F.Scott Fitzgerald,how many have read "the great Gtasby" or his other works
By EvanHunter
@EvanHunter (4026)
United States
May 11, 2007 10:21pm CST
Warning plot spoiler..........
OK I have to admit I have read a few classics and not just all junk books to occuppy my time but I recently picked up The Great Gatsby and begin to read it.
At first I found it pretty boring and I only read it because someone had given me a brief outline years ago about it being about a guy who had fallen hard for some girl. Most of the book seemed pretty dry and I was struggling to get thru it, I dont it was all to do with the timeline but more of the way Fitzgerald described his characters and their lifestyles.
As I got closer to the end of the book it got mroe exciting in fact I would say it wasnt till the last quarter of the book that it really seemed to grab my interest. Which isnt saying much because it was a rather short story to begin with.
Than I got to the end and I have to say I wish I had never read the book at all. I am not saying it was bad but it was very depressing and seemed to have no moral or real story to tell. I know its a far cry from the writings of mark twain but I couldnt believe how horribly the book ending with gatsby loosing the love of his life once again only to be shot because of her bad driving and her husbands adulturous afairs. Than on top of that the man is buried and only a few friends show up after all the parties he thru and all the people he had opened his home too. It pretty much sucked Nick should have punched Tom out when he seen him at the very least. I dont know it was hard to see any real moral in that story other than chasing your dreams can kill you.
I was curious how many other people had read this book or other writings by F.Scott Fitzgerald? I was wondering if all his writings are this depressing?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@brian_s (570)
• United States
5 Jun 07
I have to say that Fitzgerald is one of my favorite writers. I read through this book in almost no time at all. I know it's short, but I have the bad habit of not finishing books-even short ones.
I did not find it slow, because I love character development, and I think this book does an incredible job at this. A lot of the book deals not with events per se, but things that are impacting the protagonist internally.
The book is very sad. But why does that have to make it unfulfilling? Life is often like this for people, as they work so hard to get what they want, realizing all too late that they have failed at understanding life. There are other incredible books that are similar in how depressing they are, one of which is "The Stranger", by Camus.
Many of Fitzgerald's other works are very depressing. I would suggest reading his short stories. There are a few happy short stories, but whether they are happy or not, they tend to be very interesting. And they get to the point quicker than his novels do, so you may enjoy them.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
5 Jun 07
thank you for the reply. I guess I am just a hopeless romantic at heart and it was drepressing for me because he lost his one true love yet again only ot die.
@brian_s (570)
• United States
5 Jun 07
It was really depressing for me as well, but for some reason I enjoy depressing books.
I even enjoyed "Lolita" by Nabokov, even though that book was really sick and sad. But it was just written so well. And even though there wasn't really a moral (other than "Don't be like Himbert"), the story was somehow constructed so well, and the language used, even when saying ugly things, was still somehow beautiful.
So like "Lolita" I think the structure of the story, and the way that language is used, makes "The Great Gatsby" a Beautiful book.
I can understand why people wouldn't like this kind of writing, but I love it.
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
12 May 07
Most of F. Scott Fitzgeralds writings are depressing. There are many passages in his books that reflect his wife's mental instability and directly reflect diary entries she had within their tumultuous marriage. The Great Gatsby is a fantastic book but it is very slow at the beginning. I think it also has something to do with the period of time it was written in as well. Mr. Fitzgerald was well respected as a novelist and even Hemingway was very impressed with his works. He is one of my favorite writers and I think that if you read a little into his background you could understand his writing a little better. Take care!
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
12 May 07
Thanks for the reply, and thanks for the background of the author. It does put it into better perspective now that you mentioned his wife. I have to say it was still probly one of the most depressing endings right up there with old yeller'. I felt depressed for two days after having read that book.
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
5 Jun 07
Yes, I was pretty sad at the end myself. It did leave a profound effect upon you and I think that was his aim to do so. To make you truly think about it. I did, and have read the book and seen the movie a few times. Robert Redford was a knock out! But it didn't compare to the book in comparison to effect. Thanks for the best response rating. I truly appreciate it! I am glad the background helped you to see more into why he wrote that way!
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
21 May 07
thansk for the reply, it was a rather short story but the ending was really a mess.
