We the Living by Ayn Rand
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Book Reviews of We the Living
Book Review: Rand is a genius
Summary: 5 Stars
" `Society, Kira, is a stupendous whole.' `If you write a whole line of zeroes, it's still- nothing." Chapter 3; Kira and VictorThis quote sums up Kira's attitude about the Collective, and mirrors author Ayn Rand's attitude on it as well. We the Living is a novel set in Russia during the Russian Revolution, and a young girl named Kira who refuses to settle for anything less than what she desires and deserves. The characters in it represent what every true individual can aspire to be if they believe in themselves. Leo, whom Kira loves and worships as her only god, is an example of one who had the potential to be great but who did not have the guts. Almost everyone surrounding Kira are examples of those born without potential or initiative. Kira is an example of someone who did all that she possibly could to be what she knows she can be, but the country and time period she lives in will not allow her to be anything but just another person in the great mass of people.
Ayn Rand admitted that this is the closest she has ever come to writing an autobiography. She said that the events in the book are fiction, but Kira's ideals and values are her own. This book, like all of Ayn Rand's, will definately make you think, and it is an interesting read as well.
Book Review: an American classic
Summary: 5 Stars
"We the Living" is an autobiographical historic novel of Ayn Rand's life in the Soviet Union during her youth from age 12 to 21, when she was able to escape to America.
Every American should read this book in order to understand what the Soviet Union was all about and what totalitarian governments do to people. It is an extraordinarily cautionary tale, which is essentially a true story in essence.
Of all Ayn Rand's writings, this is the one which appears to me to have the greatest literary value - and this is the one subject that Ayn Rand actually knew and lived first hand.
This book gives readers great insight in why anti-communism swept the world, and why fascists, Mussolini, Hitler and Japan's Tojo was able to use anti-communism, the legitimate fear of communism, to grasp control in their own countries, and to almost rule the world.
In fact for American to really understand anti-communism in America, and to understand WWII and the 20th century, they need to read "We The Living", a true horror story of idealistic communism in Russia.
It should be used extensively in our public schools to teach civics, history, current events, and English literature.
Sadly, this book is not nearly as widely read as it needs to be.
Book Review: Great early Ayn novel. A frank look at a change to Socialism.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was unlike her later books. It's more of a look at actual history and the effects of an actual change in government. There were many here in the US who have wanted to duplicate Russia and change our government to Marxism. They came here soon after the fall of Russia, in the very early 1900s. They called themselves "Marxists" which didn't go over well. They then stole the term "Progressives" from the conservatives and are once again using that term. Today, they have finally come into power in our current congress (Pelosi) and the puppet masters pulling their strings such as George Soros & International Answer.
Another book that most haven't read is her first book. It rates a VERY high recommendation and is again much unlike her other books. "Anthem". I believe this was Ayn's 2nd book and the only one of this type she wrote.
I couldn't help but think that it inspired "1984" and "Planet of the Apes". It was a short, quick read that was entertaining and thought provoking. Like all her books, it doesn't compare two shades of gray, but black & white. I've long used this technique in analyzing questions relating to physics, geometry, math & life.
Book Review: Best Rand book I've read
Summary: 5 Stars
I thought this was an excellent novel. If you have issues with Rand's political ideology (I certainly tend to disagree with her) there is still much to enjoy about this novel. Don't prejudge the novel and decide not to read it because you dislike Rand. The story is genuinely moving and the characters, particularly the main character, are well drawn. I understood why she felt the way she did, and why she made the choices she did. Rand created some very evocative images in the novel -- I felt like I was there. I got totally pulled into the story. I can't say that the picture of Communist Russia at that time is particularly accurate or not, as I don't have enough knowledge on the subject to comment on that. I read the book because I was interested in the story, and the characters, not the politics. It does, however, raise some good, thought provoking questions about the dangers of totalitarianism. Thus, I can reccommend the book on two levels -- it will satisfy readers who just love a good story, and those who are interested in politcal systems and political ideology. The book might be hard to track down, but it will be worth the effort.Book Review: A moving story of the Russian Revolution
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this novel becuase it dealt with something that the author never mentioned in her later two novels: war. It is a heartbreaking tale of totalitarianism and very readable. Since this is apparently a novelization of her life, it made the story even more compelling. One of the interesting things about this book that makes it different from 'Atlas Shrugged' and 'The Fountainhead' is that it seems written in a wholly different style, which is very stimulating. The reader from Los Angeles is correct in that this book does not contain a point by point refutation of Marx' dialectical materialism. Whereas that would come under the purview of theory, Rand chooses to chronicle the practice (of course, the argument is that it was not applied correctly, yet any capitalist will tell you that the United States of America has not had the ideas of the free-market applied correctly for most of this century, due to elements of socialism creeping in here and there). For a critique of the theory of dialectical Marxism I would suggest von Mises' "Theory and History."