Anna Begins

We the Living by Ayn Rand (470 pages) "She looked up into his face and felt as though she were a priestess, her soul lost in the corners of a god's arrogant mouth; as if she were a priestess and a sacrificial offering, both and beyond both, shameless in her laughter, choking, something rising within her, too hard to bear." ~Kira falling in love with Leo After 30% of this book, I could tell it was going to be good, maybe even becoming my favorite Ayn Rand novel... which says a lot because it's pretty hard to top Atlas Shrugged for me. In fact, We the Living could become one of my most memorable reads. This was my fourth Ayn Rand book (Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead and Anthem), and this has been one of the most entertaining one of all. You wouldn't think a book set in dystopian Soviet Russia could be laugh out loud, but I did catch myself laughing at just how cool the main character is... and I usually don't laugh Published in 1936, We the Living is a love story, a beautiful one. At the center is Kira, who is in love with (and loved by) Leo, a counter- revolutionary. Kira also is loved by the head of the secret police, Andrei. Rand doesn't force feed objectivism or really overload readers with too much philosophy, but is extra sharp with the character's feelings, actions and discussions. The symbolism is amazing and the story is entirely captivating, I read it in 2 days (but pulled an all nighter, thanks insomnia!). This book isn't like Atlas Shrugged and (ugh) really not like The Fountainhead... so if you want to try some of her work, but are sort of daunted, this is a GREAT story. Almost Rand- lite I really respect Ayn Rand, but I will always have problems with her "objectivism", as I don't believe in free will and objectivism doesn't support my beliefs. On it's basis, ya, it's just a different way to see life. Rand was an an intelligent woman, philosopher, free thinker, activist and writer. And her writing has always proved to be something to be pondered. Highly recommended.

It's nearly 4:00 and I have 170 pages to read by 6:00!!

That's my mom's favorite book but even she said what you did, about the skimming. Are you liking it? I'm so unlike this . I usually know next to nothing about the books I'm about to read. I don't really watch movies or tv, but I have looked up the meanings of some films... The Machinist and Interstellar come to mind. That's quite the fine line, yes lol. I guess I consider it "abandoned" if I don't finish it. I've never cheated before though!

Nope, no slack for Ira . I still have Sliver and perhaps, Boys of Brazil to get through. I have now reached the critical time for a readaholic with insomnia- it's 1:00 and I'm at a big event in We the Living...and at 50% on the dot!! That will be mine as well

This Perfect Day by Ira Levin (320 pages) So I read 166 pages of this book before I was ready for a nap. I see Levin moral dilemma's in the book, but find them banal. A definite surprise from Levin's other two, more shocking novels- The Stepford Wives and Rosemary's Baby that I enjoyed immensely. I love books that trick me, I never try to figure out the end of books and I have never "cheated" . Until This Perfect Day. Now, part of this could be that This Perfect Day was a script for a lot of books of this type and perhaps the book was amazing in it's time. Perhaps it's been ripped off so much, it is simply cliche now. Whatever the case, I'd say give it a try and see for yourself. If it's a TBR book, don't dismiss it, because it can be a good dystopian. This Perfect Day is about Chip (who's real name is Li... or USA314795 or something of the like). The utopian society he lives in is controlled by a main computer that keeps everyone in check with bracelets that scan where they go or what they need and treatments of chemicals. Chip was given the nickname by his grandfather and starts thinking of his grandfather's subversive thoughts. He has a treatment and then feels healed. But Chip starts to realize, just before a treatment, he thinks more of what his grandfather told him. Then, it's off to another treatment. Does free will exist? What makes a person a human? Predictable and disappointing.

On a rainy day, I'd pick one of Raymond Carver's short story collections.

My god, it just dragged on and on with hardly any surprises- imo, nothing that made Rosemary's Baby or Stepford Wives great. There were no tricks. The fact I had almost every detail correct about the end at 52% was disheartening when I read the end. As far as the philosophy in it, I found it average and posed no questions that haven't already been explored- which is what I like about Levin, he looks at those simple humanistic questions in different ways. Too bad, but I will keep reading his material. And I still highly recommend SW and RB.

