I was just sitting down to start the novel when I realized I said I was going to ask some pre-reading questions. So I guess I better do it.
Generally, what made you interested to read this book? Have you read it before? I'm thinking a lot of us probably read it in high school, how do you think you'll feel about the book now?
Personally, I'm most interested to read it again after seeing the movie this summer. The movie, while following the plot faithfully, seemed to have a very different feeling from what I remember of the novel (which admittedly is quite sketchy going back 10 years). So I'm curious to reread the novel, and maybe even watch the movie again. We'll see how much Gatsby I can handle.
I first read the Great Gatsby my junior year of high school, so 11 years ago. It was my teacher's favorite book, so she didn't require a paper for it, just a creativity project. I remember becoming engrossed in it, hating Daisy and feeling sorry for Gatsby. There's nothing spectacular about the plot. It's not very deep and philosphical. Fitzgerald had a way with words, though, and I have so much of the book underlined.
I have not seen the new film and this book is not a popular school text here in the UK (they tend to do Steinbeck as an American novelist), so my only exposure to this story so far has been the 1974 Robert Redford movie and I only have sketchy memories of that.
I like to have read at least 1 book by any well known, classic author and Scott Fitzgerald is not yet on my shelves (well he is because the book has come but he is in the "to read" pile). I'm also keen to read it before the movie is shown on Sky - I usually prefer to read the book before the film colours my imagination. I don't really remember what it's about so this will be almost completely new for me.
The last time I read the book was about 8 years ago in high school but I loved it. I hated Tom, Daisy and Nick but fell incredibly in love with Gatsby. I watched the movie just a few weeks ago and LOVED it. Still hated Tom, Daisy and Nick! And Leo was the perfect Gatsby. I think I'll still love the book and I'm definitely looking forward to rereading it and will probably watch the movie after I finish the book again.
I don´t have almost any information about it - I know it´s a classic from the United States. I´m not even sure what is it about. But I´d like to read it before watching the movie, and also, because I think it´s important to read classics as well as contemporary readings. Since I almost only read fantasy (and long books) this year, it´s a very welcome reading
I try to ALWAYS read the book before seeing the movie. I read this book too long ago as well, but I read Tales of the Jazz Age this spring because I found it on Project Gutenberg. I like the idea of the roaring twenties.
Anyway, I drug my husband along to see Gatsby this summer, and although I enjoyed it, I don't quite think it lived up to the Baz Luhrman hype.
I'm interested in FINALLY sitting down to read the book again and see what I can take away this time that my high school self missed.
I have not read the book, nor seen the film. So I am coming to this book without any background knowledge except I think it is set in the 1920's.
I am not sure if I read the book in school, maybe, but I don't remember the plot. Like Dawn I try to read classics from different authors, so Fitzgerald should be in the shelf. Also I am curious about the new movie, just saw the trailer. But first I would like to know the novel... Finall it is a task to me to read it in English since the language is not to easy.
@Dawn: I am sad that they read Steinbeck as a representation of American literature. Can't say I enjoyed his writing much. Although, now I'm trying to decide what I would suggest as a "representative" novel. I guess it's hard to pick just one...
I read Gatsby in 11th grade and had a great teacher. I remember her explaining it so well and really couldn't wait to go home and read the assigned chapters. But it's been almost 20 years since then and I really need to pick it up again!
@Marisa- Mark Twain as representative American author?
I was reading more on Fitzgerald's background the other day, he was a lot more of a commercial author than I thought, wrote a lot of short stories to cover his drinking habit, I think.
Did anyone enjoy that Brad Pitt movie from a few years ago the Curious Case of Benjamin Button? Fitzgerald wrote that story as well...
Mark Twain is a good one. I will second your nomination.
That's interesting about Fitzgerald's background. I have done any extra reading yet, but I'm curious to now. That's interesting that he wrote The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I can't remember how I felt about the movie, except possibly weird.
