Ilse’s review of The Great Gatsby > Likes and Comments
506 likes · Like
Beautiful review, Ilse. Your unique interpretation of this novel makes me want to re-read it for the umpteenth time!
Dit is dus zo'n boek dat ik ooit las toen ik 16 was voor mijn lijst. Ik denk niet dat ik het ooit nog zal oppakken. Ik vond het als 16 jarige zo'n vre-se-lijk saai boek vol arrogantie uit de upperclass, blaaskakerig... Geen idee of dat beeld klopt, maar zo is het blijven hangen 🤭 Lang leve de leeslijst en dat je dan maar wat kiest, want de lerares vond het zo goed 😉
This is such a thoughtful, spot on review, Ilse. I am happy to know that I'm not the only reader who felt disenchanted with Tender is the Night.
I wonder about the book as a critique of Capitalism, was it Balzac who said that all fortunes come from crimes?
Yes and the things we do for love - apparently shooting men dead in swimming pools!
Lovely review, Ilse. It almost made my first impressions of the book vanish and was a good reminder that I need to reread this one. I read it at a wrong time and couldn't appreciate the book as I know I should.
Ilse, what a beautiful review. I’m so glad you got around to reading this.
Fitzgerald really showed a different style of writing and storytelling with this novel.
I love your thoughts on love and illusions, the whole idea of being a fool in love, the things people trick themselves into believing, which is truly highlighted.
Ulysse wrote: "Beautiful review, Ilse. Your unique interpretation of this novel makes me want to re-read it for the umpteenth time!"
Thank you very much, Ulysse, isn't that the most beautiful compliment one can give to a book, re-reading it countless times :)? I think I got somewhat carried away by the parallels with Pavese's novel that struck me...
An exceptional review, Ilse! I've read this novel twice now, and you've just encouraged a third reading. I especially admire your thoughts on capitalism, competitive societies, and this statement about persons "... judged by (and judging themselves) by what they have and do rather than what they are."
I loved this one...Your review makes me want to read it again!
Beautiful review, Ilse! This calls for a re-read, because your review makes me wonder how I would feel about the novel nowadays. All those illusions!
Terrific review, Ilse. I must squeeze this great classic in there for a reread one of these days.
Praveen wrote: "A wonderful write-up Ilse!"
Thank you very much, Praveen! It was a great read, and I am sure I'll enjoy the 'afterglow' of the novel when encountering references to this classic in other tales, which I think are plentiful...
A fine review Ilse ........ glad you enjoyed this so much - it’s a great novel :)
I see I'm very late getting to this, Ilse, and I have only read the latest comments. I think your review is tremendously well written and I'm glad you got around to reading this book - I know you've mentioned it before. We were talking about the scene with Daisy and Jordan in their flimsy dresses with the curtains blowing - do you remember? I think it was when you reviewed Virginia Woolf's The Lady in the Looking Glass.
I'm with Jan-Maat in that I wouldn't have placed the accent here on an anti-capitalist statement. I was very impressed by the dispassionate tone set against the pitiless selfishness and shallowness of most of the characters - Gatsby stands out because all that he does is for love of Daisy, The character that embodies sham is the truest - so clever.
The illustration is superb!
I watched an episode of "Endeavour" some time ago (based on the "Inspector Morse" novels) and there was one episode that was completely transposed from The Great Gatsby. I suppose the copyright has run out now!
Being such a classic and all, I must admit I didn't have high hopes, not sure why. Several years ago, I read it and... it's still one of my favorite novels. The story, the characters, the writing in general (one of the best closing lines of all times), the sense of nostalgia and closeness - it was lovely to relive my reading experience through your beautiful review, Ilse.
I'm glad you also enjoyed this Fitzgerald. I'm not sure if I should read another one though. :P
Wonderful review, Ilse! Like so many others, I haven’t read this since high school. Your thoughts make me wonder what I would think of it now.
If you ever have to write a one-sentence summary of this, "brightly lit places, populated by shady people" would be perfect, and yet the rest of your review is full of depth.
Finally Isle, I find a common book between our book lists!! Great review as usual! I agree with you about the characters, yes thay are superficial, unlovable and shallow.
