We the Living

We the Living is Ayn Rand's first novel.  It was a lot different than her other novels I have read.  The story takes place in a real time and place - Soviet Russia in the 1920's.  Kira, the heroine, is growing up with her family and trying to make a life for herself under Communist rule.  She has the ideals and values typical of a protagonist in an Ayn Rand book.  It was interesting reading Kira's story, because unlike the heroes in the other books, Kira's main devotion was to Leo, her lover, and not to herself.  She wanted so badly for Leo to be able to live the life he wanted, that she was willing to sacrifice hers.  I was kind of happy that Leo turned into such an a-hole by the end of the book to show Kira that her life is most important.  It's too bad that she didn't get to see what would happen if she put herself first.  This is also the only Ayn Rand novel that has a really sad ending and that caught me by surprise.  I guess the setting didn't allow for any heroes rise up and save the day.