I never did read this book.

We had to read this in high school, but I was so captivated that I read it again as a grown up and appreciated its brilliance even more. I became fascinated by Fitzgerald and wrote a paper on his work. I read almost all that he wrote, including work by his wife, Zelda, whom he borrowed from. (She was equally gifted in her own right, but ended her days in a mental institution and died tragically in a fire there). Fitzgerald was an alcoholic and spent time in Paris living the gay life with the likes of Hemingway and others of the "Lost Generation." (Read "A Moveable Feast" to see how they lived in the 1920's). By the way, Fitzgerald and Hemingway despised each other and were rivals. I think Fitzgerald was rather a snob but this fact does not take away from his wonderful writing. In my opinion, some of the most beautiful writing I've ever found is in "The Great Gatsby", in the last few lines about the green light.

The novel is so insightful, but each time I re-read it, I find it quite depressing. I do think it is the best of his work. Fitzgerald was quite unstable due to his heavy drinking and died rather early of a heart attack. He was living in Hollywood at the time, working on another novel, which he never finished. He and Zelda had one child, Scotty, whom they dragged all over Europe with them, when they were hobnobbing with the super rich on the Riviera, etc. Look for the excellent biography by Nancy Milford: "Zelda" to read more about their life style.

'Gatsby' is widely recognised as one of the world's great novels. A profound tragedy, deeply moving and 'quite depressing', as Mary says. Oh poor, poor Gatsby - and yes, Daisy is a shallow creature indeed. It's a beautifully-written book.

Fitzgerald's other great and famous novel (longer than Gatsby) is 'Tender is the Night.'

Dido

Maybe you have seen the movie The Last Time I Saw Paris with Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson. That is from a Fitzgerald short story, with the ending changed.

The Great Gatsby is famous here in Louisville, Kentucky, because our Seelbach Hotel was the model for the hotel catering to the rich and famous (still does to some extent). I couldn't call the book light reading; I agree that the more times you read it, the more thought provoking it is.

-dido, I haven't seen you around for awhile, glad to have you back.
-carolyn, yes I have seen that movie. What short story was it adapted from?
Perhaps I was missing something while reading The Great Gatsby. Maybe reading it again in the future will provide more insight.
What do you think of his short stories? I haven't read very many of them, but I did find several to be quite 'weighty' in comparison to this. Lets see which ones where they...
'Benediction', 'The Cut Glass Bowl', and another I am forgeting, were thought provoking. I also loved 'Berniece Bobs her Hair', it gave me a good, and much needed, laugh.
It is amazing how complete he makes even the shortest of stories seem. I think I was a little dissapointed in him as an author when I heard that he cranked out these short stories to make quick money. Lol, I suppose a writers insperation CAN come from odd places, such as the landlady or bill collector.
That doesn't make the stories any less good though. I think Fitzgerald was born to be a writer; he seems to have produced works with such ease.
CMK

I think I must have missed something. We read this in our bookclub several months ago (in fact I pushed for it) and it took everything in me to finish the book. It just didn't do anything for me and when I don't like such a classic novel, I feel ....well, like I must have missed something.

The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite all-time books. I just love how the characters are written; how they are all flawed in some way yet keep striving to better their lives (well, except Daisy). I felt so bad for Gatsby; such a dreamer!

I also love the writing; and the last few paragraphs of the book bring a tear to my eye every time;-)

I haven't read any of his short stories, but did read one other of his books, Tender is the Night. I really liked it, but didn't love it like The Great Gatsby. I hope to read more of his work someday.

Kelly

Chris, Babylon Revisited is the short story the movie was made from.

Thanks Carolyn. Ive never seen it.
I have been reading more of Fitzgerald's short stories online. Id usually always prefer a book to online reading, but the stories are so short it doesn't make much diffrence. 'The Camel's Back' was hilarious. One story of Fitzgeralds is like one page of Tolstoy, lol.
Christin (CMK)

I just finished reading Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and the Damned. Overall, I thought the book was really good. It didn't have that lyrical fluidity of The Great Gatsby, but it gave more perspective on the thoughts of the characters, which I rather longed for in GG.
The first quarter or so of this book lurched forward rather distastefully, and the middle was monotonous. But the last part was great. You could feel the desperation of the main characters and the irony in the last quarter was just genius.
CMK