I remember that movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, it had an interesting trailer, but I was kind of disappointed of the story because, as I remember it was without any explanation. Well, thats why it was curious, I guess
I didn't know it was from Fitzgerald.
Marisa, Tiffany - I like Mark Twain (well Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and the Prince and the Pauper) but I am not keen on Steinbeck either - too much padding and too flowery for my liking. I like the story of Grapes of Wrath but for me the book should have the "padding" removed and be half the size. Sad to say I'm not keen on Catcher in the Rye either nor Catch 22 (which a barely remember) but I adore To Kill a Mockingbird (which is on UK current A level syllabus I believe) and Little Women and Little House on the Prarie and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Gone with the Wind ... so many lovely books.
I've finished Gatsby - very short!
I've seen Benjamin Button - I thought it was OK but nothing more. I had a feeling it would be better in print but maybe not - it's even shorter than Gatsby. I'm not generally keen on short stories, I like to get lost in a book.
What did you think about Gatsby, Dawn? I'll finish it on the plane tomorrow. So far, I'm enjoying the prose, but I'm annoyed by the mechanism of Nick Carraway. I understand the need, someone impartial that knows both the main characters intimately, but I would have prefered alternating Gatsby and Daisy voices. I think that would have been more effective to illustrate the haves and the have nots. Or the rich and the nouveau riche. Whatever F. Scott was trying to tell us. I'm not really convinced by this whole "west egg" "east egg" thing. They all seem like rich prisses to me.
On a side note, have you ever read any books by Maya Angelou? Her books are a bit fanciful (and not in a light way), but her voice is uniquely American and I have been thoroughly engrossed in every one of her books that I ever read. I can't say I enjoy all of them, because there are some pretty heavy themes, but I appreciate every story.
I TOTALLY agree about Steinbeck, same with Hemingway. And I LOVE Little Women. I don't even know how many times I've read it. Or seen the movies...
Tiffany - thanks for the heads up on Hemmingway - hadn't tried him yet and I might not bother now.
I have read 5 of the Maya Angelou autobiography books - 2 to go I think. I enjoyed them very much.
Fitzgerald has not impressed me. I did not dislike the book but I have found it hard to see why it warrants so much merit. I won't say any more here or I might spoil the coming questions plus there may be people who haven't started yet and I would not want to influence their take on the book so I'll look forward to swapping thoughts with you later
It's funny that you mentioned Hemmingway because I immediately thought of him when we were talking about Steinbeck. Not impressed with either of them, but especially Hemmingway...Except in the movie Midnight in Paris. I really enjoyed his character there. As long as I don't have to read his books.
Hemmingway had the best writing advice, though - Write drunk and edit sober!
Authors in general are a weird, messed up lot. Google "authors and drinking" and you'll come up with all sorts of interesting things. Fitzgerald was only outmatched on his extravagance by his wife, Zelda, who was absolutely insane.
Fitzgerald and Zelda were in Midnight in Paris too, weren't they? It's a pretty great movie if you haven't seen it.
I haven't had a chance to watch it. Well, I probably have, but I'm terrible with sitting down to watch tv or movies. I don't like sitting still!
I like Hemmingway, or at least, what I read of him (the old man and the sea, and a book of short stories). I also like Huckleberry Finn - the only book from Mark Twain I have already read. I prefer Twain, but I guess it´s difficult to compare them, because both write from different times...
I´m still in the beginning of Gatsby. I´ve started reading, but took some days to continue (lots of work these days here) and, when I got the book to read again I realised I have forgotten what I´ve read.... So, I needed to re-read that part before going on...
Okay, I managed to get confused on which book was current, so I posted on the wrong thread. Duh! lol! I read Gatsby in high school (yes 20 years ago) and didn't care for it, because...I wanted to read fantasy and sci fi! I was reading Anne McCaffrey and Andre Norton and such then. They made us read and study Romeo and Juliet in 7th, 8th and 9th grades so I developed a dislike of anything the school wanted me to read and fled to the comfort zone of another reality. I will get started on this and give it another chance!