I'd rather watch a 4-hour long movie than read a less than a hundred-page novel. That's how lazy I am. (only if you call it total laziness *winks*) After a week of working like an intelligent English-speaking chatterbox, I found myself locked in my not so spacious room-- unaffected by all the noise and the nagging of my dear mother Ramona. Another Saturday to be spent at home. Yes, at home.
Upon spreading up my laptop to begin my "facebook'ing'" activity, I saw this book placed on the lid of my precious porcelain cup. It was big enough to cover it, though. (Well, I was so lazy to take it to the kitchen the other night, I just put it there even though there was a little milk left in it. That's why I covered it --- with a book. heeeeeeeeeeee...) Okay, so what's with the book? It was given to me by my student Jena. I can still remember when I asked her if she liked to criticize others. She answered, "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one...just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." I was in awe. I never thought an upper beginner student could make a sentence like that. She smiled and told me, " Oh dear, I know you were surprised. It's just a quote from my favorite book, The Great Gatsby." Intrigued, I asked her if I could borrow it. Kind as she was, she decided to give it to me. Yes, she gave me the book 'The Great Gatsby' -- the book which I used to cover my cup. Oh well.
So, out of boredom, I carried myself to read this book. It's much better than watching a lousy-themed movie in a lazy afternoon. LOL.
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| More than a present to me |
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| To pretty Lemuel... ahahahahah.... |
I can't say this novel is one of my favorites. As what I have mentioned earlier, I am not a bookworm. Therefore, having a lot of much preferent books is out of the question. I only read when I feel like reading. I don't rush to the bookstores and grab the best sellers or wait for the book two or book three or book fifty of the fictions Harry Potter, the Twilight Series and the likes. I don't fancy them, they can't quench my thirst for knowledge anyhow. [that's my opinion, if you like reading those series, fine.]
I didn't have the faintest iota of interest in neither era or lifestyle of the people in this novela. I just quite loved the fashion. So cabaret. The roaring 20's. So why did I read it to begin with? Well, because I wanted to give it a chance. Because I wanted to prove that what were said about this novel are true OR Fitzgerald might have just kissed the right asses to have his novel be acclaimed as one of the most read books of the century.. I've been surprised by some books, many a times. I Thought this could open a new literary door for me.
Okay... ermnnn...Anyway, I think most of the novel is 'incomprehensibly lame'. Although the strings of the lines were carefully constructed, I was never fully introduced to the root of the affair that existed between Gatsby and Daisy. So they were in love...yeah..I've been in love too, who cares? LOL.
Several times I didn't even understand where characters were when they were speaking to each other. I also didn't understand the whole affair with Tom and Mrs. Wilson.. and something about her husband locking her up over the garage...? huh? then she gets run over by a car, then he sneaks in through the trees and shoots Gatsby? wha..? still..why am I supposed to care about all this? I might not have been in the right condition to read or maybe I was just plain sleepy.
Several times I didn't even understand where characters were when they were speaking to each other. I also didn't understand the whole affair with Tom and Mrs. Wilson.. and something about her husband locking her up over the garage...? huh? then she gets run over by a car, then he sneaks in through the trees and shoots Gatsby? wha..? still..why am I supposed to care about all this? I might not have been in the right condition to read or maybe I was just plain sleepy.
Nonetheless, there's one sure thing that I completely understood from this novel. I'm trying to be kind now. I promise. ahahahahahah... LOL. The Great Gatsby is a story of unflinching, consuming love. Although Fitzgerald has been hailed for his insights into the modern world through this novel, I think these insights are mere appendages to the main great story.
At the beginning of the novel, Nick wrote about Gatsby's "extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any person and which is not likely to I shall ever find again."
The first time Nick saw Gatsby, he recorded this distinct scene: "...he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward -- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock."
The green light is from Daisy's house across the bay. A signal which gave Gatsby hope.
At the end of the novel, Fitzgerald, through Nick, recapped: "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 our arms farther... So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
At the beginning of the novel, Nick wrote about Gatsby's "extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any person and which is not likely to I shall ever find again."
The first time Nick saw Gatsby, he recorded this distinct scene: "...he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward -- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock."
The green light is from Daisy's house across the bay. A signal which gave Gatsby hope.
At the end of the novel, Fitzgerald, through Nick, recapped: "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 our arms farther... So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
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What about you? Do you have your green light? What gives you hope?
~Now there's a start for another interpretation...
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GOODNIGHT~
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