Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
My favorite of Ayn Rand's books and the only one I would unquestionably say is good. There seems to be more acknowledgement of the fragility of people. I really enjoyed reading it.
Would have given it 5 stars if it hadn't taken me so long to get through. Otherwise, stellar.
I had read 1984 years before, not knowing that something similar to that fiction already happened in real life. I was very surprised as I read We the Living to see so many similarities. This is a long book, but it's an important one to read if you want to understand communism or socialism, and how it plays out in the real world, or if you want to read about a real life dystopia. Although the book is fiction, it's the characters who are fictional, not the Russian environment. Also in this book was the shocking statement, (paraphrasing from memory), "All men are not created equal." I hear the opposite so much living in America, that I never really considered it. We should all analyze such statements and other ones we are brainwashed to believe. Another great example of communism/socialism enacted in real life was what happened in China, like in the book called Wild Swans. I highly recommend both books.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've grown up a lot since I read Rand's other novels and don't have as much patience for her propaganda anymore, so I didn't have high hopes for We the Living. And at the beginning of the novel, protagonist Kira Argounova did seem more like a mouthpiece than a character. But man, I was pleasantly surprised, and moved, by the end.
This book is one of the toughest books I have read in terms of personal conviction.
Do I hate this book ? No.
Do I love this book ? No .
But this book made me question the otherwise black and white convictions that I have had.
For me , as I started the book . I knew I should love Kira, my personal convictions demanded this . But was she really the hero that the novel made her to be ? Whatever she did , was it so different than what Andrei did. Both of them were driven by personal convictions whether it be personal gratification or belief in a social cause , which can also be considered as personal gratification . So , why was she made the undisputed Heroine?
For me, the undisputed hero of this novel is Andrei . His growth was tremendous and he always showed the strength of his character till the very last , where Madam Rand unnaturally decided to cut him off cause such nobel a character can never survive ; this is my only complain against Andrei Taganov.
Coming to think of it , I really liked Leo with his characteristic selfishness . He , I believe , represented "The Art of Selfishness" till the very end .
But, unfortunately I cannot say that for Kira. Personally, I cannot appreciate a lady who puts her entire hopes , aspiration, wishes etc on to a guy . She holds a mantel in her heart , an untouched mantel ; which I believe was not at all her responsibility or also was not something so exalted as the entire novel . Yes, I hoped in the end she would do something for herself but she again chose to follow her dreams , the dreams she thought Leo was capable of living. I don't understand her. I know my hatred towards her is a knee jerk reaction and I hope with time I can become un affected enough to see her as Rand made her . But till then , I despise her.
As a reader , I have no complain against the writing style. The closing chapter can be compared to a few of my favorite chapters. The heart wrenching desperation was very , very real unlike other "Individual V/s State" and "dystopic" materials I have read.
This book will not be one of my favorites , not yet but will surely be one of the books with the highest learning graph.
Do I hate this book ? No.
Do I love this book ? No .
But this book made me question the otherwise black and white convictions that I have had.
For me , as I started the book . I knew I should love Kira, my personal convictions demanded this . But was she really the hero that the novel made her to be ? Whatever she did , was it so different than what Andrei did. Both of them were driven by personal convictions whether it be personal gratification or belief in a social cause , which can also be considered as personal gratification . So , why was she made the undisputed Heroine?
For me, the undisputed hero of this novel is Andrei . His growth was tremendous and he always showed the strength of his character till the very last , where Madam Rand unnaturally decided to cut him off cause such nobel a character can never survive ; this is my only complain against Andrei Taganov.
Coming to think of it , I really liked Leo with his characteristic selfishness . He , I believe , represented "The Art of Selfishness" till the very end .
But, unfortunately I cannot say that for Kira. Personally, I cannot appreciate a lady who puts her entire hopes , aspiration, wishes etc on to a guy . She holds a mantel in her heart , an untouched mantel ; which I believe was not at all her responsibility or also was not something so exalted as the entire novel . Yes, I hoped in the end she would do something for herself but she again chose to follow her dreams , the dreams she thought Leo was capable of living. I don't understand her. I know my hatred towards her is a knee jerk reaction and I hope with time I can become un affected enough to see her as Rand made her . But till then , I despise her.
As a reader , I have no complain against the writing style. The closing chapter can be compared to a few of my favorite chapters. The heart wrenching desperation was very , very real unlike other "Individual V/s State" and "dystopic" materials I have read.
This book will not be one of my favorites , not yet but will surely be one of the books with the highest learning graph.
http://makemesmarternow.blogspot.dk/2016/07/tbr-jar-review-we-living-by-ayn-rand.html
Don't take book recommendations from people' in finance.
This isn't a review of her book with its trashy psuedo- Aristotelan philosophy, but I read a terrific book called Second City Bombshell about Korean Americans in 1920s Chicago. Extremely well researched, great art work and ultimately so satisify with fully drawn characters.