Made with sugar, spice and everything nice.

powrpuff

• 12:04:42 am on May 20, 2010 | 2
  Tags: architecture, ayn rand, banner, capitalism, catherine toohey, collectivism, dominique francon, elsworth toohey, existentialism, exquisite book, gail wynand, greek mythology, guy francon, howard roark, individualism, kierkegaard, man against the world, man as god, man-god, nietsche, nihilist, objectivism, peter keating, roark, socialism, the banner, the fountainhead

  

  I just finished an exquisite book a friend lent me, probably, about a month and a half ago now. I had to replace the tattered book she lent that literally fell apart in my hand one evening, while reading cozily in my uncomfortable armchair. I immediately ran to Indigo to replace it, and to continue reading that night.

  I was on page 178.

  I’ll never forget the characters that Ayn Rand had created, and what they stood for. And what I will inhabit from them moving forward. I’ll not suddenly espouse one rigid lifestyle, nor philosophy; I’ll instead recognize with much certainty Howard Roark, in moments that will rise within me, Gail Wynand, when I get hurt, and Dominique Francon – maybe – when I fall in love again. Even Peter Keating, when utmost honesty is needed.

  I wholeheartedly share Ayn’s notion when I think about myself and how I become effective around others, yet also accept its fictional (volatile) triumph in practical application. There is an ideal, yes; and it is grounded in man, yes. But there is more than one, and it is not an ‘it’. I think the Greeks had them right the first time when they thought of creating gods acting like humans.

  I thought Dominique was utterly beautiful.

  —–

  Afterword:

  I found myself erasing every mention of liking and adding ‘altruism’ in every profile or interest – replacing it, instead, with what I really advocated (‘individualism’) or meant (‘doing good’).

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Comments

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  thediplomaticwife 10:57 pm on August 23, 2010 | # | Reply

  We truly are friends. This is one of the most unforgettable books for me. The details may be blurred but the ideas still resonate. “Every loneliness is a pinnacle.” One of my favorite quotes – and one of the most misunderstood quotes that ever existed. Just like the entire book itself. Individualism rocks.

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  thediplomaticwife 10:58 pm on August 23, 2010 | # | Reply

  And yes my copy was also in tatters. The second one I lent to my friend didn’t survive either – the spine tore. She had to buy 2 new ones. One for me and one for herself.