A pinkish- gray banner that had been red, hung in the webbing of steel beams. We the Living, Ayn Rand

Hmm. That's too bad, this is on my "sometime in my life " tbr . I'll be curious to follow your thoughts on it. I abandoned Ira Levin's This Perfect Day at 52% yesterday and started my fourth Ayn Rand book, We the Living.

Ever get so bored or anxious for the end of a book, that you skip large chunks, read the last page or find the end on a website? This just happened to me with Ira Levin's This Perfect Day, at 52%! I just couldn't handle the dragging on, so I looked up the end on Wikipedia . Everything happened nearly the way I expected, so no loss. But have you ever "cheated"?

I think you'd like both, but A Perfect Day is going a bit slow, although that might be my fault! I don't like horror films either, but I am so anxious to see what they did (RB) with it. The blurb doesn't really appeal to me either, but then again, I can count his books as reliable and thought provoking, so I will probably read it eventually.

It doesn't have time- travel and it's non fiction, but When Paris Went Dark is awesome. I also just finished The Girl From Krakow, fiction, but a great read. I'm now half through This Perfect Day, hope to finish today, but I'm a bit burned out from the read a thon!

17 and two short stories!

Ah, both great, but I can recommend not seeing Stepford Wives, it was awful, I turned it off right away. Haven't seen Rosemary' Baby... yet! Levin writes so well, I'd definitely recommend his books over the movies (not that you were planning that!). At the time, I had no idea he had written Stepford Wives or Sliver... I didn't even know who he was.

I hope this quoting works, I am still getting help using the IPad from my 7 year old Ah- another Levin fan . You've read a lot by him! I saw the movie for Sliver but that should be next. I'm a little daunted by The Boys From Brazil. I don't know if I will read the sequel or not, but I definitely want to see the movie. In fact, Levin never considered his work that great and thought the movie led to a bunch of horror rubish. But apparently, Roman Polanski tried to follow it as closely as possible, going so far as to ask Levin what dress Rosemary would be wearing in a certain scene. Levin admitted he had no idea

Well if there are six books in Alison Weir's new series and I hope it doesn't take six years!! The new Jack Reacher book was delayed... grrr. But of course, like you, I'll be getting it as soon as it comes out! My dad and I read them together:) I'm waiting for Leaving Blythe River in May

I started Ira Levin's dystopian A This Perfect Day yesterday afternoon and am about 150 pages in. Don't know what is next, but I feel a Philippa Gregoy craving coming on! Of course, it could always be another Levin, I am in love

That sounds fun! I think I'll check out the sample

My most successful read a thon yet! I did 4 days. Thursday March 31st and Friday April 1st- The Girl From Krakow by Alex Rosenberg (454 pages) A Face in the Crowd by Stephen King and Stewart O'nan (16 pages) Saturday April 2nd- The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin (148 pages) Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin (257 pages) Sunday April 3rd- This Perfect Day by Ira Levin (100 pages of 320) Total: 975 pages.

Philippa Gregory will be out with Three Sisters, Three Queens August 9th Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult on October 11th

Strawberry Fanta

I'm loving Ira Levin right now and hope to start This Perfect Day today, although I am a little burned out from 3 days of read a thon (I did Thursday- Saturday).

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin (257 pages) I am now totally taken with Ira Levin. Followed up Stepford Wives with the classic horror novel, Rosemary's Baby. It did not disappoint! Heart stopping, pounding, cheering, dismay, and shock, all in one package. Rosemary Woodhouse and her struggling actor husband find the perfect apartment in New York, in The Branford. The building has a history of bad scenes- murderers, suicides, even some cannibalism... but that was way back, right? None of that stuff happens anymore. Then elderly neighbors Minnie and Roman welcome and befriend Rosemary and Guy. When Rosemary gets pregnant, Minnie and Roman take a special interest in her welfare. As a sickened Rosemary becomes increasingly isolated, she begins to see the full intentions of Mimmie and Roman. Recommended

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin (148 pages) Ha ha ha I loved this story and can't wait to read more of Ira Levin's material! Stepford is a very strange community. When Joanna and Walter move in to their new home, almost immediately Joanna longs for companionship in the small town and tries to organize a woman's gathering, sort of like what the men have. One after one, all looking similar, the women decline. There is simply too much housework to do! The floors and plates dazzle Joanna... Recommended