Life is beautiful!

There is a moribund usual stillness in the air, but there is a glimmering hope at the horizon.I can see it.It cannot cease to be a mirage or a figment of my imagination.Even if it is so, I like to think that there is a way out.That things will get better and my life is just gonna rock.

I just completed 'The Fountainhead' - a classic philosophical novel by Ayn Rand.The book speaks about the struggle of an arrogant, level-headed genius-pleasure-seeker-architect named Howard Roark.Roark is Rand's portrayal of an ideal human being in a world torn apart by diplomacy, autocracy, dependence and resentment of a faceless monster.Rand's quest into what is the virtue of selfishness is what forms the basis of the novel.This gives base to her theory of Objectivism which has found worldwide acclaim in capitalistic territories spreading throughout the globe.

The story starts with Howard Roark getting dropped out of an architetural college - Stanton.The beginning chapter explains the character of the best student at Stanton - Peter Keating.Keating, a normal human being, a promising young architect and the dreamboy of his times approaches life with an exactly opposite principle of that of Roark.Dominique, the exquisitely beautiful daughter of Keating's boss is an enigmatic personality, who does the most unexpected of things and is in her own quest to seek the perfect man.In her pursuit, she meets many men.As to whom she falls for and as to why she struggles to defeat Roark is what needs to be known.The second chapter is that of an eminent philosopher of their times - Ellsworth Monkton Toohey, who meets various characters and handles various situations tactfully.The third is perhaps the most energetic and dynamic of characters - Gail Wynand.One has to read to know him, for I surely don't want to disclose anything about Gail.The fourth and final chapter is about Howard Roark who goes to show his righteousness to existence and reflects primarily Rand's philosophy on life.

If you are interested in philosophy and in life and its meaning, you surely must venture The Fountainhead, for it promises to be the most thought-provoking novel I've ever read.

My most favourite character is the obvious - Howard Roark.But apart from that the second place should be a tie between Gail Wynand and Dominique.I despise Ellsworth Toohey.I don't feel anything about Keating.

Incidentally my most favourite movie - The Shawshank Redemption(I've watched it about 7 times) speaks of a character named Andy Dufresne which is of verisimilitude with that of Roark, whose life in the prison is what forms the basis of the story.Yes, that was a bum of a statement.But I don't intend to give away anything of it, for it is a must-see movie.Ofcourse you need patience to watch it.I'd recommend that it be watched in a DVD with subtitles.The dialogues are just amazing, and nothing less.The screenplay is brilliant and captivating.The actors are no actors - its a sin to call that acting.They have lived through it.Just the camera has captured it for us.The direction is beyond any meritorious adjective that can be offered.If you haven't watchd it yet, run and get it and get plugged.

We all have certain thoughts and ideas on how our life should take shape, on what principle we must work, on how we must seek enjoyment, on how we must co-exist and on how we must live.Some of us don't have, for we don't think on such lines.Those of you falling into the latter category and as well as the former, here is Rand with The Fountainhead, not to influence you, but to make you think and see the obvious, or shall we say whats best for oneself.Rand's simple and direct suggestive view of life proves to be the most obvious at the end of the novel.Some people recognize their mistakes and others don't give in.You can find The Fountainhead in any lending library or in some of your friends' place, but if only you can discern can it find you.