This is one of my all-time favorite books

It took a few tries to get past the first few paragraphs of this book- but once I made it through the strange (to me at the time) writing style of this Russian-American author, I was dazzled.

Ayn Rand used this book (and others) to present and argue her philosophy for living. This philosophy including the fundamental belief that one should be true to oneself, and not live for others.

The main character in this novel- Howard Roark is an architect. His troubles begin early. We first see him as a college student, where Howard chooses to exercise his own mind and creativity rather than accepting regurgitated designs from architects from the past. Howard believes strongly in the belief that form follows function- and the rest are unneccessary details. Howard is "invited to leave" school, without finishing his degree.

Is this a source of shame or dissapointment for Howard? Heck no- Howard only went to school to learn the tools for his trade, not to learn to mimic others.

The book continues in this vein. Characters are introduced- and most in their own idiosyncratic way are fighting the demons of self-possession or living for others. The parasitic vs autonomous existence.

The woman who will become the main (I can't say love interest- because it seems that this involves so much more than love) focus of Howards personal life- his future partner- is Dominique Francon. Dominique is from a wealthy family and works for a newspaper. Dominique has her inner-demons as well.

Dominique sees the world the way that Howard sees it, but lacks the strength to cut the ties to the societally deemed appropriate behaviors. As a result, Dominique pursues Roark as her ideal- yet finds herself unable to commit to him, and vice versa. Dominique embarks on a masochistic journey where she tries to destroy herself, because she lacks the strength to be who she knows she should be- and exists on a level she finds morally reprehensible.

I find this story loaded with complexity, especially when considering that above were just two characters that are offered to us by Ayn Rand.