“I've had a few people recommend for me to read The Great Gatsby, but still haven't heard anything about its contents or story line. There was a possibility to read it for my TAG Literature class, but it didn't work out. We decided to read a different story. It's been a book that keeps reoccuring in conversations and I'm wondering if its worth the time and effort to read. Any thoughts?”
“Uh - story line (copied from Amazon) ...This is a tremendous indictment of the superficiality of elite society. Surprisingly, it is Gatsby himself who is both the most real and the most fake of the elite described within. Gatsby utterly invents himself to become a part of elite society, and as a result his pretensions of cultured society remain mere pretensions. However, throughout all of this pretended culture Gatsby has a singular very real purpose in mind, and in so doing becomes thoroughly real because of those pretences. By showing us Gatsby's defined purpose, F. Scott Fitzgerald shows us the reality of Gatsby far more than is ever seen of Jordan Baker or Tom and Daisy Buchanan. (Admittedly, Nick Carraway is the most real character within the novel, but he not actually part of the elite he describes.)That indictment of elite society aside, the real beauty of "The Great Gatsby" is its lesson that life cannot be relived. Gatsby devotes his life to recapturing a period of happiness from his life and recreating it exactly as it was, trying in the attempt to obliterate the years and events that have fallen between. In this attempt he comes very very close - close enough to be forgiven his belief that it was possible - but in the end his dream is impossible. Had he been willing - or able - to accept the changes that the intervening years necessitated then this more realistic dream might possibly have been achieved, but by insisting on a return to events as-they-were Gatsby dooms himself to an inevitable failure of his dream. It is said that you can't go home again; "The Great Gatsby" is an almost perfect metaphor for that maxim.Ultimately, this is a beautiful and tragic novel. It is eminently readable, and its status as an American classic is well-deserved. ”
“It will be a quick and interesting read. You should go for it.”
“I have that book stored in my shelf for a long time now...let me know if it's good so I can start reading. thanks”
“definitely!!!F. Scott Fitzgerald is an AMAZING writer. His style of writing and the descriptions he uses are just incredible. I too was encouraged to read it by many people, and eventually i did. i'm extremely glad i did. anyone who says this book was boring or a waste of time should really give it a second try...”
