Anyway, I read it a few years ago in high school and liked it a lot, though with the usual resentment that comes with being forced to read anything. (I had to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest the same year, but I avoided 'school book' syndrome by reading it a few months before everyone else.) I'm about to reread it now and I have the feeling it might turn out to be one of my favorite books. That's mainly based on my vivid memory of the last page, which made me cry.
So, the Great American Novel, or just another one of those boring Classics?
― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 17:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Mandee, Tuesday, 22 October 2002 17:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 17:59 (twenty-one years ago) link
not thee great but a verry good.
― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 18:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
I'm reading Norwegian Wood at the mo, just so I can say it's not his best work.
― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 18:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 18:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 18:12 (twenty-one years ago) link
― david h (david h), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 20:17 (twenty-one years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 21:25 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 21:26 (twenty-one years ago) link
i thought the style was way more flaubert than conrad. < /asshole >
― ch. (synkro), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 21:37 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 21:50 (twenty-one years ago) link
Oh man, this book used to be a major point of debate between myself and a friend...she was always complaining that she had to read it for English class. "What the fuck? It's a great book! You try reading fuckin' Os Lusiadas instead, now there's a dull book!" I'd say. "But this book is just about rich people whining!" she'd reply. "Rich people have feelings, too!" I'd say, and on it went...
This probably wasn't helped by the fact that I'm relatively well off and her family struggles to make a living. Insert Ironic Manic Street Preachers Quote Here.
― Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 22 October 2002 22:01 (twenty-one years ago) link
I'm both surprised and impressed that you got assigned Pynchon in high school ahead of either of those two though.
― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 22:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 22:58 (twenty-one years ago) link
I had one heck of a creative English teacher for 11th grade...
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 00:18 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Maria (Maria), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 00:20 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 00:22 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Bryan (Bryan), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 01:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 01:45 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Bryan (Bryan), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 03:32 (twenty-one years ago) link
The best ending ever, of course. no recommended for anyone pondering to become a writer him/herself, as John Irving hinted in "The New Hampshire Hotel": it is a heavy weight on your shoulders, because you finish the book with the impression you will never be able to scribble anything like that, to crystallise a feeling so perfectly with so little wording behind.
― arantxa, Wednesday, 23 October 2002 06:05 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Miss Laura, Wednesday, 23 October 2002 06:34 (twenty-one years ago) link
This Side of Paradise on the other hand is a very tedious read, completely lacking in the romance and depravity, just focussing on the rich-boy crap.
― Steve.n., Wednesday, 23 October 2002 06:59 (twenty-one years ago) link
― arantxa, Wednesday, 23 October 2002 08:10 (twenty-one years ago) link
- the narrator not being the main character
- the fractured time sequence
- having the main action of the story take place at sea during a storm
― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 08:17 (twenty-one years ago) link
― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 09:11 (twenty-one years ago) link
the first 100 or so pages of 'tender is the night' were excellent, after that it went straight to shit and i couldn't even be bothered to finish it.
― ch. (synkro), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 13:30 (twenty-one years ago) link
Which version did you read? Fitzgerald's intended version where the story begins at the beach, or the version where the parts are swapped to force the story into chronological order?
His intended version reads better - the other version gives too much away too soon.
― Steve.n., Wednesday, 23 October 2002 13:39 (twenty-one years ago) link
Am I losing my mind? I don't remember anything like this happening in Gatsby.
I read it a couple of years ago on my own. For some reason I never got assigned it in school. I enjoyed it quite a bit, especially the chapter early in the book where Nick goes into the city with Tom and Myrtle and they get plastered and fight. I would recommend it on the strength of that chapter alone.
― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 13:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
I think it's among the most perfect, polished novels ever written, and he wrote like an angel. There are very few better American novels - one of those few, Ned, is Huck Finn. And quite a bit of it really is set on the water.
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 18:50 (twenty-one years ago) link
This may take some convincing. ;-) Keep in mind I love Twain and all (but I'm probably more of an Ambrose Bierce lover at heart).
