Art Vandelay wrote:
Curtis Pride wrote:Atlas Shrugged.
I cringe every time someone mentions Ayn Rand when talking about great literature. Even if you agree 100 percent with her philosophy, how do you get past the horrible writing?
Because most people read Rand when they are 14-15 years old and chances are that they don't remember the details, just that it felt important. Sort of like if you let someone the same age watch Michael Moore documentaries. The ideals are flaming pile of poo, but it is presented in a way that makes you feel like you leave with a greater understanding of the world.
"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."