[Teacher317]

Once you trudgeg through the first 100 depressing and repetitive pages, it picks up. Some of the soliloquys are HUGE, though, so be prepared. Personally, I think you can skim or skip the romantic scenes. They add nothing to the story and barely anything to the characters. They aren't terribly interesting, either.

Those critiques aside, it is a VERY good book. I believe it is typically third on the lists of the "most influential books in your life" polls.

[dubyagee]

Some of the soliloquys are HUGE, though, so be prepared.

I agree. Galt's last big spiel especially, but it is well worth reading. I read all of her fiction books this summer. Personally I liked 'We The Living' the best. The characters are much more believable and it paints a vivid portrait of communist Russia.