Moira wrote: "Dit is dus zo'n boek dat ik ooit las toen ik 16 was voor mijn lijst. Ik denk niet dat ik het ooit nog zal oppakken. Ik vond het als 16 jarige zo'n vre-se-lijk saai boek vol arrogantie uit de upperclass.
Moira, ik denk dat dit ook niet echt mijn kopje thee was geweest indien ik het al 16 jarige zou hebben gelezen (ik las het nu omdat mijn 15 jarige dochter het wilde lezen, ze kijkt er naar uit om de film met Leonardo DiCaprio te zien maar het zou me verbazen dat ze veel aan het boek zou vinden, het helpt wellicht al enige disillusies op de teller te hebben staan, en met het ouder worden lijk ik ook meer plezier te putten uit onuitstaanbare personages :)). De leeslijst...een moeilijke kwestie, als je het mij vraagt. Op enkele Franse klassiekers na lazen wij voor school enkel Nederlandstalige literatuur, de rest van de wereld moesten we zelf maar ontdekken. Ik vond dat toen jammer, maar als ik zie dat die Nederlandstalige klassiekers bijna totaal ontbreken op de leeslijst van mijn kinderen en hoe hun plaats is ingenomen door dertien in een dozijn boeken, zij het dan in vertaling, maakt me dit wel heel treurig. Zoon en dochter, die echt geen lezers zijn, vonden het ‘Benjamin Button’ verhaal van Fitzgerald een ware verademing in vergelijking met hun schoolliteratuur 😁
So happy that you made time for this one, Ilse, especially after being disenchanted with Tender is the Night. I first read this when I was too young to fully appreciate it, but I still loved it despite my age. I've read it several times over the years, and have appreciated it more each time. Lovely review, Ilse.
I tremendously like how your review is articulated, Ilse. Aren't all points made in it vigorous extensions from the implicit in the novel? I just wonder whether the mentality depicted in TGG is as striking as it used to be for contemporary readers of Francis Scott Fitzgerald!
Hmm yes, I agree with PE. That’s actually the question I wanted to raise even though I wasn’t sure how to phrase it. To what extent do you think it’s a critique of capitalism? I don’t remember even hearing the term when learning about it in high school! We mostly just saw it as a critique of decadence and hedonism, and how it ultimately leads to disappointment, although it is related.
This is a terrific review IIlse, you've nailed the main themes in this classic. Yes, the superficiality of the party-set was really evident and also the lengths some will go for love, Gatsby was such a forlorn character. I immediately followed my reading of this one by watching the Movie with DiCaprio. Loved that too. This is a wonderful review of a great book!
Elena wrote: "This is such a thoughtful, spot on review, Ilse. I am happy to know that I'm not the only reader who felt disenchanted with Tender is the Night."
Thank you so much, Elena. I was quite excited when the reading club put Tender is the night on the list, as we sadly seldom read classics and the title sounds so poetic and alluring. I have the habit of finishing a book also when I don’t like it much but that novel was a fight. Glad we seem on the same page on both novels 😊
As always, an eloquently and beautifully illustrated review, Ilse.
I've always thought (and still do) that this book is a paean to human longing and yearning for self-inventiveness outside class and origin and the constraints implicit in both. Gatsby's America, at the time the novel was written, was among the very few places on earth that such striving was feasible and, despite its many shortcomings and inevitable failures, is rightly paid its due tribute.
Even though I can't seem to keep my eyes off of Lagasca's illustration as the only thing that surpasses its beauty and meaning is your review, Ilse. I read your review twice; the first time to hear your thoughts on the book, and the second time to remind myself of the moral of the story. I think most of us are feeling after reading your review that we need to revisit 'The Great Gatsby' :-).
Great analysis of the book and of the times it is set in, Ilse—and of the way life that has evolved since. I may go through my reading life never having read F Scott Fitzgerald (I've not read him for so long I'd hate to break the pattern:-) but now I've got your description of it to carry forward as a kind of 'digested read'. In a way, this celebrated book has been like a green light at the end of a dock across a bay which I've looked towards often but felt unable/unwilling to draw closer to.
