After about two months, I have finally finished "The Fountainhead", the tale of Howard Roark, the misunderstood architect who believes in the integrity of his work and succeeds in not being a "second-hander" and staying true to his independence. I really did enjoy reading it. The story did suck you in and made you very invested in what the characters say and do. It did take me awhile to finish it though because Ms. Rand takes up sometimes three pages at a time just writing that specific characters' philosophies on life. I think this is a book that both men and women would enjoy. It shows the struggle of men in society, whether they be the "second-handers" who are the people who only agree with what others want them to believe they should agree on, and then the egotists who stay true to what they believe for themselves and the world. It also has its romantic elements involving the three title men, Howard, Peter, and Gail with Dominique Francon. They are twisted relationships though, so you have to be open-minded and understand the philosophy behind each of them. That's what this whole book is about really, being open-minded. People are so caught up in what they are told to believe what is beautiful, that they do not leave any room for what is truly beautiful. When anyone creates something that is "out of the box", they fight against it and destroy it. I would recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for more of a challenge in their reading lives.
