The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This book was chosen for two silly reasons. First, I really want to knock more off the list quickly and this one only has 189 pages. Secondly, it is being made into a movie in which my future boyfriend Leonardo DiCaprio is playing Gatsby. I have no idea what this one is about and I'm going to change things up and not research it before I start reading, see if it perhaps makes any difference at all in comprehension.

The Fountainhead - Finished!

I'm sad that this one had to end but at least it ended with everyone I care about being happy. I good go on and on about how much I've loved every sentence but then I would never get around to reading another book, ever.

The best part of the book for me was part four, chapter eleven. I have to remember to reread that every time I am feeling lost or that I am not being my true self.

Of course I am happy that Roark and Dominique are together in the end, I was getting worried that a love like theirs could never become an actual relationship. The calculated way that Roark waited for her to be ready to become his wife seems almost mathematical. Both of them had such self control that they were able to wait for as long as they did to come together as a united force. 

This book has really made me take a look at my own life and my own views of the world. I feel that Rand has unlocked a door for me into a new world of politics and theories that I have never been interested in before. Prior to this book I thought that such things were only for highly intellectual and highly annoying people but I can see the benefit now in having a strong opinion. Although I haven't taken the time yet research and ponder what I believe in, I know that it is something that I will do now, having read this book. Its a daunting task to solidify a viewpoint on an issue that I can respect myself for and defend but I think that it will also help me become the person I'm meant to be.  So thank you Ayn.

The Fountainhead - First Half

Wow, I dont even know where to begin. Had I been smart I would have decided to write after each few chapters because this book has given me so many thoughts. As it is, I was too enthralled to stop reading long enough to write about it.

I think that the reason I had a tough time on my first go around with The Fountainhead was that Rand packs so much punch into each sentence. Every word is important, each sentence has meaning. Its hard to feel like I've gotten everything that the book has to offer because my brain just isn't big enough to handle all of it at once, nor fast enough to analyze every thought of hers. I have never been the type of person to read a book more than once, but I can see that happening in this case and getting more from it each time.

I love Roark so much. It was so difficult for me to read about his hard times when he would not accept work because that is not something I could ever do but I admire him so much for it. Having Keating in the novel only makes it more clear that Roark is so full of integrity and passion. I am scared that I might be more like Keating but at least this novel has allowed me to recognize that and hopefully change me into someone more similar to Roark.

I could go on and on about my thoughts on The Fountainhead but it seems like that would be very Keating of me. Instead I will enjoy the remainder of the pages in quiet amusement much like Roark would.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Ok, here goes the second attempt.

I am choosing to read this one now because a man that I really admire has told me that this is his favorite book of all times. In an effort to secure his admiration I am going to power through. This time I'm going to start with research on the author and the plot line so that I can read with a better sense of understanding. I am hoping to realize that I was just being lazy before and that this is actually a book that I will someday be able to call one of my favorites as well.

A Clockwork Orange - Finished!

I was looking back at my first entry about this book, particularly the last sentence: I hope that the rest of the book is dedicated to his torture. Turns out it was, just not the way I had imagined at the time. To be unable to carry out your basic instincts or to enjoy what you are passionate about (the music) would be torturous. I don't feel bad for Alex at all, I just think its interesting that the torture came in a different form.

Alex asking for help from the man whose wife he had killed was a unique twist. Although understandable, I thought it was very hypocritical for F. Alexander to be committed to helping the poor 'victim' Alex and wanting the Government to cease reforming criminal youth until he realized that he himself was a victim of Alex. People can have a strong, steadfast opinion on a matter but once if directly affects their lives, the opinion can change drastically.

A quote that I liked was when F. Alexander said, 'A man that cannot choose ceases to be a man'. Although this was meant quite literally in that situation, it can also cross over to everyday life choices that we as people have the ability to make.
My plan was to watch the movie after I'd finished reading the book but I think the plan has changed. It was disturbing enough to read about the violence, I can only assume that the visual would be all the more awful. I loved reading this book so I will keep it at that.

A Clockwork Orange - Part 2

As disturbing as the second part of this book has been, I am becoming even more seduced by it than I was before. The method of reforming Alex is brutal and radical but it seems to be working. I guess the question is whether or not it is ethical.

The issue of choice comes into play. It is not his choice to be non-violent, so is he actually a changed man?  If it were up to him he would still act out violently but he is not capable of it anymore, his core is still evil. Although I do not sympathize with him, it must be constant torture to be physically helpless of committing the acts that he desires. I am curious to see how this pans out after he is released.

I don't really know where I stand on this issue. They are still putting a person back on the streets that wants to terrorize others. All I can say is that I am happy this is fiction.

A Clockwork Orange - Part One

I suspected freaky and I got freakier. This book has scared more than any of the others, much to my surprise, even Dracula. I will definitely be double checking on my locked doors tonight.

Much to my happiness, this book is divided into 3 parts, seven chapters each. For some reason I love when books are in equals. This first part was clearly designed to set in the minds of readers what a disturbed world it takes place in. There have been so many disgusting events of violence that my mind is spinning. To maintain my sense of security I am choosing to believe that evil such as this is only created in the mind of Anthony Burgess and is in no way a reality of the world I am living in. It is too evil for me to grasp.

The author of this book has created a language of his own that I have never encountered before. A new set of slang that is unique to this book. At first this rattled me and made me feel like this was just a book that I was merely going to endure but as I read on, I feel as though I have been successful in learning another language. The first couple of times that I understood what he was talking about (ei: rot = mouth, glazzies = eyes) I felt like I was in a world that I had never been before. I think that the way that he chose to write this is extremely intelligent and has that purpose of transforming the reader into a creepy, alter universe that they should not be in.

Despite the anger and evil that Alex, the main character, possesses, I can appreciate that he is a human like the rest of us. His taste in music suggests that he does have some intelligence, which may be his only redeeming quality. As it stands now, I hate his guts and I hope that the rest of the book is dedicated to his torture.