Leigh reviewed on 5/25/2007 + 378 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 12

This novel reminded me of Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" for two reasons. First, Martin Dressler becomes consumed with an idea of success and, as the title suggests, an American dream, at the expense of all else in his life. He forgoes a meaningful marriage for the sake of a hotel; which leads me to the second point reminescent of Rand: architecture.

Dressler becomes interested in creating a architectural masterpiece of essentially everything he touches. I'll say that the features of the hotel he ends up building are far from ordinary and possibly the most creative I've ever heard of.

This is a beautiful novel of obsession and consumption of an idea; and most importantly, the reprecussions of what that obsession can do to an individual's life.

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