F.
Scott Fitzgerald
I
was, i reckon, in Grade Nine or Ten when i read this book previously;
that makes it thirtyeight or thirtynine years ago. I remember
discussing it in Mr. Plummer's class
~ if that is how he spelled his name ~ outside, enjoying the
sunshine, in the courtyard at UHill; i wonder if that lovely little
area still exists for use by relaxing students and kind teachers. As
i recall ~ unfortunately, i remember more about the circumstances
than i do about my response to the book ~ i was not overly
enthusiastic about Gatsby
the first time around; seems to me, though, that might well have been
my general response to set books as i have always been happier with
mine own choices for reading directions ~ despite some excellent
direction from great teachers, PCW (Loretto), Sister Pires (AUR), and Barb Baker (UHill) among them. This time around, however, i found myself enjoying the
book far more than i did ( i suspect i have matured greatly as a
reader, if no other way, over the years), and am prepared to find and
read more Fitzgerald, which makes the thing a success by my
criterion.
What
did i like? The characters are clearly drawn, with very little given
that is not needed or used again to further the plot; that certainly
doesn't make them likeable, but they are manageable and not a
challenge to the reader. The plot itself is simple, straightforward,
which is reader-friendly; a love-story of sorts, or a tale of an
accidental death, or an example of how the rich might live and die.
We shall have to wait and see what other Fitzgeralds come my way to
see what else i read and how that will integrate and build mine
opinion of him as a writer; at any rate, i shall be on the lookout
for them.
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