Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Shrugging of the Snark
I've been thinking of reading Atlas Shrugged and mocking posting about it for a long time, and since the movie is out and McArdle is obviously going to feed us hundreds of posts warning us about the imaginary deficit crises, now would be a good time. If you guys hate the idea or get bored, let me know. There's no reason why we all should suffer needlessly.
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22 comments:
It's a good read for the misunderstood teenager, much in the way that SE Hinton is. I'd bet my bottom dollar that Coppola did a better job on those, though.
I've never read it, and I don't want to, so I applaud your effort.
P.S. I did watch this video. For the baby LULZ!
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Go for it! There's so much snark-worthy material in there.
Look, why bother? Distilled version of the book: "Life is ALL ABOUT ME, and what I WANT."
Swann's Way would be more absorbing to blog.
I like the idea!
I may join you in the reading. the shared snark may make it bearable.
I tried that once. I don't think I lasted two posts on it. It's worse than you can imagine, far, far worse.
I've read it. Rand's writing style is atrocious. She carries on and repeats the same garbage over and over while condescending to her readers as if they were grammar school children. All of this is wrapped in a bogus philosophy she pulled out of her ass to justify being a selfish, greedy prick. In other words, it's a one thousand page Megan McArdle post. You'd essentially be carrying on what you're already doing, save the object of your snark. As always, I'd read it with glee.
I've read the book. I found the characters very two-dimensional and thought Rand would have been an excellent Dixie television preacher had she been born somewhere outside Mobile or in the hills of West Virginia.
Read the book, though. Find out what others believe. Get both sides.
I don't think you'll become a Rand devotee if you read it. Personally, I doubt you'll like the book and probably throw it across the room five or six times.
But never shut yourself off from opposing viewpoints - even opposing viewpoints you believe that you're sure to abhor. You may surprise yourself and, unlike many a Conservative foe, you'll actually be able to write about and discuss Rand from a first-hand point of knowledge.
Ms. McArdle lacks this ability.
Hm. on the one hand I'm sure that your writing about Atlas Shrugged would provide plenty of snarky entertainment for me.
On the other hand, I actually like you. And I've always said I would never want to see anyone I like subjected to Atlas Shrugged.
It really is a terrible book. Just plain terrible. It's been years since I struggled my way through it and I can't think of a single redeeming feature.
oh god. please don't.
I finally read not only A/S, but The Fountainhead a year and a half ago because I felt it was my duty to find out first hand what all the hubbub was about. As much as I hate to say it, you really should read some Rand. Only then will you fully grasp the absurdity of today's political landscape, where ostensibly serious people-senators, congressmen, economists- want to base a real world economic system on a thousand-plus page science fiction novel where all the Heroic Producers are smart, good looking, and so noble that they always act strictly in accordance with their own best interests but never slip over the line into criminality, all the Looters (government officials) are evil, manipulative, and ugly, and all the Parasites (workers) are dirty, stupid, and ugly. Roy at Alicublog has done a really good job holding these people up to ridicule, and god knows I was happy to read it and join in, but down at bedrock, the fact that Rand is getting the traction she is today is as serious as a heart attack.
This too shall pass. Like a kidney stone.
I can't wait.
I hate Ayn Rand, I hate libertarians and you, susan, were made for this task.
I have a 12-year-old. I've been wondering if, at some point in the future, I should read AS with him to inoculate him against its BS. If you blog your way through it, it would be a public service. I could just point my son to your blog and skip the pain of reading through it! You should totally do it. For the children.
Yes yes please do!!
Yes - please think of the children!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh2sWSVRrmo
I'd suggest doing it in installments, with other pieces in-between, or else you (and we) might O.D.
I never get tired of seeing Randians, glibertarians and other plutocrats justly savaged. It's like a deeply moral version of the gladiatorial games, with an arrogant gimp screaming at the lions about socialism.
Thanks for the input, everyone. Batocchio, instalments is a good idea; I'll do that.
You can get a chuckle out of how it was 30 years out of date when it was published, but beyond that, the book is just dismal.
Depending on your pace, Susan, I might slog through it with you. I'll plan to read good lit in-between Rand chapters as a palate cleanser. (Well, more like industrial-strength mouthwash and a purgative, but you get the idea.)
Well, if this isn't a cue, I don't know what is.
To read a parody of AS just published, go here:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54707
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