The Fountainhead

Ayn Rand’s novel, The Fountainhead, is supposedly groundbreaking, but in reality is not. It opens with a suspenseful scene, a man standing on the edge of a cliff, only to be disappointed in finding out that he actually was going for a dive. You would suppose that such a novel would keep the reader intrigued to always turn the page, but the long “heroic” descriptive speeches about life and how people are “second-handers” tends to be quite boring. Ayn Rand writes the novel with such perfect formal diction, giving the reader the opportunity to read and understanding all of the perfectly relatable underlying meanings; including the notorious theme of Objectivism, which Rand originated herself. Yet Ayn Rand mistakenly is so repetitive in the novel, that you basically are reading about the same thing for 700 pages. The formal diction gives way to such a dry tone, and anticlimactic scenes which have no results.

The novel depicts a man, Howard Roark, on a journey to succeed as an architect by his own rules, and the way which he believes is best. He fearlessly goes against society and creates beautiful buildings that go against the traditionally excepted buildings of the past. Roark struggles, but never shows it, nor gives up. He most importantly stands by his values and belief of what a true architect is, making him a man of integrity, which Ayn Rand obviously believes all men should be like. She continually puts him in the situation of rejection, again, and again, and again. It becomes ridiculous, and the reader gets the message that he would rather starve (literally), than go against his beliefs and draw a building which a bit too traditional for his modernistic and creative taste. On the other hand, you have Peter Keating, the foil to Roark and his opposite in every way. Keating is obviously destined for failure, and Roark is destined for success, but Ayn Rand just had to force the reader into waiting 700 pages to finally see what actually happens.

Ayn Rand just seemed to try to make this novel a bit too groundbreaking. She even includes a rape scene, which the female actually enjoyed? It’s absolutely ridiculous. The scene basically encourages men to rape girls. Although, I must say, it was nice of Rand to include dramatic irony; I definitely didn’t see that coming. Of course, after this scene, the book goes right back to its boredom, but now with a love interest on-hand, which makes no sense because the man is a rapist. It’s amazing what Ayn Rand encouraged in such a scene, its horrible advice. Obviously, The Fountainhead isn’t the best book ever written, but it definitely does stir up trouble in the worst ways, because it’s otherwise dry and more of a page skipper rather than a page turner.

Despite the dry-ness of the book, there are some lessons to be learned. If you tend to wonder about human logic, and why people feel the need to be accepted by others, then there’s one book you need to get the concepts necessary ground into your head, and that’s The Fountainhead. But if you’re an individual, who doesn’t care about what others think and you find yourself to be very independent, then don’t go near The Fountainhead, you don’t need it.

Another Shot at Redemption: A Review of the Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini affords the reader a glimpse into a child’s triumph for love. Though the main character, Amir makes many wrong decisions during his childhood, he uses the rest of his life as a means to attain redemption. This work creates a great sense of character development and they each complement each other. Amir’s story begins as a man looking onto his childhood with his lifelong friend Hassan, his father Baba, and Baba's friend/servant Ali. Life seemed so simple during Amir's childhood but he learns that it becomes more complicated and severe when he returns to Afghanistan later in his life after having moved to America. The setting of the work is in Afghanistan and Hosseini uses vivid imagery to depict Amir’s home as well as the area surrounding him including the bazaars. It is interesting how life changes after Amir and his father move to America and how one event during Amir's childhood would remain in his mind and heart forever. The symbol of the kite reflects old Afghan traditions and although the setting of Amir's life may have changed and his family struggled, the kite flying is something that he can continue to carry with him and cherish. This novel was definitely a “page turner” and one can finish it in a very short period of time. There is such intensity in the actions of the characters and each piece has an important meaning that is mentioned later on. Amir tells his childhood using flashback. Eventually his life catches up with his current situation. This book keeps the reader in suspense and does not hesitate to entertain. Many surprises are evoked in the work which adds to the thrill of this novel. Several parts may be hard to read but it only adds to the realism of the novel. Three themes in this work include redemption, love, and truth. The Kite Runner not only depicts a child’s life growing up in Afghanistan, but also focuses on the changes in modern Afghanistan and its impact on the citizens. This novel is not happy however, it is honest and descriptive. None of the lives are “sugarcoated” in The Kite Runner, but the thrilling storyline will leave the reader wanting more. This is sure to be a great read for those who may not even enjoy reading. This work may change their minds!