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 18:53 (twenty-one years ago) link
― ch. (synkro), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 19:19 (twenty-one years ago) link
I'm actually with Ned on Huck Finn. I read it in high school the same year as Gatsby and thought it was okay, but haven't been able to get through it again.
― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 19:36 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 21:18 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 21:21 (twenty-one years ago) link
― sundar subramanian, Wednesday, 23 October 2002 21:24 (twenty-one years ago) link
The original or the seventies version?
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 21:25 (twenty-one years ago) link
― sundar subramanian, Wednesday, 23 October 2002 21:37 (twenty-one years ago) link
Fear and Loathing and Great Gatsby - both have large amounts of mint juleps.
― Anna (Anna), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 21:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
― toby (tsg20), Monday, 3 March 2003 01:22 (twenty-one years ago) link
Yes, one of the best books ever. I don't really have anything to add to that.
― thom west (thom w), Monday, 3 March 2003 03:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 3 March 2003 15:13 (twenty-one years ago) link
― the pinefox, Thursday, 24 April 2003 11:32 (twenty years ago) link
― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 5 June 2003 21:49 (twenty years ago) link
― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 5 June 2003 21:54 (twenty years ago) link
― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 5 June 2003 21:56 (twenty years ago) link
― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 5 June 2003 21:58 (twenty years ago) link
― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 5 June 2003 22:01 (twenty years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 5 June 2003 22:03 (twenty years ago) link
historical films should never be viewed in relation to the events on which they're based,
sorry to return to this example but i've been meaning to watch marie antoinette and i can't help but think that knowing the intricacies of the french revolution probably wouldn't be too useful in appreeshing the film
― 乒乓, Monday, May 20, 2013 11:56 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
it's the word "never" I'm flagging up, I basically agree w/u
― Pasty, British & Shit (wins), Monday, 20 May 2013 23:03 (ten years ago) link
which is why I said "sometimes" it's useful
hungry4ass did you like baz lurhman's 'the great gatsby'?
― Lamp, Monday, May 20, 2013 6:56 PM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark
aint seen it
― turds (Hungry4Ass), Monday, 20 May 2013 23:06 (ten years ago) link
he takes old-time footage from back then and turns it into 3D, theres a lot of planes that fly overhead and then all of a sudden ur zooming in from 10000 feet to ground level in 3 seconds like in that old trailer they'd show in front of IMAX science films at the franklin institute, it's really inexplicable
― 乒乓, Monday, May 20, 2013 1:01 PM (5 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
he literally asks WEGA or w/e studio effects house to recreate NYC for him, and long island, so he can have shots of just zooming along the water through mist
― 乒乓, Monday, May 20, 2013 1:02 PM (5 hours ago) Bookmark
i really cant get over how wild + inappropriate yet appropriate baz's camera is in this film, it's really quite inexplicable. supper's ready, all the doors to the sunroom open at once, white cloth billows sunlight leaps in. the camera moves through the door, you're zooming across the sound now, to new york! through mist, to wall street! who is the audience suppose to be? what kind of wild god is she. is this how third person omniscient should be told on the screen. the book was first person! what is going on.
probably because the last few movies i've seen have all been very 'stately, plump buck mulligan came from the stairhead' in their camerawork that i felt so disoriented and wracked by all this
― 乒乓, Monday, 20 May 2013 23:07 (ten years ago) link
after australia and moulin rouge i'd have to be tricked by a trail of ice cold beers into entering a theater showing a new baz luhrmann film
― turds (Hungry4Ass), Monday, 20 May 2013 23:07 (ten years ago) link
lol
― iatee, Monday, 20 May 2013 23:09 (ten years ago) link
last 2 posts are ✓
uh, xp
― Pasty, British & Shit (wins), Monday, 20 May 2013 23:10 (ten years ago) link
baz luhrmann's ulysses
― the white queen and her caustic judgments (difficult listening hour), Monday, 20 May 2013 23:10 (ten years ago) link
h4a otm. I didnt mind Moulin Rouge but Australia idk wtf that even was
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 20 May 2013 23:10 (ten years ago) link
i know this isn't what luhrmann's australia is but i would def watch an enormous batshit terrifying all-stops-pulled movie about the colonization of australia
― the white queen and her caustic judgments (difficult listening hour), Monday, 20 May 2013 23:12 (ten years ago) link
i really cant get over how wild + inappropriate yet appropriate baz's camera is in this film, it's really quite inexplicable.
