Thanks, Greg! Now I know what Iโll be doing today, pulling out my dog eared, highlighted copy of Gatsby and giving it a read. Itโs been quite a while.
As others here have noted, Iโd forgotten much about Gatsby over the years. Youโve once again, piqued an interest in finding, and revisiting a piece Iโve read a few times, as required reading, being a Twin Cities native.
Iโve mentioned previously that your Sunday read, always arouses thoughts and memories...although somewhat effete, as I recall...sublimely written... great morning to you!!
Like you, I'm a serial Gatsby reader, just because I keep finding things (hints and allegations?). Interesting lenses have been applied: all sorts of racial and gender permutations. It was an experimental age - though I'm not quite sold on the gay Nick angle, the McKee scene notwithstanding (it was the 20s!).
Your graf on Tom is just about perfect, and boy has that asshole ever aged well! You nailed it: They (Trump, Gaetz, Musk...) get away with just about everything -- just because. Cash Bundren says "You can't get away from a shoddy job," but these jamokes, like Tom and Daisy, seem to get away with and from one shoddy job after another. And, although part of that is personal skill and consciencelessness, the other part is a system built to succor its filthy rich bullies.
I go just a bit easier on Daisy because she seems to have one foot on both sides of the villain-victim line. Though maybe by my next reading she will have morphed into the devil incarnate. She certainly fails the moment-of-truth moral test with flying colors.
And finally, congratulations: You now hold the record for the longest excerpt in a work of criticism -- every word of it delicious, though it's good thing it's out of copyright!
Gods, Greg, almost every Sunday, I have to revisit my life and try and remember if I've read the subject of the day. I must have, either in high school or college, but I'm damned if I can consciously remember. I do know I've seen the 70s film with Robert Redford (?) but have yet to watch the newest one with DiCaprio. But this is perfect timing as I've just finished "Nothing But the Night," about Leopold and Loeb, and am between books. Time to get "Gatsby" and remain in the same decade a while longer. That excerpt was hypnotic! I stopped for a moment at:
"Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that bodyโhe seemed to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top lacing, and you could see a great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved under his thin coat."
I don't remember much gay stuff in Gatsby, but that's straight out of a gay bodice-ripper! It seems like the next sentence should be something about his "loins." lol Thanks for the recommendation, Greg, and have a great week!
Thank you, Greg, for this thought-provoking post. To add to it, and to my surprise, I saw this article in the Atlantic just after reading your Sunday Pages: The Great Gatsby.
Last Friday's Five/8 was a good one! It did feel a bit "lopsided" without LB there. So sorry for her loss.
Brynn's matter-of-fact prediction of where we're headed was almost a relief to hear, as in the die is cast...we might as well get used to it! But will be hanging out with the underground folks as we plot to undermine their efforts. So ironic to know that Berlin will be the go-to place for lovers of democracy!
Nothing makes me happier than reading your insights into my all-time favorite novel. Every time someone says, "the cruelty is the point" about current Republican thugs, Tom's picture comes to mind.
Thank you for this. Oddly, or not so oddly, I have a paperback copy of this on the coffee table that has been staring at me for the past few weeks. Time to read it again...
Thanks! That was just what I needed to read this morning. My favourite part in one of my favourite books of all time. Some books are work. Like building a wall brick by brick and then sitting at the top of that wall to gaze into a tepid country that turns anticipation into incredulity and soon, boredom. This writing is like stepping off a wall on to the wings of a nightingale. The view, the music, everything buoyant, moving, ephemeral. The cleverness is so well hidden that the box opens without any pressure from fingers or mind to reveal - magic. The wings donโt move and we soar on, enchanted.
Thanks, Greg! Now I know what Iโll be doing today, pulling out my dog eared, highlighted copy of Gatsby and giving it a read. Itโs been quite a while.
Happy Sunday! Cheers!
Thanks for the insights.
Not that I could possibly even write anything close to that level, an attempt would take me weeks to craft each paragraph. True genius.
Two books I have not read, the Great Gatsby and Moby Dick.
Today Literary Hub has an interesting piece written on Moby Dick into a movie script by Ray Bradbury for John Houston.
