posted
Yeah, if we're getting into necromantic publishing, I can think of much more interesting and eeeeeeevil decisions to make.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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You know, when someone writes a classic book, even a highly polarizing (there's that word again) one like The Fountainhead, or any of Ayn Rand's books, it's hard to look back through the lens of time and start suggesting changes that would -- what? Make the book more acceptable to those who hate it? I'm not sure what the motivation for this thread is.
I wouldn't make her change anything.
Dobbie, what would *you* have made her change? Perhaps if you give us your thoughts on the subject, we can begin to begin....
Posts: 2267 | Registered: May 2005
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The writing. I am sorry, but her prose was so bad that I could not even get through the first few chapters of Atlas Shrugged. I had to look up her philosophy elsewhere to see how much I disliked it.
Her essays at least have the benefit of being brief.
Posts: 1332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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although I enjoy The Fountainhead more than Atlas Shrugged, I'm with quid. Burn her works in a fire. That'll learn her.
Posts: 1572 | Registered: Jan 2004
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If I were her publisher, I wouldn't have her change anything because I know that the book will make money in its present form.
I'm not trying to publish something that changes mankind here. I'm trying to make an honest buck. Get off my back already!
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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Nothing! The novel totally existed to become a negative personality red-flag in Dirty Dancing. Why change that?
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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I'm pretty sure the Rules, Policies, and Disclaimer prohibit mentioning that movie in any thread I start. After all, there's a reason none of the actors from that movie are still working.
Posts: 1794 | Registered: Jul 2002
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I loved the book--it's by far my favorite of her work (I couldn't even get through Atlas Shrugged).
The one thing I didn't think was necessary (I'm assuming spoilers are all right here) was the marriage of Roark and Dominique. Yes, they belong together, but marriage? Why? It didn't seem to fit in with their characters.
Posts: 866 | Registered: Aug 2005
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I liked Atlas Shrugged. I would have cautioned her against beating her ideas to death, though. That did get tedious. I kept thinking, "Yeah. We get it already!" And John Galt's speech on the radio was pretty unrealistic. Does she really think anyone is going to listen to any speech for four hours (I think that's how long she said it lasted)?
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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I read the whole thing all the way through, completely rapt. I can't see why a speech would have been that different.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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You know, when I was a senior in high school, one of my assignments for English was to enter an essay contest.
I entered the one sponsored by whatever foundation is supporting Rand's ideas these days which required that we read "The Fountainhead" and then write something or other about it.
Of course, my essay challenged the premises of the book (I don't really recall exactly what I wrote). I know it was fairly well-written for a high schooler. Or at least, I think it was pretty funny, high-handed smart a**-ness.
I didn't win. Okay -- that's not entirely true. I won some great indoctrination materials from the foundation.
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote:Originally posted by kmbboots: Does she really think anyone is going to listen to any speech for four hours (I think that's how long she said it lasted)?
Well, not that it matters, but I can think of at least two Latin American heads of state that have, on many occasions, liked to hear themselves talk for over four hours.
Posts: 3486 | Registered: Sep 2002
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