Reviews

We the Living by Ayn Rand

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whimsicalmeerkat's review

3.0

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.

I found this on my book shelf one day when I was looking for something to read. I'd never read anything by Ayn Rand before but I had heard a lot about some of her other books.

I loved this. I was completely mesmerized by her descriptions of the the Soviet Union and the rise to power of the Communists. I was equally intrigued by Kira's inner and outer struggle against the mighty and consuming Communist party. Excellent.

halynah's review

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5.0

What is the most terrible fact is that this book is fiction only in terms of certain characters, but all the rest is not a fiction. Soviets did that with people, and it got much worse later. Ayn Rand is lucky, that she managed to flee to the USA, and we, readers, are lucky too, because if she stayed in Russia, there would be no Ayn Rand, no Atlas Shrugged or the Fountainhead, this brilliant woman would have been destroyed by that vicious red plague, like so many others were destroyed by them, and we would not have such books as hers to admire and adore.
Emotionally devastating book, but a definite must-read.

b0hemian_graham's review

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3.0

more like 2.5/5, more palatable than the others, but I will never truly enjoy Rand.

jojosadventures's review

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dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Kira, priorise toi, bong sang!

ophelia98's review

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3.0

This is one of those books that you struggle to get through, as it is often verbose and dry. Once completed though, you are able to fully appreciate it and are thankful that you completed it.

dale_kooyenga's review

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4.0

This book is over looked as a result of the success of Rand's Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead, but this is where it all began. The book captures the depravity of oppresionst Russia. A story of destruction of the soul and assinatino of love. It's a book that draws you into the darkness, but that is totalitarnism communism and that was reality for the millions on the losing side of Lenin and Stalin. A much shorter read than Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead. Those two books are also similar in themse where this book is very different, almost as though it was from a different author.

maria_sevlievska's review

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dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Every time I read a book, I secretly hope it will give me the mix of philosophy / history / character drama that Huxley's Brave New World offers. This time, it did.

Ayn Rand's writing is exceptional and this book so accurately captures the war between the individual and the collective, within the Russian Revolution and beyond. The temperament of the characters is relatable, powerful and understated.

Definitely a top 5 book for me. I can't wait to read The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.