...maybe you'll climb out of it at some point but the smart ones drive off the bridge right at the beginning.

Oh, wow. That turned out more meta than I intended.

Anyhoo. The first chapter is called The Bridge, it's only two pages long and it's the only good chapter in this book of 521 pages. There were a handful of good observations or amusing passages here or there, but nothing resembling a coherent, well written, good story. And I wasted all three weeks of my holiday reading it. So. Boring.

I have an itch to read The Handmaid's Tale at some point, so I won't say I won't be reading Atwood ever again. But it's a close thing.

In ten words or less: It's a horrible, terrible book and you should read it.

Ayn Rand's 1168 page behemoth is listed under classics and fiction, though, I fail to understand how it fits under either genre. Atlas Shrugged is a poorly written, illogical propaganda manifesto without even a semblance of character, consistency or plot. Everything is orchestrated to serve Rand's absurd philosophy and to deify her main hero, John Galt, a Christ-like figure who was, in fact, based on a child murderer.

Not counting infodumps, and convenient telepathy when a third-person omniscient narrator could have been an option, Rand struggles with basic concepts of good story telling such as showing not telling, foreshadowing, and in-world consistency. More crucially, her basic reading comprehension is in question. For example, I don't think Rand had any idea what logic is.

Here a character is explaining why people won't believe Galt:

"'It seems to me,' said Chick Morison, his voice tentatively helpful, 'that people of nobler spiritual nature, you know what I mean, people of… of… well, of mystical insight'—he paused, as if waiting to be slapped, but no one moved, so he repeated firmly—'yes, of mystical insight, won't go for that speech. Logic isn't everything after all.'"

And here's an excerpt of a dinner conversation:

"'If you still want me to explain it, Mother,' he said very quietly, 'if you're still hoping that I won't be cruel enough to name what you're pretending not to know, then here's what's wrong with your idea of forgiveness: You regret that you've hurt me and, as your atonement for it, you ask that I offer myself to total immolation.' 'Logic!' she screamed. 'There you go again with your damn logic! It's pity that we need, pity, not logic!'"

Additionally, Rand doesn't seem to know how women work, despite having been one herself. None of her female characters—there's a handful—come across anything more than pawns and men's playthings. Even Dagny Taggart, the supposed heroine, is little more than a Mary Sue Magdalena to Galt's Jesus.

Certain prominent American politicians have inhaled her ideals hook, line, and sinker and want to live out Rand's libetarian utopia, but that doesn't mean the rest of us should. They can't make you. Except that they're politicians who set policy, so in a very tangible sense they are making you.Littered with post-its, my library copy of the book.

Atlas Shrugged is a prime example of why you shouldn't just go with the flow, and accept what people appearing smarter than you say. You should be fully aware of what you're co-signing by proclaiming the author as one of the great thinkers of recent history. You should read the detailed racism, misogyny, and misandry Rand and her followers preach. You should read, so you can suss out when someone is just repeating what they've heard—or worse—genuinely believes that empathy is the cancer of humanity.

So, yes. It's an actively offensive book, and you should read it.

I AM DONE. Finally. Not four months as I thought but almost three. Because of some things I was linked to—thing one, thing two—I am definitely writing a review. If I ever recover to write coherently again (HA!). 

Post-it count: 314 (I sort of lost my spirit towards the end and started letting things slide.)

Last note: "That's not how it works."

Other: While we wait for my review (*chinhands* whatever will it say, come on tell me!) we can still play the game where you give me a number between 3 and 1168, and I'll give you a quote or a post-it comment and a quote it refers to. Or a general description of that page. If you like.

Or you could click the links, read the articles, and we could discuss.

As much as I liked Libriomancer and loved its world, Codex Born and I didn't get a good start. The reason is in the multiple first person voices. What I expect from a second book in a series is to learn more about the characters and their relationships interspaced the book specific plot, but I also hate headhopping especially when the voices are indistinguishable. So, when a story is told from a certain point of view in a first person voice, I expect the author to stick to it.

One benefit from Lena's chapter inserts is the pacing, which is much better here than it was in Libriomancer. There really isn't much breathing room between the action packed scenes, which in theory should have sucked me in without an escape.

The story itself is an organic continuation to the events of the first book. The world becomes more complex and morally grey as do the characters. Some new secondary characters are introduced and old ones sidelined. Also cultural diversity expands. Yes that is code for diverse secondary characters who are crucial to the plot.

I can't say much more than that without spoiling either Codex Born or Libriomancer. And to be honest: I don't remember much more.

There was even a slightly dated but accurately explained Finnish curse word. I myself prefer to invoke the devil rather than a deity.

En yleensä pidä minä-kertojista, mutta Björkiltä sen kirjoittaminen luonnistuu. Makken ääni kuulostaa ikäiseltäni helsinkiläisnuorelta tai ainakin lähimmältä luettavalta vastineelta.

Makken kertojaääni oli sekä selkeä että selkeästi miehinen. Aivan kuten lääkäri lopussa sanookin: selvä tapaus.

Opin kirjasta jotain uuttakin, lähinnä sen että Suomen laki kaipaa päivittämistä ja yhteiskunta avoimempaa mieltä.

***

This is a Finnish book about a trans boy growing up in Helsinki and it's based on the experiences of the author's own son.

It's written in the first person voice, which rarely works for me, but Björk might be the rare exception. I enjoyed her writing and the narrator's voice, which is both clear and clearly male.

I learned that Finnish law needs to be updated and that our society needs a more open mind.