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axelreads's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book does a really good job at explaining Rand’s philosophies in a simple and interesting way. I think that Rand had very good points, and this book highlights the best of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Violence, War, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, and Vomit
librarymouse's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Anthem is the weird ancestor to 1984 and The Giver. As the book shifts between parts, the progression of the plot was somewhat easy for me to guess ahead of time. Prometheus is an interesting and apt name for the narrator to give himself, as is Gaea for him to give to the golden one. When the two escaped into the uncharted forest, I was sure they were going to become the next incarnation of Adam and Eve. The use of names from Greek mythology was an interesting way to use and change that concept. The final parts of the novel have a lot of biblical themes. Prometheus's goal to return to the city and retrieve his friends to bring them to his home/compound and build a new world is reminiscent of Noah's ark. He wants to encourage enlightenment among his former brothers, but is willing to let them continue to suffer if they are not willing to learn. Aside from the syntactic idiosyncrasies and the "I'm not like other guys/girls" nature of the narrator and his love interest, I found the concept of Anthem interesting and the characters scaling between tolerable and likable. The fact that some of those willing to fully bend to the will of plurality and collective identity were also willing to compromise and put themselves at risk to protect the narrator as a preferred friend show that there is quiet dissent among the individuals in the world they live in whether or not there is a way to express it.
Overall, the story is enjoyable, though I don't agree with the political ideology the book seems to promote in terms of rejecting all ideas of collectivism as the erasure of individual identity.
Overall, the story is enjoyable, though I don't agree with the political ideology the book seems to promote in terms of rejecting all ideas of collectivism as the erasure of individual identity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery
Moderate: Pregnancy
yashvi_dhaddha's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Because of it being written in 1938, some small parts of it do not exactly align with the widely accepted ideals of equality in present time which is why I reduced one star. Otherwise, it's an enlightening imagination of humanity in anarchy and what would be the negative impact of losing a sense of self. Gives you something to reflect on.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Pregnancy, and Torture
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