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servemethesky 's review for:
Anthem
by Ayn Rand
My first Ayn Rand.
I think Anthem was a good place to start with Ayn Rand. I really enjoyed the story of Equality 7-2521, and Rand's descriptions of this futuristic society were sharp and on point. This little volume reminded me of [b:Looking Backward|296977|Looking Backward|Edward Bellamy|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1309284869s/296977.jpg|803], by Edward Bellamy, which I read in college, mixed with [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358275334s/2767052.jpg|2792775]. So it was pretty badass. Is there anything more triumphant than the shift in the penultimate chapter to "I"? I AM. I THINK. I WILL. Boom. Doesn't get much more badass than that.
I do have a few points of criticism, though. The last two chapters are a bit too strong, too forceful, too heavy-handed for my taste. I get that you want to shout your love of individuality from the rooftops, but tone it down a bit, buddy. Both ends of the spectrum have their disadvantages, their downfalls, when you carry it to that point of extremity.
Additionally, it bothered me that in Rand's world there didn't seem to be much for women. The Golden One is SO submissive- it's seriously problematic. You would think in this new world of "I" a woman can say "I" too, and not just "your will be done." HELLO, we have issues afoot.
Aside from that, though, an important and provocative story. Maybe one day I'll rise to the challenge of [b:Atlas Shrugged|662|Atlas Shrugged|Ayn Rand|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358647812s/662.jpg|817219], or [b:The Fountainhead|2122|The Fountainhead|Ayn Rand|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344618350s/2122.jpg|3331807].
I think Anthem was a good place to start with Ayn Rand. I really enjoyed the story of Equality 7-2521, and Rand's descriptions of this futuristic society were sharp and on point. This little volume reminded me of [b:Looking Backward|296977|Looking Backward|Edward Bellamy|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1309284869s/296977.jpg|803], by Edward Bellamy, which I read in college, mixed with [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358275334s/2767052.jpg|2792775]. So it was pretty badass. Is there anything more triumphant than the shift in the penultimate chapter to "I"? I AM. I THINK. I WILL. Boom. Doesn't get much more badass than that.
I do have a few points of criticism, though. The last two chapters are a bit too strong, too forceful, too heavy-handed for my taste. I get that you want to shout your love of individuality from the rooftops, but tone it down a bit, buddy. Both ends of the spectrum have their disadvantages, their downfalls, when you carry it to that point of extremity.
Additionally, it bothered me that in Rand's world there didn't seem to be much for women. The Golden One is SO submissive- it's seriously problematic. You would think in this new world of "I" a woman can say "I" too, and not just "your will be done." HELLO, we have issues afoot.
Aside from that, though, an important and provocative story. Maybe one day I'll rise to the challenge of [b:Atlas Shrugged|662|Atlas Shrugged|Ayn Rand|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358647812s/662.jpg|817219], or [b:The Fountainhead|2122|The Fountainhead|Ayn Rand|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344618350s/2122.jpg|3331807].