The Great Gatsby

[BigPiney]

Ha. I just finished it last night. I never had to read in during HS or college, but thought it must be good, since I've alway known about it, and they are making a movie starring Leo. I was wrong. It was boring, and had a stupid ending. I have no plans to see the movie.

I read it less than a year ago. I thought maybe my dislike of it from high school stemmed from the fact that I hated reading back then. Turns out I was correct in not liking it the first time around.

[Art Vandelay]

I read it less than a year ago. I thought maybe my dislike of it from high school stemmed from the fact that I hated reading back then. Turns out I was correct in not liking it the first time around.

over the last year I've reread a lot of books I read, or was suppose to read (thank you Mr. Cliff Note) in HS. I've enjoyed pretty much all of them. I don't even understand what point F. Scott was trying to make - a cautionary tale of love and/or money? Don't mess with a mechanic's wife? Only a man who has looked at - I mean really looked at- your books, will be there for you, when you die???

I'm forgetting some, but off the top of my head, I've (re)read:
* Of Mice and Men
* Catcher in the Rye
* To Kill a Mockingbird (one of my favorite stories in all of literature)
* Count of Monte Cristo
* The Man in the Iron Mask

[Green Lantern]

48 hrs did a documentary on the real-life story recently. It was incredible. I might want to see the movie now as it seems they followed the true story quite closely.

JL, for your reading pleasure (in case the documentary left you wanting more,) here's the original series of articles about the case, including a "where are they now?" section: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1999-12-23/news/pain-gain/

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I think to gain a better appreciation of The Great Gatsby (the novel), it should be read directly after Liar's Poker from Michael Lewis. A significant part of the upper crust in this country are truly deplorable people. Capable- but really deplorable. Just look at the Kennedys and all of their shenanigans. The characters in the Great Gatsby (not so much Gatsby himself, but the Buchanans in particular) are archetypes of people that are always around and often find themselves in the spotlight.

[Surfah]

over the last year I've reread a lot of books I read, or was suppose to read (thank you Mr. Cliff Note) in HS. I've enjoyed pretty much all of them. I don't even understand what point F. Scott was trying to make - a cautionary tale of love and/or money? Don't mess with a mechanic's wife? Only a man who has looked at - I mean really looked at- your books, will be there for you, when you die???

I'm forgetting some, but off the top of my head, I've (re)read:
* Of Mice and Men
* Catcher in the Rye
* To Kill a Mockingbird (one of my favorite stories in all of literature)
* Count of Monte Cristo
* The Man in the Iron Mask

The Great Gatsby is interesting in that it wasn't very succesful when it was published. Reviews were generally positive but it was not hailed as the great American novel. A friendly critic revived interest in Gatsby along with an autoiography. Also, a 150,000 books were given to soldiers in WWII sparking the revival. By then it had entered into the canon and high school curriculum. The book though fell out of favor again and some argued that his wife Zelda deserved more attention and was the superior writer only to see another revival of Gatsby.

I have read it twice and don't think much of it at all.

[Donuthole]

48 hrs did a documentary on the real-life story recently. It was incredible. I might want to see the movie now as it seems they followed the true story quite closely.

Interesting. I heard on Adam Carolla's podcast the other day that a key plot line in the movie was entirely false.

Spoiler for Specifically:

The part about the guy's toe getting shot off, him digging it out of a pond and carrying it around with him, etc. From what I understand, it's one of the more incredible aspects of the plot (up until the end) and, despite how unbelievable it seems, the movie continually reminds you that the entire story is true. None of the men were ever even involved in a shootout with the police.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/..._wahlberg.html

[MarkGrace]

The Great Gatsby is interesting in that it wasn't very succesful when it was published.

this is case for probably half the classics.

[Surfah]

this is case for probably half the classics.

You'd be surprised I think. Half might be accurate, but many were instant successes whose popularity has endured. Take the books Art listed for example. All were critically and commercially successful immediately, even the Dumas stories which were printed in serial back in the day.

[Indy Coug]

The Great Gatsby is interesting in that it wasn't very succesful when it was published. Reviews were generally positive but it was not hailed as the great American novel. A friendly critic revived interest in Gatsby along with an autoiography. Also, a 150,000 books were given to soldiers in WWII sparking the revival. By then it had entered into the canon and high school curriculum. The book though fell out of favor again and some argued that his wife Zelda deserved more attention and was the superior writer only to see another revival of Gatsby.

I have read it twice and don't think much of it at all.

I had more trouble trying to force myself to finish The Great Gatsby than any other book I had to read for school. Yawn, yawn and double yawn.

[BigFatMeanie]

Read The Great Gatsby in high school. Hated it.

[Commando]

Interesting. I heard on Adam Carolla's podcast the other day that a key plot line in the movie was entirely false.

Spoiler for Specifically:

The part about the guy's toe getting shot off, him digging it out of a pond and carrying it around with him, etc. From what I understand, it's one of the more incredible aspects of the plot (up until the end) and, despite how unbelievable it seems, the movie continually reminds you that the entire story is true. None of the men were ever even involved in a shootout with the police.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/..._wahlberg.html

Yep. As per usual, Adam is spot-on. They go to such lengths to make sure the audience is following along with the premise that it's BASED ON A TRUE STORY the whole way through and yet while watching it I was thinking how unbelievable some of it was.. Well for good reason.

[Commando]

The funny thing about Gatsby is that I don't really think I would enjoy a faithful adaptation of the book like critics seem to want. A highly stylized, aesthetically stimulating version seems right up my alley.

[MarkGrace]

Decided to see this since it finally passed Pain and Gain on the tomato meter. Can't say I cared that much for it. Much like the book, I just didn't feel very taken by the story.

[creekster]

I didn't read Gatsby until recently when I decided to fill that hole in my literary background. Besides, it is a very short and easy read.

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Unlike many of you, I thought the book was very good. I think he writes very well and his prose is highly evocative. Moreover, i think those characters in that plot have much to say about America, Americans, and the choices we make. I am no literary critic and I have read no proper analysis of the book, so I could be way off here, but I felt like Fitzgerald, in just a few pages, commented profoundly on money and its corrupting power, in terms of both business ethics and personal relationships, how we never escape our pasts or what we are, how love and friendships can be largely circumstantial and that love is the conquered and not the conqueror. And more, but I have probably already said enough to make you all think i am nuts.

Not sure if I will see the movie. I just can't see dicaprio pulling Gatsby off. OTOH Maguire should make a pretty good Carraway.

[Commando]

I didn't read Gatsby until recently when I decided to fill that hole in my literary background. Besides, it is a very short and easy read.

-
Unlike many of you, I thought the book was very good. I think he writes very well and his prose is highly evocative. Moreover, i think those characters in that plot have much to say about America, Americans, and the choices we make. I am no literary critic and I have read no proper analysis of the book, so I could be way off here, but I felt like Fitzgerald, in just a few pages, commented profoundly on money and its corrupting power, in terms of both business ethics and personal relationships, how we never escape our pasts or what we are, how love and friendships can be largely circumstantial and that love is the conquered and not the conqueror. And more, but I have probably already said enough to make you all think i am nuts.

Not sure if I will see the movie. I just can't see dicaprio pulling Gatsby off. OTOH Maguire should make a pretty good Carraway.

... or the only person who has posted about reading the book who paid attention while reading it.