We are living. Review on We the Living - Ayn Rand

Ayn R@nd , never heard of her !!! , was my initial reaction . Being an avid reader and being known as one I was subject to subtle nod of heads and a bewildered look on the faces to whom I remarked this. It took Mouthshut , a few friends and a gushing daughter of a friend of mine who remarked “Ayn R@nd is one of my favorite authors” . Almost a good seven months later I was presented with the opportunity to read one of her novels. I chose to select the first book Ayn R@nd has written “ We the Living ” among others I saw. It is the only book I have read of hers and I can see alarmingly that this book has been reviewed only once in Mouthshut.

Ayn R@nd O’connor has published this book , her first one in 1936. A Russian by Birth most of her Books reflect life in the Revolutionary times of the erstwhile USSR or Soviet union. A startling fact revealed by a friend of mine is that Ayn R@nd learned English in 6 months before writing this novel. There has been a later edition to spruce up the language but it never reflects , the flow of thoughts converted into words and the stupendous command over the language.

Life is not a bed of Roses is what the authoress seems to say. No overtly feminine sentiments, no broad shoulders, no “ sparkling eyes as he swept me in his strong arms ” in her books. Her books reflect reality .. stark reality in the 1920’s . The Proletarians of the world who loathe capitalists and preach one thing and practice another as parched throats and shriveled bellies cry for help.

The plot

An excerpt from the Preface “ Volumes can be and have been written about the issue of Freedom versus dictatorship, but in essence it comes down to a single question : do you find it moral to treat men as sacrifical animals and to rule them by physical force. If as a citizen of the freest country in the world you do not know what this actually means then We the Living will help you know ”.

Dreary grey skies , old buildings , dirty citizens waiting in line of co operative stores for millet which may or may not be fresh or probably a loaf of stale bread which will be had with onions fried in rancid linseed oil to feed them for this day. The next day we will see.

This was the scene when Communism took over from Capitalism or Czarism if one can call it. The price was paid not by the Capitalist or the wealthy who fled away to foreign lands, but the traders who had to stay back, the opulent lives they lived were gone , their homes, their assets , their bank accounts were all taken by the State. All money was for the Proletarians, the one who worked gained and the ones who didn’t lost everything. You need to be a member of any union to get a job and .. you need to have a job to be a member of the union.

In this vicious circle were caught .. 18 year Kira and her family. Strong headed and independent they return to Petrograd ( today’s Leningrad ) from where they had fled. An adamant father who tries to earn a living they try and support themselves. Initially they stay at her aunt’s place till they get an apartment with no electricity and plumbing.

Kira’s love is shared with two people , Leo an aristocrat who is being seeked by the communists and Andrei who is a communist and a member of the G P U the secret agency.

Pages fly as we learn about Kira’s exploits and of Leo and Andrei’s. Numerous characters come in and go but none of them are under sketched by the authoress, clear links are provided for each character.

The strong headed thoughts of the “wanting to be an engineer ” Kira is very well reflected in this book. As the story flows the filth of communism is revealed in all its splendor (???). How the impact of the Russian revolution changes the common individuals on the street is what is reflected.

Verdict

This is one for Serious reading … as I mentioned earlier there is place for flowery endings but stark reality , confused minds as decisions are taken at a drop of the hat in the backdrop of the Russian revolution. This book is as one might say in broken English

“UnPutdownable” from you start reading the first page.

As the second book Capitalism – The unknown Ideal looks as me yearning for me to touch it I finish this review and request to read , rate and comment as you pass .