That last paragraph that you quoted, Ilse, and Fionnuala referred to, is ceratinly one of the high points of literature for me! But I also agree with Cecily that your own sentence, "brightly lit places, populated by shady people" is masterly - I was going to say that in my earlier comment and forgot (cringe, sorry!).
Jan-Maat wrote: "I wonder about the book as a critique of Capitalism, was it Balzac who said that all fortunes come from crimes?Yes and the things we do for love - apparently shooting men dead in swimming pools!"
I don't know if Balzac said so but it sounds like he could have said it and if not one has Proudhon to confirm the thought (if one would still have the need to :)). Anti-capitalist critique, you are right that I am probably overreaching here, thinking to much in current terms- it was the connection of excess, ubiquitous dishonesty and the class struggle Fitzgerald depicts here (and the urge for self-improvement) which made me think (or wish?) he wasn't blind to the downsides and inherent lies within the system. The things we do for love, taking the blame for the consequences of the careless acts of the material girl, staring at the green light for five years! And sadly patience isn't rewarded here...as such virtues aren't of use in the world Fitzgerald paints.
Tatevik wrote: "Lovely review, Ilse. It almost made my first impressions of the book vanish and was a good reminder that I need to reread this one. I read it at a wrong time and couldn't appreciate the book as I k..."
Thank you so much, Tatevik! I am sorry you didn’t enjoy the novel much. So often the moment and the mood we are in colour our reading, as do the expectations we have on certain books. I am glad my daughter indirectly gave me the little push I needed to read this. I so hope it will turn out a better experience for you when you would decide to reread it!
Ja de lijst dat is echt een ding.
Ik moet zeggen dat ik gezegend was met 4 talen (wat normaal is in NL om mee te beginnen, ik heb er niet mijn examen mee gehaald) en vooral veel belezen en inspirerende leerkrachten. Dat is wel stap 1 en dat is een tijdloos gegeven.
Ik heb ook veel boeken wel met plezier gelezen én ook weleens boeken vervloekt (echt Het jaar van de kreeft van Hugo Claus bracht ik als 14-jarige na 1 hoofdstuk terug met de conclusie 'oh dus dát zijn volwassenboeken.... smerige jaren '70 seks van oude ongeëmancipeerde mannen. Getver....'). Zo hebben we De komst van Joachim Stiller klassikaal gelezen en dat vond ik echt geweldig, wat er ineens allemaal te zien en lezen was in het boek, ik was helemaal gebiologeerd. Jarenlang een lievelingsboek geweest, ook van mijn man waar ik toen al verkering mee had ;-)
Toch zou ik graag zien dat er meer ruimte in het lezen van nu zou zitten, dus ook bijvoorbeeld (net zoals je dat bij de kunstlessen hebt) literatuur uit andere landen lezen naast ook een paar klassieke werken en iets hedendaags én iets wat jij als leerkracht misschien in eerste instantie niet zou oppakken, maar leest omdat de leerling jóu heeft overtuigt. Zo krijg je tweerichtingsverkeer en vergroot je denk ik de betrokkenheid.
Ilse wrote: "Ulysse wrote: "Beautiful review, Ilse. Your unique interpretation of this novel makes me want to re-read it for the umpteenth time!"
Thank you very much, Ulysse, isn't that the most beautiful compl..."
I'm not familiar with Pavese's book, but I'm glad you got carried away with the comparison between him and Fitzgerald. Getting carried away is the only way :)
A classic we all love in our family and your review is the best I've read of this novel, with some wonderful insights.
I just finished "Nick" the story of Nick Calloway before he met Gatsby. It's a wonderful book! I would highly recommend it to any Gatsby fans!
Cheryl wrote: "Ilse, what a beautiful review. I’m so glad you got around to reading this. Fitzgerald really showed a different style of writing and storytelling with this novel. I love your thoughts on love and illusions, the whole idea of being a fool in love, the things people trick themselves into believing,"
Thank you so much, Cheryl, I am glad we seem quite on the same page on this novel! I just read your wonderful, poetic review and now feel a bit guilty of lumping together all the characters in an unforgiving way, as Jay Gatsby doesn't deserve such. Fools in love, sad creatures which perhaps many of us can relate to at some stage or another in life - you remind me of this song :).