Atonement- Book Review

If you knew for a fact that you'd ruined someone's life- two lives, really- how would you make amends? 

 The book is mainly based on one action- one decision, one moment, one crime- that is to be followed by life-changing consequences that would affect every character in the plot over the course of six decades. 

The development of its plot stems from the extraordinary imaginations of a creative young girl named Briory Tallis. 13, naive and uncertain, Briory is a young writer who used to have a crush on Robbie Turner when she was younger. After peeking through a love letter that Robbie intended for Cecilia, Briory's sister, Briory encounters a passionate love scene involving the two adults. Briory, who felt betrayed by Robbie twice, witnesses a rape scene involving Lola, also her sister. Though she did not see the face of the rapist, she made believe that she clearly saw the rapist's face and he was Robbie. Her testimony of that imagination as reality sent Robbie to jail- which eventually turned out to be the novel's point of no return. 

Atonement is certainly one of the most brilliant books I have read, with a lot of surprises and sequences of events that I did not expect. After their 30 minute get-together, it was meant to be that Robbie and Cecilia were never to meet each other again. Also ironically, Lola ended up marrying the real rapist. Cecilia ended up disowning her whole family. Those are all the consequences of one decision making from Briory that produced an endless chain of tragic outcomes. 

It all started from a romantic story, as it was originally supposed to be, that was inspired by the scene at the fountain. The conclusion in real life is far from being romantic. The novel provides a perfect example of fiction vs real life. Atonement, appropriately the name of the novel, is what Briory desperately tries to provide with but never succeeds. As the atoning gesture of her own, she concludes her romance story that set off the most bizarre and heartbreaking series of events by letting Cecilia and Robbie reunite and live happily ever after.. in fiction!

Imagination is a beautiful part of mind that only humans are capable of. But one split second can be all it takes to make a world of difference!

Torn apart by betrayal; Separated by war; Bound by love- Atonement.....

Judging Edna in The Awakening

In your commment, please indicate whether you feel Edna's final decision in the novel is a "cop out" or an heroic act? Did she have other options she could have explored?

Thoreau Comes to Elmsford

In addition to reading Thoreau's "Walden" over the break and writing your close reading response, please complete the following:

You wake up this morning and Henry David Thoreau is sleeping on the couch in your living room. OMG! Wake him up and take him on a trip through your daily life. Introduce him to the modern world and chronicle his thoughts, opinions and reactions. You may write this as a creative narrative or a journal log. Be sure to be true to Henry's Transcendentalist beliefs and support his opinions with facts and quotes from his work and his teacher Emerson's writings.

Are You a Secret Transcendentalist?

In a few simple sentences, answer these ten survey questions as honestly and completely as possible. Feel free to comment on other answers in a polite and respectful manner.


1. If you had a choice between going to Hawaii or going to Alaska, which place would
be your destination, and why?

2. Given the choice, would you prefer to walk in the woods, or along a beach, or down
the streets of a big city? Why or why not?

3. What is the one daredevil thing that you hope to do sometime, if you haven't already
done it?

5. Pinpoint an occasion when you found yourself disagreeing with your friends. How
did they react to you? How did their reaction make you feel?

6. When you go to shop, do you look for brand names all the time, some of the time, or
hardly ever? Why?

7. What would be your reaction to a classmate who refused to salute the flag?

8. What gadget that you currently do not own would you like to get? How, in your opinion, would it make your life better?

9. Can you think of any government policy (local, state, or federal) with which you have trouble/disagree? What can you do about it?

10. When you work on an important project (one that you find interesting and challenging), how do you prefer to work? By yourself, with a chosen partner, or with a group? Why?

Due 1/28: Who's Responsible for This Mess?

As we complete Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, we are left to weigh the competing narratives of Victor and the wretch. After hearing both sides of the debate regarding the responsibility of the creator and the created, choose a side to argue and support.

Question: Who is more responsible for the havoc and misery in this novel? Is it Victor, the creator, or the Wretch, his venegful monster?


Requirements:
You must support your view with SEVERAL direct examples and quotes from the text.

You must comment on one other post (and use examples to support your comments).