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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
We the living is about three people. Who love one another and the extent of love which makes them scarifice themselves for each other.
slow-paced
At first I didn't really like it. I hated most of the characters because of the stupid things they had done, or the bad ones. I was in love with Andrei by the time he killed himself and the reason he did it. I loved Leo...until he became a total douchebag. But then i still wanted him to end up with Kira. And in the end, my heart was completely torn apart. Especially that one last sentence, broke my heart in a million pieces. I kind of hate it but i really love it. I just love to hate it and hate to love it. Maybe someday i'll read it again.
Update:
I have read it again.
This book wrecked my heart all over again and I thank it for doing that.
It's officially one of my all time favorite books. It punches you and you're glad it does. The story is simply amazing, always keeping you on your toes.
Just A M A Z I N G!
Update:
I have read it again.
This book wrecked my heart all over again and I thank it for doing that.
It's officially one of my all time favorite books. It punches you and you're glad it does. The story is simply amazing, always keeping you on your toes.
Just A M A Z I N G!
I don't even remember this trash. Thinking back on my Rand phase in life makes me cringe a lot. I assume it's a travel journey like Eat Pray Love but the eating is of the poor, the praying is sarcastic (I WILL STAND ON MY MERITS, I NEED NO SUBSIDY FROM A DEITY), and the love is focused on one woman's love of her gold-plated bath tub.
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wish I had read this in high school, instead of The Fountainhead. This is the better book, and it isn't even close. It also might have made me less of an asshole for a while. Who knows?
Most of this can be summarized with the statement that Ayn Rand didn't hate communists; she hated men. This was exceptionally inconvenient because she couldn't stop fucking them.
Kira's victories feel like our victories. She can be kind of annoying as a character but is, by far, Rand's most human protagonist. I will say that a few of the big speeches in the book, about the value of certain people - ones who "know what it is to live" - would be hilariously terrible, the very antithesis of what our society needs, but people believe that crap. It's horrifying.
Still, I think this story a really good way to understand how people arrive at that point. Unfortunately for many recipients of Kira's message, a lot of us are unable to see the forest for the trees when it comes to accepting this kind of thinking. Simply because someone has the passion and ability to do something incredible does not make them more deserving of a quality life than people who are humble and willing to work for their bread. I'd have volumes more to say on that, but it's not really for this review.
Most of this can be summarized with the statement that Ayn Rand didn't hate communists; she hated men. This was exceptionally inconvenient because she couldn't stop fucking them.
Kira's victories feel like our victories. She can be kind of annoying as a character but is, by far, Rand's most human protagonist. I will say that a few of the big speeches in the book, about the value of certain people - ones who "know what it is to live" - would be hilariously terrible, the very antithesis of what our society needs, but people believe that crap. It's horrifying.
Still, I think this story a really good way to understand how people arrive at that point. Unfortunately for many recipients of Kira's message, a lot of us are unable to see the forest for the trees when it comes to accepting this kind of thinking. Simply because someone has the passion and ability to do something incredible does not make them more deserving of a quality life than people who are humble and willing to work for their bread. I'd have volumes more to say on that, but it's not really for this review.
I wonder if I’m slumping, because I’m not really enjoying this either. I don’t like the characters and can’t tell if they’re supposed to be unlikeable or not. Kira is such a “I’m not like other girls” character,
that it’s super annoying. Are we supposed to sympathize with this rich family? They left Russia to escape the revolution, living on some island in Eastern Europe for five years, and then, for some reason, decide to return to Russia and expect to get by/act like nothing happened. Little tone deaf…the rich were able to flee, and then willingly decide to return, and then complain about life in communist Russia. Okay…? What did you expect? It’s as if the family didn’t anticipate being affected by the revolution… I’m not sure I want to continue with this. The writing style is fine, but the characters, the plot… Setting down for now.
that it’s super annoying. Are we supposed to sympathize with this rich family? They left Russia to escape the revolution, living on some island in Eastern Europe for five years, and then, for some reason, decide to return to Russia and expect to get by/act like nothing happened. Little tone deaf…the rich were able to flee, and then willingly decide to return, and then complain about life in communist Russia. Okay…? What did you expect? It’s as if the family didn’t anticipate being affected by the revolution… I’m not sure I want to continue with this. The writing style is fine, but the characters, the plot… Setting down for now.
perfect example of reading past boredom, second half was so much more rich and complex than the first. overall an exhausting and oppressive read, exactly, I think, as Rand intended.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An incredible revelation to the human personality and how it interacts and bends to its time under dictatorship. Read it. It's worth it.