I began marking books off my list by re-reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I read this as a sophomore in high school and loved it. Now re-reading it as a twenty something, I was presented with much more insight. I believe if I read it again in a decade, I would yet again uncover new things that my twenty something eyes can’t see yet.
The Great Gatsby has been called an “American masterpiece.” In the preface of my copy, Matthew J. Bruccoli says,
The best reason to read literature is for pleasure. One gauge of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s achievement is that many admiring readers are unaware of the complexity of The Great Gatsby because the novel is a pleasure to read.
The story follows the obsessive love that the mysterious and rich Mr. Jay Gatsby has for Daisy, a woman he once loved and who is now married. When he finally is able to have Daisy, we see that his expecatations for a life of love with Daisy are way too high. Tragically, in his desire to obtain something, he built up in his mind something completely unattainable. The story gripped me and I felt his loss.
And, oh, the words of Fitzgerald are so beautiful.
The (lamp) lights grow brighter as the earth luches away from the sun.
Her voice compelled me forward breathlessly as I listened-then the glow faded, each light deserting her with lingering regret like children leaving a pleasant street at dusk.
So beautiful. Have you read it? Did you love it?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve read. Don’t know if I loved it, but it was sure worth reading.
yes i have read it several times. my husband gave me a first edition as a gift. but last year while taking sometime off in santa fe for some respite. i read reading lolita in tehran and they mentioned it. so i picked up a little opy and read the great gatsby again-but fo rhte first time i read as a married adult…it struck me harder then the other times-i think because of getting away with it..the uneasyness of it all.
I wonder if being married is also why I was able to get more from the book this time around as well, Nadia. That’s an interesting insight.