The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Ayn Rand. It was Rand's first major literary success and brought her fame and financial success. More than 6.5 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide.
AWFUL, except the first 2 chapters: a libertarian grocery list
1 star
I knew in advance that I disagreed with Rand's political views (nothing I shy away from), but after listening to somewhere between 25% to 50% of the audio book, I found the writing so awful (except for the first chapter or two that were actually pretty well written) that I returned the audiobook for a refund... and it is not at all in my nature to ask for refunds. After chapter 2, the book reads like a libertarian grocery list. Read "Puerto Paz" instead.
I wasn't very happy with the ending. I felt like the book started off strong and ended up straying from the main plot only to become a mouth piece for political/philosophic narration. Not that I necessary disagree with Ayn Rand's ideals, but it seemed sloppy to end the book as it did. This book was at least 4 stars throughout most of it, but I couldn't bring myself to give it 4 stars by the end.
I read this mostly because one of my students back in high school was reading it. She was reading it for an essay contest, so in order to help out, I felt I needed to read the book as well. When I read it, I found myself identifying with the character of Roark at times and his struggle against convention. However, not the greatest piece of fiction (I think it was because of the love story elements; it is not my favorite genre), in my opinion. And yet, the book did give me a lot to think about at the time, which was a time when I felt I was surrounded by a lot of mediocrity.
Not too bad by Rand standards as it does have a plot, characterisation, a believable antagonist, a love story (if you're a sadomasochist who likes borderline non-consensual sex, but there you go), and the Message isn't too overdone. Howard Roark is a bit of a jerk to be honest and 'he never changes' says one character - not sure that's supposed to be a good thing you know. Dynamiting Cortland because the design was changed? Well no. Just think: Roark would probably have physically attacked Charles Jencks if he'd met him. Then maybe at least he'd do some time and how do you like your Objectivist principles when you're sharing a cell with a drug dealer from the Lower East Side, eh? (n.b. it is possible to infer dangerous situations in prison without making jokes about r*pe. I just did so.)
Roark is generally held to be based on Frank โฆ
Not too bad by Rand standards as it does have a plot, characterisation, a believable antagonist, a love story (if you're a sadomasochist who likes borderline non-consensual sex, but there you go), and the Message isn't too overdone. Howard Roark is a bit of a jerk to be honest and 'he never changes' says one character - not sure that's supposed to be a good thing you know. Dynamiting Cortland because the design was changed? Well no. Just think: Roark would probably have physically attacked Charles Jencks if he'd met him. Then maybe at least he'd do some time and how do you like your Objectivist principles when you're sharing a cell with a drug dealer from the Lower East Side, eh? (n.b. it is possible to infer dangerous situations in prison without making jokes about r*pe. I just did so.)
Roark is generally held to be based on Frank Lloyd Wright, although I suspect he's also partly Wells Coates (1895-1958), a Canadian architect who designed innovative public housing but found his designs co-opted by better self-publicists who then changed them. His best known work is the Lawn Road (Isokon) Flats in London. Coates believed that "a rational, scientific, formulated approach to architecture" was needed, which sounds a bit Randian but not in a bad way. Possibly this was Rand at her least unpleasant. Her description of 'looters' generally refers to people who make money without doing the work - speculators and the like. That she wasn't actually anti-capitalist sticks in the craw for many people, but there you go. She wasn't.
