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Anthem
by Ayn Rand
by Ayn Rand
Futuristic society that doesn't recognize individuals -- everyone's name is "Equality" followed by a number. Cute, huh? One day, Equality-some-number-or-another stumbles across a cave with books in it and discovers the word "I" and immediately realizes what it means even though his cultural and linguistic backgrounds have in no way equipped him to understand but whatever, it's a novella and Rand doesn't have time. Anyway, now Equality-### has an "I" and so he lives in the cave forever and is free. The end.
This book is really, really stupid. Everything subtle and interesting about Rand's ideas is stripped away to get at the crux, which is a really boring crux. Soviet Communism sucked, in extremely general ways! Individuals! Are awesome! Rah!
This book is really, really stupid. Everything subtle and interesting about Rand's ideas is stripped away to get at the crux, which is a really boring crux. Soviet Communism sucked, in extremely general ways! Individuals! Are awesome! Rah!
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Kat
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rated it 1 star
Feb 03, 2009 12:20pm
I was also talking about the word "I," and the person "Equality," and I think your comment is funny.
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I actually don't mean that to be inflammatory. If you haven't read The Fountainhead yet, I recommend it. It's a lot more subtle.
Kat, For your interest, I found that Kenzie's profile data is set to private....Could he/she/it be: a "Private I"?
First of all, if you are going to bash a book, at least get the facts straight. Equality didn't find books in a cave, he found them in a house. In the forest. Kind of an ignorant mistake. It seems like you read it and didn't understand it, that's why you don't like it.
"It seems like you read it and didn't understand it, that's why you don't like it."Right, that and because it's not a very good book. Are the people attacking you on this cult members or something, Kat?
Also, Sarah gave this book an even lower rating than I did myself!
Kris,I never said I liked this book, because I don't. I was merely stating that she was being ignorant and that maybe it was too difficult of a read for her, even though it is like a 4th grade reading level. I am sorry you have problems with comprehension. You said she didn't understand it because it was a bad book. Perhaps it was a little out of your reach as well?
O Supreme Sarah,Thou, Incisive Intellectual Interpreter of Texts,
Thou, Spirit of the Kindergarten Mistress Made Flesh,
Thou, Wielder of the Savage Sword of Sarcasm,
We bow before Thee, farting profusely in Holy Terror.
...except for Chris (NOT "Kris" O Infallible One!!)
who is a very naughty boy.
I know. I feel like I got totally skooled, here. Yes, maybe I did have trouble understanding this book. Perhaps on such as I who cannot even spell my own name would have trouble with such a ponderous tome. Can one ever really understand what another is trying to convey? Rand's message, though spelled out in grade school terms, is probably not even what she intended it to be anyway. Unless she actually was encouraging reckless individualism, as opposed to an overly oppressive community based society. I mean, who would ever encourage such a thing, really?-Kris
Ok, really? you people are so cool. (this is a special little thing I like to call sarcasm).I misspelled his frickin name. my little brothers name is spelled kris,can you pull your heads out of your asses?
And Wyane? Whoever the hell you are? I am so sorry that I misspelled your boyfriends name. I apologize profusley. Oh, and I hope that my comment didn't make you cry. I always try to be nice to people with special needs.
Hahahaha. Are these the insults that one finds in their high school vampire novels? And are you really being homophobic?! You obviously don't know who you're talking to. When you go to college, maybe they'll teach you that those comments are inappropriate.-c.
I'm not being homophobic, I am bisexual myself. I was merely stating that he sounded really attached to you, and how your name was spelled.
Dear Sarah,Could we just examine the text rather than make our criticisms "ad hominem".
Our sexualities, comprehensiom levels and reading abilities need not really be mentioned as we are led along the road to enlightenment by someone who feels they have some insights into the text.
Let's wipe the slate clean and get informed.
Sincerely yours, Wayne.
Your a dumbass not everyone is named Equality #-####. If you actually read the book you would find other names like Union 5-3992, 4-8818. And he doesnt discover the word I in a cave he runs away into a forest with Liberty 5-3000 and then discovers the meaning of I. Get your facts straight before you bash a book.
Kat did read this book, if you follow your own advice and read things with care, in January 2000, which would account for her forgetting the facts of the story.So none of us is likely to be perfect with our remembrance of things past and likely to escape the nomination of'dumbass'.(What does it mean, by the way??!!).The message she is sending is that she doesn't like the book.Could someone please convince her that she might like to change her opinion instead of calling her names.
This is NOT a literary discussion.
Come on!!!
Wayne wrote: "Kat did read this book, if you follow your own advice and read things with care, in January 2000, which would account for her forgetting the facts of the story.So none of us is likely to be perfect..."yea she did read the book in 2000 and maybe she wrote the review in 2000? naa she just wrote it 10 years later.
Again Tom, if you click on Kat's photo, you will be able to find out when Kat joined Goodreads. The likelihood of her having written this brief review 10 years ago and keeping it on file is very slim.Perhaps after you have satisfied yourself on this we can all engage in our literary discussion.
Looking forward to hearing why you and Sarah are so passionate about Ayn Rand's book.
Cheers.
ok, BUT!!! my point still stands DONT BASH A BOOK IF YOU DONT KNOW THE BOOK.And you rating books doesn't matter because someone will always love it or hate it. I didn't mind it at all, it wasn't bad but i didnt love it.
Goodbye Tom.Goodbye Sarah.
Critique the book, not the reviewer.
"Dude, shut up" is not a literary critique.
Your "rating books doesn't matter" makes me rather curious as to why you are on Goodreads at all.
I suggest you stop bullying people.
You display no wit and little intelligence.
I can understand why Kat has not bothered to respond to you and I know exactly why I'm not going to bother.
I thank Lordie Above for the 'DELETE' button.
............................................
Wayne,I wish to end this relentless and idiotic conversation for good, so I have only one thing to say to you. I was merely giving my oppinion, and I certainly didnt want this to continue. You see, I have a life outside of the virtual one, filled with friends and my boyfriend and life, which is not something I found in this conversation. Goodbye.
