The Rory Gilmore Book Club discussion

The February book is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Another classic I didn´t like too much. I found "The Great Gatsby" rather confusing, but at least it was a quick read...

I never did care for this book either. I can appreciate the view it gives us of society in the 20's, and I understand the "lesson" Fitzgerald has for us. But, I really do not consider it an enjoyable read.

I love The Great Gatsby. It's one of my all time favorite books.

I seem to like this book less with every reading, I don't exactly know why.
There's one thing I never got in this book, and that's Dr. TJ Eckleburg. Who is he? What does he and his eyes stand for? Can anyone explain?

Reese wrote: "I seem to like this book less with every reading, I don't exactly know why.
There's one thing I never got in this book, and that's Dr. TJ Eckleburg. Who is he? What does he and his eyes stand for? ..."

The simplest explanation is that he represents God. I think it's more complex than that, though.

I think it is an allusion to God but not necessarily in making a judgement of any kind. The eyes overlook a world of moral decay, similar to the one we live in today. If you are someone who is skeptical of religion, asking questions such as 'If there is a God, why does he not fix things? Why is there so much imperfection in his apparently perfect world?' it's a similar idea. "God" lets the world before him descend into chaos.

Reese wrote: "I seem to like this book less with every reading..."

I loathed (okay maybe not as dramatic) this book when I first read it. I felt cheated for reading a novel so highly praised of yet gaining no satisfaction from reading it. I've found on a couple of other readings that it's one of those books which you find meaning in things that meant nothing to you in a previous read. Like putting a name to a face.

@Avneet, @Joanne, thanks for the explanation. I like that interpretation. I think I need to revisit the book now with that in mind.

I didn't care much for the story, but I fell in love with the language.

A breeze blew through the room, blew curtains in at one end and out the other like pale flags, twisting them up toward the frosted wedding cake of the ceiling--and then rippled over the wine-colored rug, making a shadow on it as wind does on the sea.

The only completely stationary object in the room was an enormous couch on which two young women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon. They were both in white and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house. I must have stood for a few moments listening to the whip and snap of the curtains and the groan of a picture on the wall. Then there was a boom as Tom Buchanan shut the rear windows and the caught wind died out about the room and the curtains and the rugs and the two young women ballooned slowly to the floor.

What a lovely idea.

The last time I read this was as an undergraduate at University (over ten years ago) - I am reading the same copy now and I am very intrigued by the passages I highlighted back then, trying to figure out what essay question this could have possibly related to :o)
It is also not one of all time favourite books, although I find Gatsby intriguing. But I am not that into that era or the subject matter - hedonism isn't very fulfilling, thanks for the insight! But, I must agree with Iselin, the language is great. I found myself reading certain sentences again and again - I was almost tempted to get my highlighter out!

I listened to the audio book read by Tim Robbins. I haven't listened to many audio books, but this being a book I've always loved, it was a really good experience. It's very immersive and all of the characters seemed to develop even more of a personality than when I had read the book initially (7-8 years ago, I think). I actually liked it even more this way and found that I ended up disliking or liking certain characters (dislike: Jordan, like: man with glasses in library) based on how the audio book portrayed them

I need to reread. The first time I just did not get anything from it. Is anyone planning on seeing the movie? From the previews it is nothing like how I imagined it when I read the book.

Shannon wrote: "I need to reread. The first time I just did not get anything from it. Is anyone planning on seeing the movie? From the previews it is nothing like how I imagined it when I read the book."

This is most definitely a re-read kind of book. Otherwise you will be left feeling dissatisfied. There is such a richness in the images created by Fitzgerald and a first read can overwhelm your mind. I remember when I first read it, I was so confused by the relationship between all the characters - (everyone is interlinked in some kind of way). I want to see the film (which has been delayed for so long) only to see an interpretation of it. The trailer definitely conveys the excess and glamour.

I didn't care much for it when I read it. But now that I think about it maybe I just didn't put too much thought into it, I just pretty much read it and that's it.
This is one of those books I would have liked to read in high school

Shannon wrote: "I need to reread. The first time I just did not get anything from it. Is anyone planning on seeing the movie? From the previews it is nothing like how I imagined it when I read the book."
I like it a lot more every time I have re-read it. I definitely want to see the movie -- that's part of the reason I decided to re-read this time! I will see it anyway for Leonardo DiCaprio.

I think this such a lovely story about a bad-ass party, but I think there are also a great deal of symbolism in this novel. Especially when it comes to Daisy Buchanan. I remember reading a paper about her character, unfortunately I don't remember what the paper said exactly.

I'll definitely see the movie - I read the book last year in anticipation of what was supposed to be the December release of the movie. I might even read it again before May, not because I love it so much but because I want to be able to ID any departures that the movie takes from the novel!

I'm one of those that was obligated to read it in high school, but I'm going to reread it too. And I'm going to watch the Robert Redford version again - it's probably been the same amount of time since I've seen that. :-)

I've read this book countless times and I still haven't fully understood it. I guess every good book is like that. But ever since I first picked The Great Gatsby up, I was enchanted. Fitzgerald has a melodic prose that leaves you feeling like you're in the golden 20's, strolling around Gatsby's yard. I love this book.

