Okay. So at the urging of my wife and my friend, Shawn, I've been reading Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged at night before bed. I'm some 250 pages into this novel of over 1000 pages. So far so good. It's an interesting read. I'm enjoying it (even though I'm not buying into her objectivist philosophy). Good story, etc.Except for one thing: when Rand feels the need to throw in a, um...let's call it, "romantic encounter," the whole thing becomes a train wreck (of the kind that Taggert Transcontinental would want desperately to avoid). Seriously, the whole things derails into some schmaltzy, cheap, third rate, Faubian-type crap. The book would be a lot better without it. Wife's advice: just skip it (which one has to do to avoid the unpleasant taste of the previous meal coming back up).
Okay, I got that off my chest. It needed to be said. [And I do feel the better for it.]
3 comments:
I'm glad you feel better, dear. :)
You've confirmed my hesitations about reading more Rand. We read "Anthem" in high school (or junior high...), and ever since, I've thought to myself, "I really don't care to ever read anything by her again."
I just finished "The Count of Monte Cristo" - entertaining, for sure, but overratted as a "classic." I just started Willa Cather's "O Pioneers," and I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
Hey Brian,
I'm still holding out on the verdict on the whole book. I have enjoyed the story so far (minus the romance junk), and it may end up being a good read after all. Heather really liked it, as did my friend Shawn. It is interesting reading it in light of the quasi national debate about capitalism / socialism that's going on. That's where Rand is aiming her stake. I'll give my final thoughts when I've completed the book.
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