I can't help it, I love Ayn Rand. Not unlike 'Atlas Shrugged' and most of Stephen King's novels I really enjoyed this book for the process more than the end.
This novel mainly follows and elevates architect Howard Roark. A once in a generation talent, Roark shuns the popular architectural movement in lieu of his own instinctive modern impulses and, after decades of sporadic work, triumphs in the public eye.
As in 'Atlas Shrugged' this novel introduces the reader to a few similarily principled characters. Another strong, individualistic protagonist is Roarks love interest Dominique Francon. We also meet his polar opposite: Peter Keating, a man with little talent that the public is manipulated to hold in high esteem. His rise and subsequent fall balances the inverse function occuring in our protagonists life. The lower Roark falls, the higher Keating rises until the role reversal begins. Another character that embodies all the innate integrity Rand wants us to appreciate is Gail Wynand, newspaper giant and all around tycoon. When put to the test we are shown how integrity means nothing when it folds under pressure but we cannot help but feel this character is another protagonist.
In terms of Antagonists, there really seems to be only one. Keating is a spineless pawn but the real evil mastermind is Ellsworth Toohey. The master manipulator and aspiring ruler of the populace, Toohey makes seemingly benign alliances in part of his grand scheme to dictate popular opinion.
As I said before, I love the way Rand writes. It's a refreshing drink of intellectual cool water after months of reading luke warm stale dumbed down water. That said, there is one thing about her writing that bothers me. I don't know enough to say if this is a product of the times or if it's her own personal vendetta to make things incredible clear cut but there are these monologues by characters that go on for pages upon pages laying out the message which the capable reader should have already gleaned from the story. Aside from this over the head beating of the message I would call Rand my perfect author. This novel is just under 800 pages but I couldn't wait to read more and finished it in about 5 days.
Loved the book, want more Rand, already understood that individualism should never be pushed aside for the idea of holding the unremarkable aloft.
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