Tete-A-Tete with SOUL

Well finally I did it – I read an entire (not really, skipped a bit portion :P ) novel. Two of my good friends suggested I read Fountainhead. The suggestion sounded too demanding – read a novel…you mean so many pages…poor me. But something told me – take the plunge girl – take it. [Not many would have glamorized the act of reading the novel as much as this blogger is doing.]

So I borrowed the novel (see…didn’t even buy it…) from a colleague and started to read it. Actually, I read around a couple of opening pages and found the matter attractive. That’s what was really at the back of my mind, which motivated to read it completely.

Fountainhead – what shall I say – it’s gripping, interesting, more like a journey to be enjoyed with no hurry to reach the destination. You feel like knowing more about Howard Roark (the protagonist of the story). His character opens in bits and pieces. His indifference is what makes you wonder – why the hell worry about the world – just be yourself. What you feel is not what actually exists around you but it is a reflection – created by your past experiences, your surroundings, your nature, your way of responding to things, your beliefs, your vision. No matter how much you try to please others there will at least be one person who wouldn’t agree with you – so don’t worry too much.

The narration is very intriguing from the beginning almost up to the end. However, the end could have been made a bit more self-explanatory. Someone like Roark who doesn’t speak that much gave a lengthy speech at the end – didn’t digest it that well. The part which unfolds a view about altruism and egoism is worth giving a thought.

However, Ayn Rand, the writer, has uncovered every character’s typical behavior very ingeniously. I loved how the people who appeared strong and powerful to the world were actually weak and meek once. It was their struggle and self-confidence, which had landed them to a respectable position in the society. Though deep down, they were sad because of all the compromises they had made to attain that respect (?!).

I don’t know much about books and authors and so might have unknowingly not brought out the true essence of this book. However, it’s not to be treated as a book review – it’s just a reflection of my thoughts, nothing more nothing less.

So, it’s a book to be read at least once – not a thriller – so you can enjoy the story more than wait for the mysterious end.

Roark you inspire [while I disappoint, right?]

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The egoist in the absolute sense is not the man who sacrifices others. He is the man who stands above the need of using others in any manner. He does not function through them. He is not concerned with them in primary manner, not in his aim, not in his motive, not in his thinking, not in his desires, not in the source of his energy. He does not exist for any other man - and he asks no other man to exist for him.
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