Reviews

We the Living by Ayn Rand

kmhst25's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

This is the fifth time I've read this book, but the first time in at least 5 years. It's a hard book for me to review, because I feel like it has done a lot for me, but it is far from perfect. 

Pros:

• We The Living paints such a vivid portrait of Soviet Russia in the 1920s that it sparked a life-long interest in Soviet and Russian history for me. 
• No author has ever been able to convince me of the gift of being alive and being able to live my own life, on my own terms, like Rand has. This book touches things in me that no other book does. 
• This novel, far more than any other, explains the 'why' behind Ayn Rand.  So many people read Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead and write her off completely. They don't understand where she's coming from; We The Living tells you where she's coming from. I don't agree with all of her conclusions about the world, but reading this book tells me exactly how she came to them.

Cons:

• I am deeply uncomfortable with Rand's idea of an ideal heterosexual relationship, in this book and in all her others. Her ideas about men and women sadden and repel me. 
• Despite being far more benign than generally painted by the public, Rand's ideas about selfishness can also leave a bad taste in the mouth. There is so much that could be said about the selfishness required to survive in a famine, in a war, in a dictatorship--so many philosophical questions about what those types of conditions do to a person. But you're going to have to be willing to ask yourself those questions. This is not a book for someone who only wants to read about likeable characters.
• As a first novel (and a first novel in a second-language, no less), this book suffers from repetitiveness, transparency, and occasional grammar / word-choice issues. 

Overall, I thought this was one of my favorite books, and age has shown me that it is not. At times, I thought about putting it down or throwing it away. But it holds such a special place in my heart that I can't let it go. The questions that We The Living raises are valuable ones, even if you don't agree with the answers as framed therein.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Rape, and Suicide

Minor: Abortion and Misogyny

lauraborkpower's review against another edition

2.0

Too much of a parable, but it's a quick read.

whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition

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.

utahmomreads's review against another edition

5.0

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

3.0

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

jojosadventures's review against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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.