Comments on: Book: The Great Gatsby http://blaynesucks.com/2009/07/04/book-the-great-gatsby and other thoughts on group stupidity.. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:38:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mohamedmughal.blogspot.com/ http://blaynesucks.com/2009/07/04/book-the-great-gatsby/comment-page-1#comment-359 mohamedmughal.blogspot.com/ Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:04:54 +0000 http://blaynesucks.com/?p=660#comment-359 Good review! I disagree with one point: I didn't find Nick's character development to be stunted. I saw him as a fully participating character who himself undergoes transformation, revelation and epiphany from the beginning of the novel to its end. Good review! I disagree with one point: I didn’t find Nick’s character development to be stunted. I saw him as a fully participating character who himself undergoes transformation, revelation and epiphany from the beginning of the novel to its end.

]]> By: Becky from Page Turners http://blaynesucks.com/2009/07/04/book-the-great-gatsby/comment-page-1#comment-247 Becky from Page Turners Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:27:29 +0000 http://blaynesucks.com/?p=660#comment-247 What I love about the book is how complex it is - there is so much to say about it. I have to admit that I couldn't really get into it a whole lot because of the characters I think, bit I recognise it as a great book all the same. Here is my review on it if you want to read it http://pageturnersbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/blast-from-past-great-gatsby-by-f-scott.html What I love about the book is how complex it is – there is so much to say about it. I have to admit that I couldn’t really get into it a whole lot because of the characters I think, bit I recognise it as a great book all the same. Here is my review on it if you want to read it
http://pageturnersbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/blast-from-past-great-gatsby-by-f-scott.html

]]> By: Jenessa Colver http://blaynesucks.com/2009/07/04/book-the-great-gatsby/comment-page-1#comment-149 Jenessa Colver Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:35:29 +0000 http://blaynesucks.com/?p=660#comment-149 What I loved about The Great Gatsby is how America is portrayed in terns of class. In the microcosm of the novel, we have an expose of all classes and how much money they have and how it determines their lives. The American Dream in Gatsby is a corrupt one. It’s all about materialism and the pursuit of pleasure. Shmoop is a good site if you are looking for more resources on <a href="http://www.shmoop.com/great-gatsby" rel="nofollow">The Great Gatsby</a>. I use it often. What I loved about The Great Gatsby is how America is portrayed in terns of class. In the microcosm of the novel, we have an expose of all classes and how much money they have and how it determines their lives. The American Dream in Gatsby is a corrupt one. It’s all about materialism and the pursuit of pleasure. Shmoop is a good site if you are looking for more resources on The Great Gatsby. I use it often.

]]> By: Aaron Massey http://blaynesucks.com/2009/07/04/book-the-great-gatsby/comment-page-1#comment-139 Aaron Massey Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:43:40 +0000 http://blaynesucks.com/?p=660#comment-139 There's a lot of symbolism in the book. If I were required to read it for a class in high school where the teacher had some commentary on all the symbols and what people have interpreted them as, then I would have hated the book. I always found this to be a blantantly hypocritical part of high school English classes. When we were given something read it was our job to divine the meaning of every 'symbol' the author hid in the book. However, if we were given a writing assignment and we left even the simplest detail was obscured, then it was our fault for writing poorly. You can't have it both ways. Personally, I think it's the writer's job to convey meaning to the reader. If the reader doesn't get it, then the writer is the one at fault. Having said that I think I could write decent essays talking about the symbolism involved in the elements of the book that you just mentioned (they are pretty meaningful elements of the book). To me the most important of those is actually the green light, but that's just my opinion. Let me know if you re-read it. That could be a fun discussion. There’s a lot of symbolism in the book. If I were required to read it for a class in high school where the teacher had some commentary on all the symbols and what people have interpreted them as, then I would have hated the book.

I always found this to be a blantantly hypocritical part of high school English classes. When we were given something read it was our job to divine the meaning of every ‘symbol’ the author hid in the book. However, if we were given a writing assignment and we left even the simplest detail was obscured, then it was our fault for writing poorly. You can’t have it both ways. Personally, I think it’s the writer’s job to convey meaning to the reader. If the reader doesn’t get it, then the writer is the one at fault.

Having said that I think I could write decent essays talking about the symbolism involved in the elements of the book that you just mentioned (they are pretty meaningful elements of the book). To me the most important of those is actually the green light, but that’s just my opinion. Let me know if you re-read it. That could be a fun discussion.

]]> By: Allison http://blaynesucks.com/2009/07/04/book-the-great-gatsby/comment-page-1#comment-138 Allison Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:21:10 +0000 http://blaynesucks.com/?p=660#comment-138 Nice pick! I have vague memories of reading The Great Gatsby my junior year of high school. I recall a to-do being made over a billboard, flashing lights (green?) and a car accident, but not much else. Yet another book worth revisiting...someday. I am glad you enjoyed it! Nice pick! I have vague memories of reading The Great Gatsby my junior year of high school. I recall a to-do being made over a billboard, flashing lights (green?) and a car accident, but not much else. Yet another book worth revisiting…someday. I am glad you enjoyed it!

]]> By: Aaron Massey http://blaynesucks.com/2009/07/04/book-the-great-gatsby/comment-page-1#comment-136 Aaron Massey Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:49:57 +0000 http://blaynesucks.com/?p=660#comment-136 Yeah, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who read it in high school and didn't like it. It's quite accessible, but it deals with a lot of themes that are beyond the experiences of most 14 year olds. Also, don't worry about being unable to participate. The challenge will be going on for some time, so perhaps some month you'll be able to join us. :-) Yeah, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who read it in high school and didn’t like it. It’s quite accessible, but it deals with a lot of themes that are beyond the experiences of most 14 year olds.

Also, don’t worry about being unable to participate. The challenge will be going on for some time, so perhaps some month you’ll be able to join us.

:-)

]]> By: Ellie http://blaynesucks.com/2009/07/04/book-the-great-gatsby/comment-page-1#comment-135 Ellie Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:39:05 +0000 http://blaynesucks.com/?p=660#comment-135 Like I mentioned when I commented on Allison's blog, I have been so excited for the Great American Novel Challenge and so sad that I can't participate right now! I read the Greaty Gatsby my freshmen year of high school and didn't like it, but I'm finding that most of the books I didn't like in high school I either didn't understand or didn't appreciate their writing. This might be one I should try to read again (our book club has been considering it as a choice for our 'classic' book maybe I should give it a try!) Like I mentioned when I commented on Allison’s blog, I have been so excited for the Great American Novel Challenge and so sad that I can’t participate right now! I read the Greaty Gatsby my freshmen year of high school and didn’t like it, but I’m finding that most of the books I didn’t like in high school I either didn’t understand or didn’t appreciate their writing. This might be one I should try to read again (our book club has been considering it as a choice for our ‘classic’ book maybe I should give it a try!)

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