Currently reading: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
My thoughts:
A short, quick read, The Great Gatsby was unlike most books I usually read. A poignant reminder of the consequences of sin, it explores the life and fall of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy, “has-it-all” paragon, through the eyes of young Nick Carraway. Gatsby is everyone’s favorite person, but no one’s friend. He has everything and nothing, because of the one thing he can’t have: his love, Daisy Buchanan. Jay and Daisy were separated when they were young and are reunited many years later, after Daisy has married Tom Buchanan. Both believing themselves to be in love once again, Gatsby and Daisy renew their relationship and eventually confront Tom about it, resulting in a tragic end for all parties.
Being that it involves and mentions more than one adulterous affair, I was surprised to discover that The Great Gatsby did not encourage sin. In fact, it was quite the opposite. If I was a less moral person, it would have terrified me into running as far away from sin as I could go. After all, who would want to share the same fate as Jay Gatsby, Daisy and Tom Buchanan, George and Myrtle Wilson? The affairs in the novel are never glorified or encouraged. Tom is unfaithful to Daisy, Daisy is unfaithful to Tom, and Myrtle is unfaithful to George… and all of them are miserable, discontent, and unhappy.
But even though it doesn’t encourage adultery, by reading The Great Gatsby should I saturate myself in the sin just to understand its consequences? I don’t believe so. As a Christian, I fully understand the consequences of sin and a person’s need for redemption. I don’t require The Great Gatsby, with its focus on adultery, to teach me so.
One thing I did love about The Great Gatsby was the talent of the author. F. Scott Fitzgerald knows how to tell a story, and his writing style is so beautiful and seemingly effortless. I enjoyed The Great Gatsby the most for the skill behind each well-placed word. Mr. Fitzgerald taught me much about description, original ways to say things, and how to keep readers hooked. And I never expected how he would end this book. I was most surprised!
However, the negative elements to The Great Gatsby were just as numerous as the positive. Although it is never explicit or portrayed as a good thing, the storyline does focus on an affair between a man and a married woman. There is also a handful of instances of language and mature themes.
My rating: 6.0 out of 10
Would I read it again: Although The Great Gatsby does weave a a frightening warning into its tale, I don’t feel I need to wade through the muck and depression in order to know the consequences of sin. But purely for the gorgeous writing aspect of it, I might visit it again in the future, but I would buy my own copy so I can Sharpie out the cursing.
country girl
I read the The Great Gatsby last year. I did NOT like it; it was waay too depressing and not a single good thing happened-definitely not my kind of book. My sister liked it because she felt it expressed the twenties exactly; it certainly did, and that is why I don’t like it. The tone was soooo pessimistic. It did not exactly encourage sin, but I don’t think it really condemned it either; I felt that at best the stance was amoral, but the twenties were definitely known for immorality. It expressed the decadence and shallowness and unhappiness and rottenness of the the time but gave absolutely no hope. Basically, it the message seemed to be that everybody is self-serving and deceptive and nothing ever goes right.
Well this was a breath of fresh air. I Recently reviewed this book on my blog, and found myself to be in a very small minority of people who appreciate its worth yet have reservations. Fitzgerald is an amazing writer. I believe he wrote the book not only as a warning for abstaining from gross immorality, but also as a wake up call to a society that may depend too much on a dream that is worthless. It epitomizes an era (the twenties), and raises questions on the (perhaps) over rated american dream. What is your dream? Is it really worth living for?
Ah you finally finished one of my favourites with a capitol F. =) I love this book, and I’m so glad you appreciated Fitzgerald’s writing. I didn’t care for the language (that’s one of the nice things about inheriting literature from my elder brother– sharpied versions! =D), and yep, it’s a hard topic, but it was a MUCH-needed answer to the immorality of the twenties and definitely reminds me of the book of Ecclesiastes… if that doesn’t sound too weird.
I adore the character development in this book– especially Nick. I mean, he goes from an impressionable, immoral young man to someone who can look at such a tragedy as Gatsby and Daisy and take meaning from that experience. I always have wanted to know what happened to him after the end.
I LOVE the new look!
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God bless!
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I read (well, listened to) The great Gatsby (audiobook) last November, and agree with just about everything you said! Everyone seemed so depressed and artificial, like they were trying too hard to convince themselves that they were having a good time. And that was the root of the problem. They none of them were trying for anything more than having a good time. It seemed to me there was a pretty clear message that trying to please one’s self all the time is not fulfilling, will not lead to happiness.
Aside from that, I really admired Nick at the first party. Almost no one even knew who was throwing it, but he was determined to find his host and thank him:)
~Scullery Maid
Ah, one of my favorites. I read The Great Gatsby over the summer and while it wasn’t *quite* what I was expecting I loved it none the less. Fitzgerald’s writing is just brilliant and the best part? The reality shown of a frivolous life. It makes you step back and take stock…shows the vanity of a godless life. And, of course, you do have to love the splendor and elegance of everything about Jay Gatsby.