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Hunger for Atlantis

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intellectualammo

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Those of you looking for new fiction in the romantic realism genre, I have found an exemplary one. One recently published. I only came across it when looking up a reader of mine who had written a review of one of my plays. I was so honored by their words, that I looked at the reviewer, and saw that they had just published a book titled, "Hunger for Atlantis".  And now that I have begun reading it, I'm even more honored that a writer who can write like this, wrote what they did about my own work. Please, consider treating yourself to a sample of this book, and reading the 5 star review that their own  book has already received.  I bought it immediately after having read only a small sample of the small sample. :)  This book may be the next big thing among Rand fans, Objectivists, rr genre fans, et al. I'm less than 15% into this book, but I'm that confident enough in its integrity to recommend others considering reading it right now, too. It's close to 800 pages. 
 
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I've just finished my first reading of the book.  I say first, because I'm reading it a second time, more closely, to really study it.  This book I take very seriously and regard it to be among the very finest and most important books one can read in Romantic Realism today. 
 
Though I do not know who exactly Pandora is, I think the name holds some kind of important significance to the series itself, as being a reference to the Pandora in Greek mythology. I think they use it, because it suits their expression. 
 
There are 46 chapters in the first volume in the Work of Art Series. Pandora includes the first 7 chapters to the second volume in this book, as well. I was delighted to see that, and as soon as I did, thought of it as "the encore."  Certain things in the book made me laugh, though it's no comedy. The seriousness is all-pervasive. I adore Pandora. They take ideas and writing very seriously. But... Who is Pandora? Who is the writer behind the words?  And why the use of that name? That myth can hold different meanings, depending upon one's reference, interpretation, telling, recontextualization of it. 
 
One of the main focal points in this book, is education. A progressive education of the Academy, which is a public school (read: Government school, government education) contrasted with that of the School for Self-Esteem, which  based on the Montessori Method, but in the book it's referred to as the "Miranda method".  It also reminds me of the VanDamme Academy way, the pedagogically correct way, etc. But anyway, in the book, it shows the result that each said approach can have on each child, on individuals. There is much more to the plot, than just education, though. 
 
The story is engaging, the style I quickly warmed up to, the plot and characterization all handled masterly, it is so well-crafted. As I said, I will be studying it further. There are many quotable parts throughout the book. Let me share a few, to give you a broad sampling of the text:
 
Excerpts: (the first two go together, don't know why it's separated in the middle of the quote)

 

They were very quiet, going about their work with reverence. They treated the learning tools delicately, as if the tools were sacred icons. They selected objects from the shelves. When  they were finished with didactic tools, they returned them, carefully placing the objects where they had found them. They talked quietly to others, in hushed tones, expressing their admiration for each other's work.
Professor Vandemeer thought that it seemed as if the workshop were not a part of a school - but that it were part of a temple. He thought that the children seemed happy, as if happiness came from work that they were doing. They were proud, as if pride came from how well they did their work.  They weren't striving to outdo their peers, but as if they were trying to outdo themselves; from a standard or a measurement that did not come from a teacher, not from the others, not from external surroundings - but that came from within.
 
 

 

He was driven with the thought that one day he would achieve his objective; his mind was the only motive force he knew; his will had kept him up throughout the night, the tortuous days, the long years.   He was driven by the pleasure of achieving according to his highest ability.
 

 

She simply wanted to be happy.  She stood on the cold earth, on the unforgiving and unyielding earth.   All she had was one simple desire: to do whatever was right.
 

 

Danicka had replied, “Mrs. Glasson, there are no such things as natural ideas already imprinted on the mind.   The mind begins as an empty slate.   You can’t awaken what’s not there.”
 

 

"Gentlemen, you dare to call yourselves educated men? . . .   There is one thing worse than an educated man without a purpose.   It’s a collection of educated purposeless men trying to solve problems with pragmatism. . . !"
 

 

He loved his work.   His rewards came from his sense of purpose, his accomplishments; and from his greatest tool: his mind.
 

 

One evening, she said to him, “Wouldn’t it be better to be happy today? Doing whatever you really love? Do it for yourself. Not others.” He studied her while she was speaking. “Like the children at the School for Self-Esteem. Shouldn’t you do it for yourself? Not for glory in the eyes of others. Use your mind to its greatest ability. Do it for the present moment. Wouldn’t that take care of the future? Do it today and tomorrow, everyday, one day after another. The future is just a collection of days. If you add up the days that you’re happy, you’ll be happy all along.
 
You can read the reviews it has already received, and can try a free sample of the first chapter for yourself. I highly recommend it. I'm going to attempt to review it. It will be a 5 star review, that's for damn sure.
Edited by intellectualammo
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  • 4 weeks later...
Okay everyone: my 5 star review has now been approved and published by Amazon of Pandora's novel, "Hunger for Atlantis". It's a very unusual form for a review to take, since it's written as a 3,350 word poem. If you find my review helpful, simply hit the "Yes" button after reading it, if you don't, then hit "No".  It's important that you answer, though you don't have to. 
 
Edited by intellectualammo
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  • 3 weeks later...

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