haha i was arguing with a friend that everything i could see him doing was perfectly explicable, the way the camera moves, the use of 3D, the arrangement of the actors in space, its all kinda on-the-nose at all times. although i did like how they were constantly recording themselves on film during the various amazing party montages, its 2013
― Lamp, Monday, 20 May 2013 23:12 (ten years ago) link
yeah for sure, the party was pure busby berkeley, also made me feel really anxious because at real parties someone invariably knocks the punch bowl into the pool
― 乒乓, Monday, 20 May 2013 23:20 (ten years ago) link
at real parties now someone invariably passes a bowl
― A deeper shade of lol (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 20 May 2013 23:21 (ten years ago) link
i think that happens too
― 乒乓, Monday, 20 May 2013 23:21 (ten years ago) link
there's room for zefirelli, branagh, and baaaaz, not just for shakespeare, but for eveeeeerrrrrryyyyythhiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggggg~~~~~~!!!!!
― 乒乓, Monday, 20 May 2013 23:24 (ten years ago) link
is how i break it down to an extent
― 乒乓, Monday, 20 May 2013 23:25 (ten years ago) link
so when will Gatsby be musicalized? inevitable, no? propose song titles.
John Harbison's The Great Gatsby, 1999
― Word Salad Username (j.lu), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 01:23 (ten years ago) link
the last few movies i've seen have all been very 'stately, plump buck mulligan came from the stairhead' in their camerawork
i find this claim suspect
― the bitcoin comic (thomp), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 01:43 (ten years ago) link
Also http://northernballet.com/index.php?q=the-great-gatsby
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2013/3/6/1362572480464/Great-Gatsby---Northern-B-009.jpg
― cougars and sneezers (Eazy), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 01:44 (ten years ago) link
pretty regretful that I never got to see Gatz, hope they revive it at some point. I'd make a trip for it.
― 0808ɹƃ (silby), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 03:28 (ten years ago) link
乒乓's lush descriptions of this though have removed any need I might have had to actually see this movie
feel like I will be able to navigate thru both literary & cinematic discourse with only the book and this thread under my belt
― 0808ɹƃ (silby), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 03:29 (ten years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/rxmKw8N.jpg
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 21 May 2013 12:18 (ten years ago) link
^^ i approve of this adaptation, better than the original
The new Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?
― Word Salad Username (j.lu), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 13:00 (ten years ago) link
Pride and Psyduck
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 21 May 2013 13:06 (ten years ago) link
for whom bellsprout tolls
― you are not a better writer than f. scott fitzgerald. you are not a b (k3vin k.), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 13:08 (ten years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/eH73hnX.png
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 21 May 2013 13:10 (ten years ago) link
I keep thinking about this film? I actually really like Carey Mulligan's performance - I think it's super successful at suggesting a different & more feminist reading of the story.
I wonder what this movie would be like if you just removed Toby Macguire competely.
This trailer is so so good - love this kinda nonchronological buildup style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqxmhJU4nk4
― Gravel Puzzleworth, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 11:45 (ten years ago) link
just saw this, the first 20-30 minutes are ultrabad, like "hmmm maybe i could sneak into the next theater and watch the internship" level bad. it does sort of come together after that, decaprio is really quite good, and tobey mcguire alternates between being prtty decent whan actually acting with humans, but awful when doing voiceovers, like crazy awful. other than the party scenes, the apartment party in particular, and the car scenes, luhrmann is oddly subdued a lot of the time, and there are other bright moments as well (the floral arrangements in the daisy/nick/gatsby tea scene is a pretty howlingly funny moment actually). most of the female leads are better than expected, although carey mulligan is pretty flat. tom is very well cast and works really well in the part. its def flawed, but much better than i expected while still somehow not being great in any way. music is mostly (with a couple notable exceptions) buried and unobtrusive thank god. weird organ player dude annoyed the shit out of me. no leguizamo.
