[Off To The Races]

In your opinion guys, why do you think the book is such an acclaimed piece of literature? I have read it this summer and have just found out that I'll be studying it for my AS English Literature. I loved the book. I think the gravitational force behind the novel is the underlying corruption and insecurities within the characters - initially hidden behind the glittery facade of the extravagant lifestyles they live.

What do you guys think?

[Joist]

You aren't far wrong. A big part of the novel is how exquisitely Fitzgerald is able to capture the essence of the post-war Jazz Age, that teetering phase between post-war carefree enjoyment, and the subsequent dismay of the great depression.

Consider also the title; why is Gatsby "Great"? There are a multitude of personal interpretations of this, and you can argue that there is nothing "great" about him whatsoever.

Fitzgerald's writing style in itself is a thing of beauty, with several passages that are just perfect, in particular the final page is a joy to read and something I go back to frequently just to re-read. The final paragraph captures a great deal of the feeling behind the mindset of the age and the book's characters: "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow, we will run faster, stretch out our arms further, and one fine morning...So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

What a genius piece of writing. I find the dynamic between Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby a particularly fascinating part, so much is captured in that three way relationship.

Enjoy studying it, I wish I could go back and do it again.

[miniteen]

I loved this book. I loved the presence of the "Eye" as if someone was watching them (an omniscient God maybe? But he seemed so uncaring in the situation...) It was just poetic prose, it was so beautiful. I would like to reread all the books I read for school when I have some time. Studying it at school was amazing, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did (and I'm sure you will.) =)
EDIT: And the imagery and colours and what they all represent... Wah, amazing now that I remember. *.*

[Trailblazer]

(Original post by Joist)
You aren't far wrong. A big part of the novel is how exquisitely Fitzgerald is able to capture the essence of the post-war Jazz Age, that teetering phase between post-war carefree enjoyment, and the subsequent dismay of the great depression.

Consider also the title; why is Gatsby "Great"? There are a multitude of personal interpretations of this, and you can argue that there is nothing "great" about him whatsoever.

Fitzgerald's writing style in itself is a thing of beauty, with several passages that are just perfect, in particular the final page is a joy to read and something I go back to frequently just to re-read. The final paragraph captures a great deal of the feeling behind the mindset of the age and the book's characters: "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow, we will run faster, stretch out our arms further, and one fine morning...So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

What a genius piece of writing. I find the dynamic between Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby a particularly fascinating part, so much is captured in that three way relationship.

Enjoy studying it, I wish I could go back and do it again.

I completely agree. It is a beautiful book just from the way Fitz writes; and everyone knows that famous last line. Definitely one of my favourites

I loved the bit about Gatsby's real background, and how he tries to change his stars. As a character I think he is Great. He is a decent man in many ways (apart from the organised crime), a dreamer; the kind of man the framers wanted to live in America because all he wanted was to create a better life for himself and win Daisy back. Yet he finds his vision ruined by the love of a woman and her snobbish husband.

Its also great how deep down most of the characters are crooks, despite their wealth and apparent sophistication.

[MorrisseyForever]

I also read this book at AS level last year and it's now one of my favourite books. For me, it's about how everyone is attached to their past in one way or another; Daisy was Gatsby's past coming back to haunt him. I'm sure this is a reading you will also look into when you learn about it. I agree with everything that has been said so far, there are many different readings of this amazing book that make sense (:

[Georgiana1605]

I did it too for AS!

I just loved everything about the book, once I'd gone into so much detail on it during my AS year - which is odd because usually dissecting a book with such microscopic attention to detail really turns me off it.

The imagery was one of my favourite parts of the book - as someone above said the eyes, but also the symbolism used in the car and various other little things.

I also simply adored the characters! I liked all the subtleties that Fitzgerald added to help us understand the characters - Nick's elevator scene made my whole glass giggle but also EVER so subtly revealed another element to him. And Gatsby...just Gatsby. The language and his hopes and dreams and aspirations and oh just everything :P I'm rambling now because I just love it all!

I think that's why it's such an acclaimed book - it just completely engulfs the reader in the characters and their individual struggles and you really, truly feel for Gatsby at the end.

[AaronM1D1]

You only need to read the readers' reactions in this thread to understand why Fitzgerald's work became a masterpiece. I picked it up earlier in the year out of curiosity and I couldn't put it down. The 20's are largely ignored because they came between the end of the Great War and the Great Depression. I guess one could argue that the naming of these two events held a great influence on the work's title and its own significance in literary history.

The glitz and the glamour. The grime and the grizzly under-belly. It's the contrast between these two that in my opinion really captivates the reader, and will continue to captivate many more for years to come.