You noted:
"They were careless people"
Hmm.
First thing that came to my mind was Bill and Hillary?
Unlike Jimmy and Rosalie Carter whose goodness was criticized as weakness and taken advantage of by bad people.
As others here have noted, Iโd forgotten much about Gatsby over the years. Youโve once again, piqued an interest in finding, and revisiting a piece Iโve read a few times, as required reading, being a Twin Cities native.
Iโve mentioned previously that your Sunday read, always arouses thoughts and memories...although somewhat effete, as I recall...sublimely written... great morning to you!!
Greg, you can be my adjunct professor any day!
Like you, I'm a serial Gatsby reader, just because I keep finding things (hints and allegations?). Interesting lenses have been applied: all sorts of racial and gender permutations. It was an experimental age - though I'm not quite sold on the gay Nick angle, the McKee scene notwithstanding (it was the 20s!).
Your graf on Tom is just about perfect, and boy has that asshole ever aged well! You nailed it: They (Trump, Gaetz, Musk...) get away with just about everything -- just because. Cash Bundren says "You can't get away from a shoddy job," but these jamokes, like Tom and Daisy, seem to get away with and from one shoddy job after another. And, although part of that is personal skill and consciencelessness, the other part is a system built to succor its filthy rich bullies.
I go just a bit easier on Daisy because she seems to have one foot on both sides of the villain-victim line. Though maybe by my next reading she will have morphed into the devil incarnate. She certainly fails the moment-of-truth moral test with flying colors.
And finally, congratulations: You now hold the record for the longest excerpt in a work of criticism -- every word of it delicious, though it's good thing it's out of copyright!
Gods, Greg, almost every Sunday, I have to revisit my life and try and remember if I've read the subject of the day. I must have, either in high school or college, but I'm damned if I can consciously remember. I do know I've seen the 70s film with Robert Redford (?) but have yet to watch the newest one with DiCaprio. But this is perfect timing as I've just finished "Nothing But the Night," about Leopold and Loeb, and am between books. Time to get "Gatsby" and remain in the same decade a while longer. That excerpt was hypnotic! I stopped for a moment at:
"Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that bodyโhe seemed to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top lacing, and you could see a great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved under his thin coat."
I don't remember much gay stuff in Gatsby, but that's straight out of a gay bodice-ripper! It seems like the next sentence should be something about his "loins." lol Thanks for the recommendation, Greg, and have a great week!
Thank you, Greg, for this thought-provoking post. To add to it, and to my surprise, I saw this article in the Atlantic just after reading your Sunday Pages: The Great Gatsby.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/03/great-gatsby-book-fitzgerald-race-interpretation/672778/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Last Friday's Five/8 was a good one! It did feel a bit "lopsided" without LB there. So sorry for her loss.
Brynn's matter-of-fact prediction of where we're headed was almost a relief to hear, as in the die is cast...we might as well get used to it! But will be hanging out with the underground folks as we plot to undermine their efforts. So ironic to know that Berlin will be the go-to place for lovers of democracy!
Nothing makes me happier than reading your insights into my all-time favorite novel. Every time someone says, "the cruelty is the point" about current Republican thugs, Tom's picture comes to mind.
Thank you for this. Oddly, or not so oddly, I have a paperback copy of this on the coffee table that has been staring at me for the past few weeks. Time to read it again...
Thanks! That was just what I needed to read this morning. My favourite part in one of my favourite books of all time. Some books are work. Like building a wall brick by brick and then sitting at the top of that wall to gaze into a tepid country that turns anticipation into incredulity and soon, boredom. This writing is like stepping off a wall on to the wings of a nightingale. The view, the music, everything buoyant, moving, ephemeral. The cleverness is so well hidden that the box opens without any pressure from fingers or mind to reveal - magic. The wings donโt move and we soar on, enchanted.
I first read Gatsby while in the 7th grade. I loved the writing, but hated the characters. Thanks for your take.
I haven't read Gatsby in years. I'll do it soon now. Much easier reading than 1984,
Lusting after what you canโt have is getting trite
Who could have said it better, time for a reread