Davis Knaub's Reaction to Atlas Shrugged (#2)

         So much has happened in the nearly 200 pages read in this book, yet it still seems like something is missing in this book. I am waiting for the main conflict or complication to arise as more and more of the characters and their backgrounds are described, yet I find myself completely submerged in this book. How realistic the characters in this book seem has definitely become the most attractive feature for me as a reader. I enjoy reading the various different stories of each of the different characters as they relate to one another. The most interesting relationship I find to be is that between Dagny Taggart and Francisco d’Anconia. Their childhood competition is what seems to still be driving the two of them in their separate ventures. They had such a pure admiration for one another that it is sad to see them grow so far apart. I am confused as to what exactly d’Anconia was telling Dagny that he had to do before she they fell apart from each other. The only thing that it seems like he did was become a playboy hosting risqué parties and flaunting his wealth. Something must have happened to change him so drastically from the young boy who loved to work so much that we would run away to work at a rail station. Even sadder is the fact that Dagny still seems to be so strongly attracted to him. He seemed to be the only man that Dagny actually loved, and he turned into such an awful person. Going as far as to waste fifteen million dollars of his own money just so he would see Taggart Transcontinental lose forty, Francicso d’Anconia is without a doubt a completely different person that the driven boy described in the early years of their relationship. All of the intimate stories of Dagny Taggart and Francisco d’Anconia leave Hank Reardon looking boring. I am hoping that the story will go into further detail of his background story. I can see now why so many people say that this book has so many political references to it. Notably, the talk of the Equalization of Opportunity Bill goes on for several pages. I do not entirely understand this bill nor do I understand the discussion amongst the professors at the Reardon’s party, but my only wish is that the rest of the book does not turn into such a blatant political discussion as it seemed to be during the entire time at the Hank Reardon’s house. 
~Davis Knaub~