Our First FReeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged

A Publius Essay | 15 January 2009 | Publius

[Lou L]

with Angelina as Dagney

Ugh. Of all people...for one, I can't stand Angelina, and she's just not how I pictured Dagny. There have been many debates on FR before, on which actor should be cast for each role in the book.

[Mark was here]

I would like to find a copy that does not strain my reading glasses. My wife and I were looking for a book to read. We went thru all of George Orwell and it was really quite enertaining. She likes to read the books out loud as we go for long car rides. This way we can talk about the book and are away from distractions like the Net and TV.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

I had Dagny Taggart with a brown shoulder-length page-boy — ala a young Demi Moore (if I were to type-cast for looks) or Kathryn Hepburn. I had Frisco as Antonio Bandaras. I had John Galt as a type of Brad Pitt with slightly more gravitas, and last, but not least Reardon as a younger Spencer Tracy with Meryl Streep as his faithful secretary. Because I was a Theatrical Arts major for a while (very short while), I used to dream of making it into a movie. It was all I could think of through my 20s. Ah, well... I DID dream big right up to the point where I got married and from there it was rather labor intensive. ;-)

[Hoffer Rand]

Please add me to the ping list. Atlas Shrugged is one of my favorite books. I’ve been saying for the last couple of years that we’re living it.

[Taffini]

I remember Rand saying that having a child is like being in slavery for 18 years. She was a gifted writer, but I’m glad she wasn’t my mom.

[maine-iac7]

But of course

[Marmolade]

Please sign me up. After all the discussions on FR I bought a copy around Christmas, but haven’t had time to begin reading it. Someone donated about 1/2 case of brand new copies to our group(Friends of the Library)which we sold in our book sale.

A few years back we had another copy of Atlas Shrugged donated. It turned out to be a first edition, first printing of the book signed by the author. We contacted an auction house in CA which agreed to auction it off. They figured it might sell for about $1200. It sold for $6000! Our group made over $5000 on it. Someone obviously placed great value on it. I’m anxious to start reading it.

[jellybean]

Atlas Shrugged PING!

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Good luck with that. I need the strongest pair of readers now when I read it. Strangely, it sits in my bedroom armoire, next to my five versions of the Holy Bible, three prayer books-one in German, my French to English Dictionary, the Liturgy of the Hours, AND my T.V.

Not that it would appeal to many who are grounded in logic, but the other novel I re-read from time to time is Taylor Caldwell's, “The Listener”. A wonderful gift on my 17th birthday from my mother. Books were always given in my family at Christmas, together with slippers, robes and a good nightgown (in case you had to go to the hospital) — ;-)

[Doomonyou]

Check out the book Doomonyou is reading!

[Hoffer Rand]

I done did rread this one about 3 years agoo, it be long, but the men be hot.

I second that. In fact, hubby swears it's a chick flick in book form, but I think he does that to irritate me, because he knows I loathe chick flicks.

[SaveTheChief]

Signing in. Please add me.

This is great timing. I just bought Atlas Shrugged yesterday.

[Nam Vet]

Go ahead and sign me up ! I'm looking forward to the discussions.

Nam Vet

[Damifino]

Count me in. I Read it again recently and for some reason made notes in the margins.

My son (12y/o) is reading it now. He is nearly finished with it but I think he might enjoy the discussion here. I’ll tune him in to this thread. He probably does not get much of the historical references and context, he’d probably get a better understanding from a discussion like this.

[RobFromGa]

put me on the list...I love the book, and the 12 hour abridged audio book is pretty true for those freepers that commute or travel a lot...

[Taffini]

I always cast my books while reading them. I can then play it out inside my mind.

I too picked Antonio Bandaras as Frisco.
Russell Crowe as John Galt
Mel Gibson as Rearden
Wayne Knight as Eddie
Me as Dagny, of course...
Bette Davis would have made a great Dagny
Rutger Hauer as Ragnar Danneskjöld

[Doomonyou]

Hey! I got your post card for Vol. 3, I'll get the check in the mail soon!

Here is the message I get when I click on your site:

This site is blocked by the SonicWALL CFS authorized by XXXXXX mgmt.

URL: http://enemiesforeignanddomestic.com/index.htm

Reason for restriction: Forbidden Category "Weapons"

LOL!

[RobFromGa]

might be of interest to the Rand ping list!

[MtnClimber]

count me in.

[Taffini]

>>>I loathe chick flicks.

Glad I am not alone. They are like throwing away 2 hours of your life not to mention the money. HATE THEM.