1. Must read 60 pages by tomorrow
2. Must write 10 page paper on the meaning of the green light at the end of Daisy's dock
3. Must be able to discuss Gatsby's love for Daisy
4. Must find at least 3 fundamental themes for final test
Reading The Great Gatsby this year with my book group:
1. Priceless
Honestly, I was so pleased with how much more I got out of re-reading Gatsby as an adult. F. Scott Fitzgerald's most notable work is told from the viewpoint of imported midwesterner Nick Carraway, who rents the house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. Nick's cousin Daisy and her husband Tom live across the Long Island bay in luxurious wealth, and Tom drives Nick through the "valley of ashes" wasteland, picking up his mistress before heading into New York City. Legendary parties are a regular occurrence at Gatsby's mansion and Nick, upon receiving an invitation, attends and meets Jay. It turns out Gatsby is in love with Daisy and he coerces Nick to host a meeting between them. And from there the story turns to love, obsession, confusion, dishonesty and betrayal.
Because I didn't have to think about writing papers and topic points and such, I was really able to love Fitzgerald's words and images. While I can't say I approved of what Gatsby was trying to do, I finally understood, and appreciated the flaws and merits of his character. And the final words of the book - “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”- gave cause for reflective thought about what I had just read. Now I understand why it's a classic.
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