Penni and I wouldn't hoot at you. We decided Atlas.. may be more of a man's book, than a woman's book. You can hoot at that if you want, but I think it bothers women more when characters are one dimensional, as we are so feeling oriented. I realize she is just using the characters to illustrate her philosophy but I didn't see the humor Terrence mentioned, and it bothers me that it is such a long book full of people I don't like.
I agree that people with talent are not always allowed to exult in thier gifts, and I think that is a shame. I agree that penalizing succesful enterprises to aid struggling ones, that probably don't deserve to survive, makes no sense. Suck ups to Washington get spoils they didn't earn and it is disgusting, I agree with that. From each according to his ability and to each according to his need, just encourages laziness and needy people. But Rearden would have been a happier man if he had paid more attention to feelings. If he had been a little more saavy in that department he wouldn't have ended up with that awful wife. And that poor guy living all alone in his mansion in the middle of nowhere, with no one, is that happiness? Bravo for excellence in work, we should strive for excellence in all things though and that includes advancing our intellect, broadening ourselves to appreciate the wonderful things around us and maintaining our relationships. If we don't accept mediocrity in our work why accept it in our personal life? And that means paying attention to our feelings and to the feelings of others. Which seems to be totally missing in the novel. But then sexist that I am, I see empathy as more of a womanly quality and I think Ayn either had little of these qualities or tried hard not to let them show up in the book. |
