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sudeshnabora 's review for:
We the Living
by Ayn Rand
This book is one of the toughest books I have read in terms of personal conviction.
Do I hate this book ? No.
Do I love this book ? No .
But this book made me question the otherwise black and white convictions that I have had.
For me , as I started the book . I knew I should love Kira, my personal convictions demanded this . But was she really the hero that the novel made her to be ? Whatever she did , was it so different than what Andrei did. Both of them were driven by personal convictions whether it be personal gratification or belief in a social cause , which can also be considered as personal gratification . So , why was she made the undisputed Heroine?
For me, the undisputed hero of this novel is Andrei . His growth was tremendous and he always showed the strength of his character till the very last , where Madam Rand unnaturally decided to cut him off cause such nobel a character can never survive ; this is my only complain against Andrei Taganov.
Coming to think of it , I really liked Leo with his characteristic selfishness . He , I believe , represented "The Art of Selfishness" till the very end .
But, unfortunately I cannot say that for Kira. Personally, I cannot appreciate a lady who puts her entire hopes , aspiration, wishes etc on to a guy . She holds a mantel in her heart , an untouched mantel ; which I believe was not at all her responsibility or also was not something so exalted as the entire novel . Yes, I hoped in the end she would do something for herself but she again chose to follow her dreams , the dreams she thought Leo was capable of living. I don't understand her. I know my hatred towards her is a knee jerk reaction and I hope with time I can become un affected enough to see her as Rand made her . But till then , I despise her.
As a reader , I have no complain against the writing style. The closing chapter can be compared to a few of my favorite chapters. The heart wrenching desperation was very , very real unlike other "Individual V/s State" and "dystopic" materials I have read.
This book will not be one of my favorites , not yet but will surely be one of the books with the highest learning graph.
Do I hate this book ? No.
Do I love this book ? No .
But this book made me question the otherwise black and white convictions that I have had.
For me , as I started the book . I knew I should love Kira, my personal convictions demanded this . But was she really the hero that the novel made her to be ? Whatever she did , was it so different than what Andrei did. Both of them were driven by personal convictions whether it be personal gratification or belief in a social cause , which can also be considered as personal gratification . So , why was she made the undisputed Heroine?
For me, the undisputed hero of this novel is Andrei . His growth was tremendous and he always showed the strength of his character till the very last , where Madam Rand unnaturally decided to cut him off cause such nobel a character can never survive ; this is my only complain against Andrei Taganov.
Coming to think of it , I really liked Leo with his characteristic selfishness . He , I believe , represented "The Art of Selfishness" till the very end .
But, unfortunately I cannot say that for Kira. Personally, I cannot appreciate a lady who puts her entire hopes , aspiration, wishes etc on to a guy . She holds a mantel in her heart , an untouched mantel ; which I believe was not at all her responsibility or also was not something so exalted as the entire novel . Yes, I hoped in the end she would do something for herself but she again chose to follow her dreams , the dreams she thought Leo was capable of living. I don't understand her. I know my hatred towards her is a knee jerk reaction and I hope with time I can become un affected enough to see her as Rand made her . But till then , I despise her.
As a reader , I have no complain against the writing style. The closing chapter can be compared to a few of my favorite chapters. The heart wrenching desperation was very , very real unlike other "Individual V/s State" and "dystopic" materials I have read.
This book will not be one of my favorites , not yet but will surely be one of the books with the highest learning graph.