutely no sense of humour, about themselves or about life.

As for your last remark, would you trade compassion for confidence? I wouldn't.

Re: Noted.

[varshaac]

Most tender and the most vulnerable? She is conniving as well. I dont take a liking to her. Also, I don't quite like the other heroines, DT and DF as well.

Soviet Russia, is scary, how else can you contemplate having to stand in a queue for your turn of bread, addressing each and everyone as comrades! Does it have a meaning? "Perfect" world as in Atlantis, is much much desired for. I havent read any of her non fiction, so cant comment on that. The proverbial quote marks it all.

And who does need to trade compassion for confidence. Atlas Shrugged's characters are compassionate towards the right people (Rearden helping out a kid in distress). There are no trade offs between the two non related words, compassion and confidence. Having insecurities is not related to being compassionate.

[anonymous]

Different people read books for different reasons. Some like the idealism, the philosophy while others (me, for instance) primarily read books for the characters and the imagination. So from my perspective, I kind of enjoyed Fountainhead more than Atlas Shrugged. I read both of them many years back -- and, even though I still do like Fountainhead, I would not exactly put Ayn Rand in the same class of imaginative writers as for example Garcia-Marquez or even Gunter Grass. But she does have her own style and deserves being a source of inspiration specially in today's world.

Aha!

[anonymous]

How about the 13 pages on 'thinking' ? U ain't the only fan!:-)..How could one not talk of Rand?:-)
lovely blog!

-Loonie
http://theloonietunes.blogspot.com

[anonymous]

It is Hank Rearden and not Henry!

You have a nice blod space here. Very interesting

manoj

[varshaac]

Well, Hank was another name for Henry Rearden. Henry was his original name.
And Manoj, thanks for your comments! Do I know you?