I know the book I am going to write about would have been in the favourite list of many of you guys. Well i dont disagree with you at all. This is one of the best novel by far i have ever read. Owing to the fact that the book is the brain child of the legendry writer Ayn Rand, me judging the book would not make any sense but even for one who has no zeal for novels and doesnt knows who Ayn Rand is, the book would still be a memorable crusade. Its about the life of an architect howard roark, who loves his drawings to an extent that he will reject clients but will never compromise with his designs. Its about the hardships he faces, his love life and finally how this typical character of his makes him the fountainhead.
I wish or any reader would, that i could defy "Human Nature" and be like Mr. Howard Roark the character around which this hefty some 640 pages long novel revolves around. Taken into consideration the fact that its a fiction, still there may be possibility of a person like him existing, or may be Ayn Rand thought of someone she personally knew while writing this, wherever this character came from, he is pretty close to impossible but ideal. Extremism of self respect and egosim would be an apt punch line for this novel.
One hears all the good words (should have been said by someone really great)
that one should focus on doing the job which one likes rather than trying to like the job one is in but how many really succeed in this? Now dont pounce upon me giving examples, In a larger sample space the probability of what I stated would be much higher. You know a mundane man adjusts and no denying the statement "Life itself is an adjustment".
It being a novel, the hero has to succeed in the end and this novel is no exception, but how many such howard roarks end up being successfull in real life? Well thing to ponder upon may be.
One more character whom I really liked was of Gail Wynand. He has been depicted as a business tycoon, one who almost rules the place, only strange thing to me was when a guy got such a dynamic introduction he should have been ended in a more positive way but unfortunately he ends up being a humble and kinda gloomy character, giving the entire limelight to be gobbled by Mr. Roark.
Last but not the least Dominique, she is the heroine of the novel and hence is `depicted as as beautiful as it can get, she takes the center stage at few instances but one wont remember her much after completing the novel, Roark would be the one who eventually will be the only character blueprinted wide across the mind.
To keep the long thing short awesome novel, roark rocks and if you want to read something really nice and peppy, go get one copy of "THE FOUNTAINHEAD" for yourself...
Cheers!!!!
@lavanya i thought the other way round...Gail seemed unpractical to me and Roark an ideal personality :)