Anthem

So, guys, I just finished Anthem by Ayn Rand. Of course, I didn't need to buy it apparently, although I did. There's a full online text with notes.

I have to hand it to Jordan. This was a great dystopian society. Very reminiscent of The Giver by Lois Lowry. In my mind, I definitely saw the politics of it: communism vs. capitalism. After learning that Ayn Rand grew up in Russia and was against the collectivism of the country, it makes even more sense. It doesn't quite reach the harshness of 1984 (George Orwell) or The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood), it definitely has tendings toward that and one can definitely sense the potential for the violence of these two later novels. The contrast of fear and hope is fascinating, though it's funny...while I was definitely rooting for the protagonist throughout, I had brief moments of doubt. Scary to think that the rules set in place by a dystopian society may be there for a reason, but as Franklin said, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

The point is, I'd recommend it. It's a quick and easy read, but it definitely gets you thinking.