Well, I read in a compilation, Letters of Ayn Rand, one answer she wrote to someone's question about whether Roark had violated Dominique's personal rights, Ayn Rand's answer:[memory quote] "Of course not. Roark did not actually rape Dominique. It was a symbolic action which Dominique practically invited." And maybe she did; when she asked him why he had not come to fix the fireplace, (instead of Pasquale Orsini), he said that he had thought it wouldn't make any difference who came. "Or did it, Miss Francon?" and then she hit him with a whip or a stick she had been carrying. And that was a physical assault. Ayn Rand also said,[another memory quote] "An actual rape of an unwilling victim would be a horrible crime."
She also said elsewhere that some people thought [another memory quote] "that the lesson of The Fountainhead is that a man should force himself on a woman, and that she would like him for this..." which implies that that was not what she had been saying.
But,from what I understand, men have often used some excuse like that. I'm not blaming Ayn Rand for that, however.

Yes, it appears to be consensual throughout Atlas Shrugged as opposed to the first time Roark and Dominique have sex.

Wow, impressive. Geometry gave me fits, but eventually I realized that part of the value of the course was learning to think logically. It took me time to figure out though.

Yes. I was in geometry class (I did not much care for math, still less for geometry, although that teacher was very rational in his presentation and explanations; I thought I should have had him in elementary school. I even asked him once why he didn't teach elementary school, and I didn't mean it as a putdown; in fact, I think elementary school is where the best teachers are needed). We were told about the Reflexive Property, which is the same as the Law of Identity. I wondered how to actually prove it with certainty, so I got an Aristotle book from the library, and read where he validated it and showed that it was inescapable; if someone tried to defend the opposite, he would merely end up spouting gibberish. I had to read the explanation over (as I recall ) 6 times; I was starting to get a migraine when I was through. But then, I was reassured.
I was about 17 at the time.

I read The Fountainhead first, but I definitely liked Atlas Shrugged better. It moves faster; like a machine; and there is no rape in it.

That is absolutely marvelous, that you studied on your own. I have read a little bit of Aristotle, but it sounds like you were motivated. .

No, I didn't go to liberal-arts college, though I have had a few tech courses (which didn't get me jobs). After I started learning about Objectivism, I looked up some philosophy in the library, and read some of Aristotle.

You may be the first to have read one and then preferred the other, LibertyBelle. To read Galt's speech without having read the rest first, you are awesome. Did you study philosophy as a major, perhaps? I love the Objectivism philosophy, but it is slow going as every word has to be analyzed and comprehended.

I read The Fountainhead first. I believed I needed the philosophy of Objectivism, but I was afraid of it, as I wanted to believe in pre-destined soulmates, and it offered no such guarantees. (Note: I said "wanted to believe", but I couldn't really know that it was true; I just wished it to be true, and didn't want to be disillusioned). I was afraid of Atlas Shrugged; it was a long time before I would check it out of the library, though I did stop at the shelf, and read parts of Galt's speech. But, gradually, I grew less afraid of the truth, and eventually, I started reading it from the beginning (in the library). Eventually, I checked it out, and took it home. Eventually, I was all right. And A. S. is actually more fun; it moves along, like a machine.

Me, too. I have read and re-read all of these since I was 18. I had our library book group read Anthem this year when the regularly scheduled book did not arrive in time. Some got it; others not so much.

Have you read Ideal, an earlier book and play of Rand's that was recently released a couple of years ago?

Love Atlas Shrugged and keep going into it from time to time. Also We the Living and Anthem. Am a Rand Fan from way back!!

Thank you for your honesty. I, too, have married a wench sharper than I could believe. She keeps me honest!! LOL

two years ago. Yes, always more to learn.
I have multiple copies of it and Anthem.

If I give a copy of Anthem and there is a response, then I give a copy of Atlas Shrugged.

Spread the word!

We both finished high school in 74, she was valedictorian, me, awarded DG (Did Graduate).

Pixelate...I had not read it in quite a few years, 10-15 or so, and I, like you, need the refresher every so often. That's why I chose to read it again because of all the turmoil the country seems to be in.

Thanks for weighing in Suzanne43. I have several t-shirts: Galt's Gulch, CO and Who is John Galt?
I like yours. I may have to get one like that.

I agree with your assessments of the characters.

This is my observation over years of asking people who read both which they preferred (liked better). Whichever one the person read first (in your case The Fountainhead) tends to be their favorite. I read in the reverse order from you, and I like Atlas Shrugged more. I have read both numerous times, but Atlas Shrugged is the one I return to again and again.

I think so, too. The movies were decent, but the switching of actors between the various movies was a bit disconcerting especially the extreme age differences between the three actors who portrayed Francisco d'Anconia. With a mini-series there could have been a better rounding out of the story. I read once where Rand was working on a mini-series right before she died. Alas...we will never know what she would have done.

Did you read AS first? Or The Fountainhead? Just curious.

Thanks, just curious, and would love to know.

I read it purely for fun. One of my classmates was reading it during study hall, and she said she liked it. Once I started it, I think I read it in about a week to ten days. I finished it, and then read The Fountainhead, and then re-read it again. I was hooked.

I liked Fountainhead slightly more, but I found it first, so that might have made me appreciate it more. I loved how Roark was not as plugged into the media and he ends up doing menial jobs because he won't compromise his beliefs, but he comes out on top over his more politically -minded college friend. Despite looking good, Keating turns out to be pathetic, not evil but pathetic. The media magnate turns out to be an intelligent guy willing to sell out his beliefs to make sure no one hurts him as they did when he was boy. Wynand is angry at Roark for not selling out, yet he admires Roark. They all seem tragic, except for Toohey, who really is evil.

It's been a couple of years. I've read it three times and listened to it twice. I don't know that I get any thing that new out of AS as I do a reinforcement of what is stands for. For example, the part of the book where the so-called hobo on the train has dinner with Dagne is positively the best case against Communism that I have ever read. I do reread that section over and over. AOC should be required to read just that part alone. My AS t-shirt says, "Now no longer fiction." So that sums it up.

I’ll ask when she gets home; if I remember correctly it was AS. I was astounded when I asked her to read AS and she told me that she read it in high school, not as part of a summer reading assignment, purely “light reading” for her.

I first read AS 30 years ago. As an engineer, I found the text to be a compelling explanation for what I saw happening in the world. Since then, I have read the book another five times and think that another reading, after being away for 10 years, would be beneficial. I find that re-reading AS is effective in sharpening my mental acuity as it relates to understanding the fundamental differences between individualism and collectivism, both from a philosophical and pragmatic perspective.

It could have been better as a mini-series. That Winston Tunnel incident could have made a very good episode in itself. (In fact, as novels sometimes have excerpts in high school English books--for instance, "The Bishop's Candlesticks" from "Les Miserables"--that incident could have been put in an English book that way, with a short preliminary explanation in brackets. With questions for students afterwards, such as "What do you think of Dave Mitchum's behavior?" or "Do you agree with Bill Brent's decision?",etc.)