I've had several hours of pure joy reading the forum on Goodreads about this book. Seems to me that the opinion of some of our fellows american is polarized at best when it comes to Mr. Fitzgerald. I understand it is taught in junior high (or whatever you guys call kids school) as an introduction to American Literature. Well, I've got to say if that was the type of book that my teachers would have force unto me, I would have been pretty happy, try to read "marie Chapdelaine" or "La Chasse-Galerie" (pro-catholic against urbanity French Canadian novels) and you'll come back a Fitzgerald fan.
Having said that, I would probably not consider this book the BEST of American Novel. It's not bad, there is some nice symbolism here and there,he writes smoothly, some character's are cute(the old drunk in the Library for one) but the story is kinda boring and I didn't feel anything when he dies at the end (o-ops).
Overall, I love the writing, don't like Gatsby.

Marie-pier; you stated that so very well. That is pretty much my view of the book. I do appreciate Fitzgerald and have enjoyed some of his other work. But, I just don't enjoy the story. I have read it about 4 times now trying to see what others do, but I just don't.

Where was Myrtle going? Come to think of it, she thought she saw Tom's wife in the yellow car (joan baker), and when the car came back, she was going toward it, waving at it (if we believe Mr. Wilson).

Was she gonna break the news to his wife? Was she going the create a scene? I have been done with this book for a month now and this question just popped into my head?!

Marie-pier wrote: "Where was Myrtle going? Come to think of it, she thought she saw Tom's wife in the yellow car (joan baker), and when the car came back, she was going toward it, waving at it (if we believe Mr. Wils..."

I think that she was going to try to tell Tom that Wilson was going to take her away and she was hoping that Tom would decide to leave Daisy. She also probably thought that if Daisy found out about the affair she might leave Tom.

Well, I just finished reading The Great Gatsby a couple of hours ago for the first time ever. I must say I enjoyed the read, although it wasn't one of my all time favorite books. For me, this book had its ups and downs but, over all, it was ok. This is the type of story that needs a reread in the future. For once, I'm sure I missed a lot of the symbolism. Anyways, it was a good book, I just think that I started reading with high expectations, since it is so talked about, and it was just ok. But I really liked Fitzgerald's writing style and I'm looking foward on reading his other works.

And, of course, I'll be seeing the movie as soon as it comes out here in Brazil. That's another thing... Since I started reading already knowing who plays each character, I was trying to block their images from my mind while I was reading and, well, it didn't work and I ended up remembering the characters in the book with a blur (I know, I'm crazy! hahaha)

Pamela wrote: "Well, I just finished reading The Great Gatsby a couple of hours ago for the first time ever. I must say I enjoyed the read, although it wasn't one of my all time favorite books. For me, this book ..."

Meanwhile I recommend the movie with Redford (1974 I think) which has been a classic ever since! I can't wait to see DiCaprio, Williams and McGuire next year!)

Marie-pier wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Well, I just finished reading The Great Gatsby a couple of hours ago for the first time ever. I must say I enjoyed the read, although it wasn't one of my all time favorite books. For..."

Thanks for the tip, Marie-pier! I'm watching that one as well then (seeing Coppola's name on the credits just made me more curious to check it out). It will be interesting to have two different views on the same story!

I enjoyed it, but it was kind of a slow read for me. I wasn't blown away like I was expecting, since everyone seems to love it so much. But maybe a re-read would change that. I really look forward to the movie coming out!

When I saw Gatsby on our list this year I was a little excited, I had read the book once before and couldn't seem to remember how I felt about it.

I got 4 chapters in and remembered...I didn't like it. While I love this time period in American History and I understand the satire of the writing and the characters I can't help but feel like in this book Fitzgerald is superficial and shallow.

I too adore the language used as it has been mentioned but find the characters lack this depth that make me invested at all on their story. I don't usually feel this way about Fitzgerald so maybe that's why it annoys me.

This is a really interesting discussion because the Great Gatsby is one of my all time favourite books and I adored it when I read it the first and even the second time! I think Fitzgerald has one of the best writing styles and he paints every scene so beautifully. I've read quite a bit of his work and have loved all of it, as well.
I'm really excited to see the Baz Luhrmann interpretation because I think his style will really capture the opulence and shallowness of, not only the characters, but the time period as a whole.

To me, this is a bittersweet book. Sweet in the sense that I could really picure the elegance and glamour of the age. Bitter in the sense that I still can't fully understand it. A good book, overall.

For me, it was one book that shattered me and made me laugh and cry at the same moment. Here's my review:
http://tometravelling.blogspot.com/20...

I started the book a few months ago, but didn't make it very far. All the time I was asking myself: "How did this ever make it onto the list of classics??"
I'll give it another shot when I have more time. It can only get better from here.

I read the book last year, shortly before seeing the new film version.
I think anyone who loves literature should read The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald. Is a classic that opens many debates by its plot, its characters and the time is set, I must admit, is one of my favorites, but mainly by the mystery surrounding the author, Scott, as their works they are a clear reflection of his own life. I always thought that The Great Gatsby is like an envelope, outside it's beautiful, wealth, opulence, parties and luxury surrounding Gatsby, but then everything is lost and will, becoming a mirage, excellent narrated by Nick Carraway.

I love this book! At first I thought Gatsby was a fool, but aren't we all when it comes to love? It is a short read because I think the author expected you to ponder the characters and their stories a little deeper on your own. Is Daisy really that great? Why does she stay with her husband? What is Jordan's story and does she care for Nick or is she just bored with life? Is Gatsby in love or infatuated?

I finished this book last night and I enjoyed it. I'm not completely sure if Daisy left her husband in the end, but I wonder if she knew what happened to Gatsby in the end. I think that the main points of the story reminded me of what happens in today's world, and I think that it should be read in school.