Book Comments (906)

RE: Ayn Rand: Atlas Shrugged

Rand spent most of her life slagging off altruism. Altruism means being kind to people. Hers is a philosophy of nastiness and selfishness. Anyone who supports that must, ipso facto, be a genuinely objectionable person. The book can be easily summarised:

Everyone else is wrong: Ayn Rand is the only person who is right. A characteristic she shares with Marx, Hitler, and any other fundamentalist you care to mention.

All the misguided people i.e. everyone who isn't Ayn Rand, has to be punished by lecturing them in interminably boring speeches that go on and on and on for about one hundred pages and have only one point - I've got more money than you, Ha Ha Ha!

And she is a truly abysmal writer

Ayn Rand: Atlas Shrugged

Thanks for your comment Sreich, but I have to disagree. The book is a political allegory of something completely different from fascism and totalitarianism. This book is about freedom and individualism. It seems people like to love it or hate it and what makes you a lover or a hater is your attitude towards the novelity of making money, to innovate and produce, and never accept the guilt of the non-productive. According to Ayn Rand, the best society is one in which people trade the best they have created for the best that others have created. This is the moral of the book. People should not be forced to sacrifice their dreams for the sake of others. This is where the principle of equality is based.
I will agree with you that the book is badly written but there is a spirit behind the words that makes you certain you are reading something important.

RE: Ayn Rand: Atlas Shrugged

This book is a neo-fascist, badly written, rant by an author who was certifiably bonkers. It is only popular in the USA, which says much about that country's literary taste and politics.

RE: William P. Young: The Shack

very good r eading.,.....babsie x

RE: by Jack Kerouac: On The Road

Do you know what I really love about this book? Despite the fact it was written almost 60 years ago, it still feels very contemporary as regards thoughts, instincts and the passion for life. And the undying quest for self-improvement. Kerouac rules!!!

RE: Patrick Suskind: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

amazing,sense of smell via words! great book,give movie a miss, try "the pigeon".

RE: by Jack Kerouac: On The Road

start here, then read all the rest.

RE: Jerome D Salinger: Catcher in the Rye

everyone should read this!!

RE: Mitch Albom: Tuesdays With Morrie

dear, intimate little book, i'd love to have met morrie, beautiful, gentle man,but this is next best thing.

RE: Gabriel Garcia Marquez: 100 years of solitude

love!!!! this book,but then hes my favourite writer!! they all have charm and magic!try isabell allande "house of spirits"

RE: Anthony Burgess: A clockwork Oange

I pretty much agree with clara1956 on this one, and also read the 21 chapter version of the book (which I believe is the ONLY version that should be read), although Burgess did have his own financial reasons for releasing a 20 chapter version of the book in the United States. The details on this are revealed in some versions of A Clockwork Orange.

This book touches up on MANY things, but the 21st chapter is symbolic of its number. The primary message of this book deals with growing up. There are also many other subtle messages throughout the book, many dealing with society.

I completely understand Burgess on his use of "ultra violence", or more simply the constant use of violence throughout the book. Not only was this a future society that we are most likely entering in a very subtle way (MUCH like Orwell's 1984), but also because violence is a VERY constant theme in mankind's existence on the planet Earth. Like violence or not, it's everywhere, and as of right now it is a large part of our nature :(

I'm assuming that I picked this book apart properly, mostly because I took a college prep course in high school and wrote a rather lengthy paper on it. My teacher had also read A Clockwork Orange in college and told me that I had nailed it :)

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: This book is most easily read and understood with a glossary (for the unique slang) that isn't hard to find on the internet.

RE: Douglas Adams: The Hitch-Hikers Guide To The Galaxy

VERY hilarious read, quite a good book...

RE: George Orwell: 1984

VERY excellent book. This used to be mandatory for my dad to read in English class in high school....why did they ever stop doing that? Kinda makes you wonder.... (nudge nudge, hint hint)

RE: George Orwell: 1984

VERY hilarious read, quite a good read...

RE: Stephanie Meyer: Twilight Saga

I love the first book and I liked the movie but the second book to this series,new moon had it's moments the first 20 pages was great the middle I could do without and I took a long break before finishing the rest. Stephanie Myers couldn't make a strong ending to the storyline. I am looking forward to the movie this fall. I hope it's better than the book. I didn't bother to finish the rest of this series although I cheated I know what happens.

RE: Diana Gabaldon: The outlander

I was on Lallybroch today and realised that the new book will be released Sept. 22, 2009, on my birthday!!!

Diana Gabaldon: The outlander

i dream of jamie fraser too ahhhhh
wonderful book that fills your head with so many images

RE: Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements

I have to agree, read this book twice............its really empowering.

RE: Stephanie Meyer: Twilight Saga

I agree with all of u guys!! this has to be by far the best books ive ever read! when i started reading them i couldn't put them down!! and yea i admit it im in love with a fictional character (Edward Anthony Cullen) lol

RE: Stephanie Meyer: Twilight Saga

I read all four books in less than two weeks these books are amazing.The fourth was by far my favorite.

RE: Hunter S. Thompson: Fear and loathing in las vegas

Hunter S. Thompson-one of the best writers of all time. God bless him.

RE: Diana Gabaldon: The outlander

If you like this book, you need to read the Highlander series by Karen Marie Moning. They are addicted. You won't know till you try.

RE: Richard Causton: The Buddha In Daily Life

Do you practice the buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin? I am pleasantly surprised!

I have practiced this Buddhism since I was a 10 y/o child and my mom converted.

Now I practice by choice, not for obligation.

Yur faith equals your daily life, that's what is all about.

RE: Diana Gabaldon: The outlander

I have re-read these books over and over. I have 'hosed' 2 nieces and a friend. I am totally in-love with Jamie Fraser 'sighs'

This is easily my favorite book, ever. I can't wait for 'Echo..." to hit the stands.

I learned about love a lot with Jamie and Claire. Now I know how love is supposed to look like and to feel like. Not going to settle for less, ever again.

Best chapter (all chapters are amazing)is the wedding night 'sighing again'... and the most/heart wrenching chapter is when Jamie tells Claire abt his ordeal in the dungeons at the hands of Black Jack Randall...

RE: Chris Gardner: The pursuit of happyness

really good reading ,,,,,a must to read a ll x

RE: Anne Frank: The Diary of Anne Frank

this is the most moving book ever,,,,,100 stars xxxx

Victor Brockis: Warhol: The Biography

Whoops, sorry people...the author's name is Victor Bockris.

RE: ronda byrne: the secret

You just know it makes sense.. read it, enjoy it, do it... it works.

RE: Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements

This is a life changing book. It all makes sense and gives you a guide line on life! Brilliant.

RE: Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements

I love this whole book. I have all the rest he has written.

RE: Dan Brown: Angels and Demons

Man this book is awsome, i really enjoyed this book.