so yeah theres my review
― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Monday, 10 June 2013 18:22 (ten years ago) link
weird organ player dude annoyed the shit out of me. no leguizamo.
plz say this is supposed to be read in the manner of the problematic "no homo" idiom
― they are either militarists (ugh) or kangaroos (?) (DJP), Monday, 10 June 2013 18:27 (ten years ago) link
haha
― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Monday, 10 June 2013 18:33 (ten years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/SHiFzUl.jpg
― 乒乓, Friday, 14 June 2013 12:10 (ten years ago) link
dicaprio is actually a genetic mutant who has double the number of facial muscles that a normal human would have
As if he were Hollywood's bully whippet...
― on the sidelines dishing out sass (suzy), Friday, 14 June 2013 12:13 (ten years ago) link
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8739186504_4fe7f2a405.jpg
― am0n, Wednesday, 26 June 2013 16:59 (ten years ago) link
http://vimeo.com/68451324
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 06:33 (ten years ago) link
The first hour is the comedy of the year. Best moment: Tom's slo-mo slap of Myrtle; CUT TO black guy playing trumpet.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 19 October 2013 12:38 (ten years ago) link
I'm disappointed that as Leo said "we're goign to meet Meyer Wolfsheim, one of the city's most distinguished businessmen" we didn't get CUT TO HUGE SILHOUETTE OF WOLFSHEIM'S QUIVERING JEWISH NOSE instead of THE EYES OF DR. ECKLEBURG or whtaever
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 19 October 2013 13:02 (ten years ago) link
I'm about halfway through and jjjusten is otm, first 20 minutes made me want to tear out my own eyes...but it has kinda surprised me so far. Like, it's not as horrible as I expected. I'm pretending not to hear most of the music. *barf*
Tobey McGuire's narration is distractingly bad. From the initial voiceover I thought I was going to see him in horrible old-man makeup because he sounded so frail and doddering. And the line readings are really weird, strange pauses in weird places...cmon dude
But I dig Leo's Gatsby. He's good with the facial stuff, the way his eyes belie the confidence he's trying to project, it's pretty spot on.
Anyway back to the movie.
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 19 April 2014 23:54 (nine years ago) link
Wtf was dayo talking about? It's so not a love story!
― rap steve gadd (D-40), Monday, 16 June 2014 07:51 (nine years ago) link
why did you watch this
― macklemorange is the new wack (Whiney G. Weingarten), Monday, 16 June 2014 07:53 (nine years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZh6xSV-12c
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 16 June 2014 11:22 (nine years ago) link
I'm talking about the book haven't seen the movie
― rap steve gadd (D-40), Monday, 16 June 2014 17:27 (nine years ago) link
I'm talking about the movie haven't read the book
― 龜, Monday, 16 June 2014 17:59 (nine years ago) link
you should it rules
― rap steve gadd (D-40), Tuesday, 17 June 2014 21:59 (nine years ago) link
Help.
le what pic.twitter.com/2yNgBgAr7n— Jared Pechacek (@vandroidhelsing) January 4, 2021
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 4 January 2021 16:55 (three years ago) link
Also unperson says the author is actually previously published by an actual publisher? Which is the most surprising thing.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 4 January 2021 16:56 (three years ago) link
it could be good if it punctures the smooth facade/babe in the woods schtick he and many other narrators use, like uncover some buried rage that he studiously evades in his narration of 'gatsby.' probably bad though.
― treeship., Monday, 4 January 2021 17:04 (three years ago) link
The summary reads like the pitch was "I've got it, I'll turn this Fitzgerald character into a Hemingway one."
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 4 January 2021 17:06 (three years ago) link