I think everyone reaches a stage in life when they pick up Ayn Rand - Fountainhead again and try to rationalize the book in their heads. I remember reading the book when I was 18 and frankly at that point of time in my life, it just did not make any sence to me at all. I was totally unable to fathom the practical aspect of the book and was not ready to accept the book as mere philosophy with no real bearing in the world we live in.
Yesterday night, now again on the crossroads of life, I pick the book and start reading. After 12 years since the time I read the book, a lot has changed and I have personally grown up to form my own ideas and thoughts and philosophies. Working now in real job environment, making compromises on job ethics, going through a lot in life in terms of professional and personal life, I wonder will that book have a different meaning to me now. I wonder will I finally be able to understand the central theme of the book. Somehow it appears to me that the book shares a similar personality as Howard Roark, you can hate it or love it, swear by it...but you definitely cannot ignore it.
It will surely be an interesting read for me this time and am totally looking forward to it!
I first started it reading it when I was 25. I took me 2 years to finish the book. Trust me it made no sense to me either. But, I agree with hate or love Howard Roark but can't ignore him.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's after 12 years I understand the book today in its totality. The book totally stirs something inside you and make you awake of what you doing and trying to make whole sence of your being.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, my 1st comment on your blog...I liked the 'About Me' lines esp. "Love to romanticize thoughts in my head and try to give them life" ..we think alike :D
ReplyDeleteFountainhead though has lots of sense and meaning for 'an individual's ' life but since I am not leading an individual's life in totality so its pure fiction now...you may call it a escaping excuse or so but thats it!
I agree to that thought. But now and at this stage of life when you read, you realize that you cannot take the book as it is given to you. But it's you who also decides what you want to take from the book because now you have the maturity and also as said not being an "individual" any longer. It has definitely few things which you tend to forget in your 7 years of working life which brings you back to think about them again! But one important thing you realize reading in the book is how important it is to be honest to yourself in life at whatever stage of life you are in. Well Ayn Rand philosophy debates can go forever!
ReplyDeleteI'm commenting a bit late on this...But Ayn Rand got me through my 1st Job Interview! .... Apart from that freak incident, I guess, everyone relates to the book in his / her own way. I read the book way back in 2000. Before I could reflect on it, I read Atlas Shrugged...I was (and still am!) in a dilemma as to which was more powerful...As you rightly said, you just CANNOT ignore it!...but the Fountainhead still remains an 'inspiration' if I may use the term...Its trippy to an extent that it really boggles your mind...but then, it makes a lot of sense at the same time...Technically, Peter Keating is the perfect soul on earth, but Roark takes it to new level altogether! Don't forget this book was written in 1943...Ayn Rand was / is decades ahead of her contemparories! You cannot 'like / dislike' the book/s. It makes sense over a period of time. Eventually you begin to realise what she actually means by Objectivity. Personally, I would rate Atlas Shrugged 1/2 a notch above The Fountainhead. But then, your individual perception is what really matters.
ReplyDeleteYou have very aptly put the perspective behind Fountainhead. It is a book which makes more and more sense every time that you read it. Another facet of book that totally surprises and amazes me is that it was written as you said in 1943 and decades later the book still will be regarded as contemporary. It transcends eras, time, people and space. Anywhere in the world you can read and relate to yourself even 50 years hence. I am yet to read Atlas Shrugged and I am very sure that understanding of Atlas shrugged might take me another 5 years. Thanks for your comment.
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