ghostwriter's Full Review: Ayn Rand and Leonard (AFT) Peikoff - The Fountainh...
Upon reading the review by "najdorf," I was surprised to find someone who disliked the book so vehemently and rather completely juxtaposed my view on it. Of course, anyone is entitled to his or her own "epinion" of the book, however, I think I will walk around in a confused daze about this one for weeks to come.
(A conversation between Ellsworth Toohey and Howard Roark)
"Mr. Roark, we're alone here. Why don't you tell me what you think of me? In any words you wish. No one will hear us."
"But I don't think of you."
How anyone can deny the seamless characterizations depicted through simple lines of dialogue such as this is beyond me? In fact, a friend of mine told me it was the one passage which continues to resonate in his mind.
Here is my review of the book (a tad lengthy but worthwhile, I hope):
For anyone who has not yet been exposed to any of Any Rand's books, you are truly missing out. Take it from someone who only recently finished this book. And, oh what an absolute treat it was! I have never had so many people stop and talk to me about any other book as I had while carrying around "The Fountainhead." Perhaps it is because it has such a profound effect on so many different people, that everyone who has experienced it is trying to live vicariously through the virgin reader's mind and trying to recreate the magic they felt about it when they first read it.
Howard Roark is an architect. So is Peter Keating. One does it for the love and need of the thing; one does it for the fame, the money, the recognition. Rand begins the story with Keating and Roark at college and follows them through the various stages of their careers. Along the way, she throws numerous distractions to complicate both of their lives; one in the form of a beautiful woman named Dominique who is found irresistible to everyone with whom she comes into contact. Another is an Architectural Reviewer for a huge newspaper, Ellsworth Toohey, a powerful and devious man on an agenda of his own - an agenda which includes hampering true genius and promoting general mediocrity for the "benefit" of society. Another obstacle comes in the form of Gail Wynand, owner of the great Wynand Empire that he built from nothing but hard work. Rand uses him initially, as a depiction of what can become of drive, talent and perseverance, quite similar to Roark. In the end, however, his downfall occurs when he compromises his ethics and loses everything. And finally, the most powerful enemy one can incorporate in a work of fiction (which Rand so masterfully does here) - is society itself.
It is impossible not to be inspired by the main character, Howard Roark, who reminds us about doing what we love -that which we were born to do and loving wholeheartedly whatever that is and how the two seem to go hand in hand. He reminds us that when you truly believe in something, compromise is not an issue. Of course, there are times when he does seem to take things to the utmost extreme, a way of life that would be nearly impossible to succeed in. But this does not change the purity of all of his intentions, actions and motivations.
This is a book to read and discuss with others, to re-read periodically, and to keep tucked somewhere in the back of your mind - if for no other reason than to simply remind us all that simple words on paper can revive our passion and make us think critically about the world around us.
Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff (Photographer),Paperback - Reprint, English-language edition,Pages:736,Pub by Penguin Group (USA) IncorporatedMore at Barnes & Noble.com
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