Title- The Great Gatsby
Author- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rating– 5/5
Plot/Blurb-
A youthful romance Fitzgerald had with socialite Ginevra King, and the riotous parties he attended on Long Island’s North Shore in 1922 inspired the novel. Following a move to the French Riviera, he completed a rough draft in 1924. He submitted the draft to editor Maxwell Perkins, who persuaded Fitzgerald to revise the work over the following winter. After his revisions, Fitzgerald was satisfied with the text, but remained ambivalent about the book’s title and considered several alternatives. The final title he desired was Under the Red, White, and Blue. Painter Francis Cugat’s final cover design impressed Fitzgerald who incorporated a visual element from the art into the novel.
Gatsby continues to attract popular and scholarly attention. The novel was most recently adapted to film in 2013 by director Baz Luhrmann, while contemporary scholars emphasize the novel’s treatment of social class, inherited wealth compared to those who are self-made, race, environmentalism, and its cynical attitude towards the American dream. The Great Gatsby is widely considered to be a literary masterpiece and a contender for the title of the Great American Novel.
Quote- “Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.”
Discussion Questions:
Do you ever consider that how you view yourself is different than how others perceive you and if so, how?
What kind of lie is an okay-lie to tell, and how do you make this decision?
Do you ever criticize/judge others and if so, what about?
What is a “deal-breaker” that would make you break off a relationship?
What exactly is unthoughtful sadness and is that good or bad?
Who has been the greatest influence in your life and why?
If you could create a symbol for your personality/life, how would you portray this symbolism in a novel?
What makes a character feel real?
Is the American Dream different now than a century ago? How?
How does social class impact your daily life?
What is your favorite types of narration style in a novel?
Cassie Swindon 