Anthem

Rating:
Summary: Very well written
Review: This book was very well written and moving. It's difficult not to relate to an individual person amidst a society that does things differently than he/she does; that's fairly common in literature, but no less enjoyable therefore. Obviously pride and individualism are important qualities, and, having already believed this, I was surprised that the book hit me as hard as it did; Rand writes with such intense emotion that it's hard not to believe that she doesn't think society has already gotten to the point that the book depicts, which is something I have wondered about since kindergarten! At the end of the story, however, Rand starts preaching. You can tell that it's not the character, but Rand herself. There is no reason for the character to start preaching after he falls in love. Rand says that she loves those who are worthy of it, that she honors people with her love. How does she decide if a person's worthy of her love? I don't think I would want her "love." She speaks of love as something you earn. I wouldn't even describe it as a gift. It is a feeling, a powerful feeling, the one feeling, perhaps, that we should not attempt to control, for it is a good feeling whether it's returned or not. One could argue that loving feels better than being loved. And we love each other BECAUSE of the individual differences which Rand so adamantly upholds, not in defiance of them! I would describe Ayn Rand as insane: unable to function in society. That's not the same as unwilling; a person unwilling to function in society is a leader, a person willing to change society. Ayn Rand has effectively done that...for the worse.

Rating:
Summary: A classic multi-tiered parable.
Review: This story is amazing for its many levels. There is the literal and then there is the philosophical. Although this book is only 100 pages long--it takes one sitting to read--you will find yourself thinking of it far longer.