tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post2695470251268970147..comments2022-11-10T12:38:31.423+00:00Comments on Kristi Loves Books: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn RandKristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343557750428307066noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-79778708838086763522011-06-01T21:14:30.982+01:002011-06-01T21:14:30.982+01:00Two Bibliomaniacs--Thanks for stopping by. I was s...Two Bibliomaniacs--Thanks for stopping by. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to read it as well (aside from the long speeches).<br /><br />I'm really excited about the Book to Movies Challenge. I always read books before I watch the movie, so it's perfect for me. I read Breakfast at Tiffany's and watched the movie a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for hosting, and I can't wait to get to Gone with the Wind.Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07343557750428307066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-86283690879754868652011-06-01T18:18:40.228+01:002011-06-01T18:18:40.228+01:00Thanks for stopping by and signing up for the Book...Thanks for stopping by and signing up for the Books to Movies Challenge! So excited you’re going to read and watch Gone with the Wind!<br /><br />Also, great commentary on Atlas Shrugged. I finished this one earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised with the suspense. For such a long novel it was fairly easy to navigate through. Like you said, everything was taken to the extreme on both ends and John Galt’s speech... ahhhh.Two Bibliomaniacshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02442484227213602009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-8649372969019861992011-05-18T11:56:02.171+01:002011-05-18T11:56:02.171+01:00Selene--Thanks! There were some frustrating moment...Selene--Thanks! There were some frustrating moments, but I'm glad I read it. I can see how you might want to avoid it so you don't throw the ipad against the wall. :) After hearing about you loving your ipad, I'm finally giving in and getting one this week! I can't wait. I'll have to get some ideas for apps.Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07343557750428307066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-90395854657225803972011-05-17T01:59:32.702+01:002011-05-17T01:59:32.702+01:00I wish I'd done this readalong! This book int...I wish I'd done this readalong! This book intimidates me greatly! Congrats on getting through it, I'm worried that I'll be throwing it against the wall too often, and it's on my iPad, so that can't be good...Selenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16906565055142387639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-47234106490996628102011-05-03T17:00:07.339+01:002011-05-03T17:00:07.339+01:00Enbrethiliel-I think I will read The Fountainhead,...Enbrethiliel-I think I will read The Fountainhead, but not until next year. I've heard it's pretty similar to Atlas Shrugged so I'm going to put a bit of distance between. That's interesting to hear that you preferred it to Atlas Shrugged. Based on what you've said, it seems like there are less speeches. That would be great.Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07343557750428307066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-14743731573801692612011-05-03T14:04:49.452+01:002011-05-03T14:04:49.452+01:00+JMJ+
Well, I was fascinated by her ideas at the...+JMJ+ <br /><br />Well, I was fascinated by her ideas at the time I started reading her books--and I don't mind slogging through long, abstract passages like John Galt's speech--so for a while it was a pretty even toss-up between her fiction and non-fiction. <br /><br />I will say that I read the major speeches of <i>Atlas Shrugged</i> (John Galt on the radio, Francisco to Hank, the doctor in Atlantis, etc.) in a compilation that gave only the slightest bit of context to them--and I liked them better that way. They were a little more obvious and heavy-handed as part of a novel. As you've said: too much telling, not enough showing. <br /><br />Are you thinking of starting <i>The Fountainhead</i> now? I like it better than <i>Atlas Shrugged</i>. The quality of its prose is more beautiful and intense--even if it's still obvious in some places. There's a lot more showing than telling here, I can promise you! =) <br /><br />You can already see the "seeds" of John Galt in Howard Roark. Both of them are already perfect men (or as Rand would say, "ideal men"), so they don't grow and change through their respective novels. But other characters close to Roark do develop, and they're interesting to watch.Enbrethilielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03414765854670926854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-88518032176685407022011-05-03T00:46:58.525+01:002011-05-03T00:46:58.525+01:00Jenners-I forgot to mention that I've heard th...Jenners-I forgot to mention that I've heard that Rand's Fountainhead is very similar to Atlas Shrugged, but it's a lot shorter. :)Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07343557750428307066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-23635748027987544682011-05-03T00:45:11.054+01:002011-05-03T00:45:11.054+01:00Enbrethiliel-Thanks! It feels great to be done. I ...Enbrethiliel-Thanks! It feels great to be done. I love how you say that it's better to have read. The reading process is a bit painful at times and before you read it it's so overwhelming. :)<br /><br />I agree that it works better if you view it as an allegory. The characters and dialogue weren't exactly realistic. I haven't read any of her non-fiction. Which do you prefer.Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07343557750428307066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-25182617885471444482011-05-03T00:39:04.021+01:002011-05-03T00:39:04.021+01:00Jenners-I'm curious to see what you think if y...Jenners-I'm curious to see what you think if you read it. It's definitely a divisive one.<br /><br />Avid Reader-I loved that scene where Dagny traded her the bracelet. Oh how I wanted to slap Lilian Rearden. How could she be so indifferent to something that was so important to her husband? I agree--there were parts that I really loved, but there were definitely parts that bothered me.Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07343557750428307066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-10365008599004161032011-05-02T20:02:11.679+01:002011-05-02T20:02:11.679+01:00+JMJ+
Congratulations on finishing it, Kristi! =...+JMJ+ <br /><br />Congratulations on finishing it, Kristi! =D<br /><br />I know what you mean about <i>Atlas Shrugged</i> not being a book I'd recommend, although I'm also glad I read it. I think it's one of those books that best <i>to have read</i> than <i>to read</i> or <i>to be reading</i> . . . although there's no way to achieve the first status without passing through the other two! =P <br /><br />I've also read some of Rand's non-fiction, which is why her characters were not just flat to me, but also completely predictable. <i>Atlas Shrugged</i> can be read as a pure allegory--because that is virtually what it is. The philosopher falls in love with the actress, the professor goes on strike by becoming a cook, the writer becomes Atlantis' best fishmonger, etc. It all makes stultifying, two-dimensional sense. Rand makes even less room for human quirks than she does for human failings.Enbrethilielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03414765854670926854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-10225464717429913552011-05-02T19:33:57.323+01:002011-05-02T19:33:57.323+01:00Rand did do a bit too much "telling" ins...Rand did do a bit too much "telling" instead of "showing." I loved certain aspects of this book and disliked others. I do remember one scene at a party, where Dagny trades her diamond bracelet for the one Rearden made for his wife from his metal. I loved that scene. It was so intense and awkward. Imagine having the guts to do that and to put his stupid wife in her place.Melissa (Avid Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02119628715475021774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158601836174551552.post-50568805387661706082011-05-01T02:05:40.002+01:002011-05-01T02:05:40.002+01:00This is a book I've always been scared of. I f...This is a book I've always been scared of. I feel like I should try it some day though.Jennershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08044537551139633301noreply@blogger.com