Many of you have probably heard of Ayn Rand — you’ve probably read some of her work in high school. One of the favorites to assign, particularly during freshman year, is “Anthem,” which talks about a fantasy world in which all personal choice has been taken away. It is a short and interesting read, but it only begins to highlight her accomplishments as a writer.
In case you read “Anthem” in high school and became prejudiced against her for being required reading, let me tell you that I know where you are coming from! I didn’t expect to like any of her books after being forced to read one in high school. However, one day, a friend recommended her book “We the Living,” and, since I didn’t really have anything else to read, I borrowed her tattered copy and gave it a chance. I am so happy I did. This is one of the most thought-provoking and interesting story lines I’ve read. It is full of philosophical ideals as well as an engaging plot that makes complex theories seem relatable and relevant.
“We the Living” is Rand’s first novel (published in 1936) and takes an introspective look at communist Russia in the 1920s. Rand has a unique talent for placing you in the setting — her description and language make you feel as though you too were waiting in line for a ration card in the freezing cold or that you too could smell the rotten potatoes being turned into a revolting dinner that you will eat purely because there is nothing else. It is often depressing, but her subject matter isn’t exactly light-hearted material. She is writing about a very serious moment in history and doesn’t hold back any of the gory details.
We follow the main character, Kira, as her family is forced to move out of their home and leave their business behind to live in a dilapidated tenement in the city. Her old life was stable, happy and centered on family values and heritage. Her new life, though, under the rule of communist Russia, is ruled by constant change, deteriorating family conditions and battling moral beliefs. Kira is swept up in a life that no longer makes any sense, where she doesn’t know who to trust, or even who to call family, because everyone has changed so much.
In the midst of all of this, she finds love. But, like everything else in her life, that does not remain safe either. She is soon forced to choose between being with the man she loves and saving him by being with a communist soldier. It is a very complicated plot, but I can guarantee that it is one that you will be drawn into for the entirety of the novel. Rand takes you on a descriptive journey through the twists and turns of Kira’s life and ends in a completely unexpected and heart-wrenching fashion.
One of my favorite aspects about this novel is the ideas it presents. Although the novel is set in communist Russia and the political statements and problems are centered in that time, there are elements of society we can see even today. There are moral dilemmas of being torn between the one you love and your family, of having to choose between your well-being and that of the ones you care about, of having to change your very definitions about life and humanity. Kira represents so many of us who have gone through hard times and are searching for meaning. She shows us what it means to have to make a hard choice and how to live with those consequences.
There aren’t many novels that I whole-heartedly recommend, but this is definitely one of them. Every so often, you are lucky enough to find a book that honestly makes you think about life, about yourself and who you want to be. This is one of those books. After reading it I can honestly say that it changed my life — it made me think about things differently and to appreciate life more fully. I can’t guarantee that it will do the same for you, but I hope that it at least makes you think a bit more about things you may not have paid attention to before.