Extra Credit

5 Posts in a row, a new record! Okay, I'm going to refrain from harping on Oryx and Crake anymore, though I think it would fit the bill perfectly, and suggest something else that every undergradute should have to read.

I think that every undergraduate should be required to read The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. I had to read it for AP literature in high school, and though it was somewhat of a struggle to get through, I've read it twice more since I've been at college, and I don't pleasure read fiction that often. The main reason I believe every undergraduate should read this novel is for its relatable themes and character developments. One of the major themes that I find extremely useful, which is why I've re-read the book so many times, is the theme of struggle and individuality. I think this is very relatable to any undergraduate of any background as we all experience an immense amount of pressure once we assimilate into college to fit in. When I was a freshman I was smacked with peer pressure from every angle, some of which I gave into and others I did not. The book does a good job of portraying the importance to sticking to your beliefs and values no matter what you face. Howard Roarke, the books protagonist, is constantly faced with financial challenges, harsh criticism, and fierce, though unequal, competition. Roarke stays his course because he knows himself to be a talented architect, though few can see it. Roarke also does everything with a purpose, all of his architecture is simple and based on logic, a factor not shared by his competition. He doesn't let intense emotion cloud his vision of his work, he knows what he's doing and he does it, a trait anyone can appreciate. The entire time I read this novel, I felt so sorry for Roarke and was constantly "fighthing for the little guy". I won't tell how the novel ended to prevent spoilers, but it is true that Roarke sticks to his guns unequivocally throughout the novel, and I greatly respect that.