Anne wrote: "Superb review, Ilse, as always."
Thank you so kindly for reading and commenting, Anne. The iconic status of this boo initially intimated me too much to post anything but than I found that illustration that for me perfectly captures Gatsby's hopeless reach out for Daisy's love, as unobtainable as the stars...
Candi wrote: "An exceptional review, Ilse! I've read this novel twice now, and you've just encouraged a third reading. I especially admire your thoughts on capitalism, competitive societies, and this statement about persons "... judged by (and judging themselves) by what they have and do rather than what they are."
Thank you so much, Candi! I hadn't expected this would be a book I would like so much, let alone consider re-reading, but there you go :). The strict schedule of self-improvement (apparently a parody of one of Benjamin Franklin) reminded me how much we have internalized that idea that is at the core of many HR departments, the pressure of ever striving to become a better version of ourselves, to 'optimize' ourselves - at least in a work context - and why? For whom?
Ilse: Very interesting commentary on The Great Gatsby. Oddly enough, I've read Fitzgerald's novel 3 times & it's been a different book each time. I for one do not see it as an anti-capitalism tract but as a story about dreams and the personal transformation required to gain them, even if they are dreams that others see as invalid ones. In America, it is perhaps easier than elsewhere for someone named Gatz to shed a layer of skin & become Gatsby, just as a Jewish fellow named Lifshitz became Ralph Lauren, the ultimate WASP.
Perhaps, such transformations are "the stuff that dreams are made of" as the final words in The Maltese Falcon had it but then Gatsby remains true to his dream & takes the fall for Daisy & in the end no one really mourns him. Your quoted passages seem somehow sublime & I think I may read the novel yet again...
L.A. wrote: "I loved this one...Your review makes me want to read it again!"
Glad you did love it too, LA - it is the kind of book that one can read several times from a different perspective, isn't it? Thank you for stopping by and reading this :)!
Hanneke wrote: "Beautiful review, Ilse! This calls for a re-read, because your review makes me wonder how I would feel about the novel nowadays. All those illusions!"
Thank you so much, Hanneke! You make me wonder if I would have liked it so much as I did now when I would have read it as a young person - somehow one can relate more to the loss of illusions with some more years on the clock :). I'd love to hear if you would feel different about the book reading it now!
Beautiful as always .. got any latent flapper in-ya that wants out?
That's a great review, Ilse. While I still remember having read the book, I can't remember what was inside the covers. Thanks!
Steven wrote: "Terrific review, Ilse. I must squeeze this great classic in there for a reread one of these days."
Thank you very much, Steven - the good thing is you just need one evening to squeeze it in :)!
I've read this a couple of times, Ilse, but you've brought new insights into it for me. I hadn't really thought about Fitzgerald as a visionary critic of late-phase capitalism. I'm 100% with you on the poison of neo-liberalism.
What a wonderful thought provoking review, dear Ilse. You’ve made me think about w lot of your ideas here! I’ve read this book when I was very young and I did not remember anything about it apart from people going around having parties:-) f course it was very shallow reading probably:-). It is interesting how you compare the description of the 20s in Pavese and here. I think that aura of the time it is great way how to know those people who lived then and are they different from us:-) and I need to think more about what you are saying about the American idea of self-made person. I think my view on this is changing.
Richard wrote: "A fine review Ilse ........ glad you enjoyed this so much - it’s a great novel :)"
Thank you very much, Richard! This novel was such a pleasant surprise after reading 'Tender is the night' (which I know you liked more than I did).
back to top
message 1:
by
Ulysse
(last edited Mar 27, 2021 04:34AM)
(new)
Mar 27, 2021 04:34AM
Beautiful review, Ilse. Your unique interpretation of this novel makes me want to re-read it for the umpteenth time!
reply
|
flag
Dit is dus zo'n boek dat ik ooit las toen ik 16 was voor mijn lijst. Ik denk niet dat ik het ooit nog zal oppakken. Ik vond het als 16 jarige zo'n vre-se-lijk saai boek vol arrogantie uit de upperclass, blaaskakerig... Geen idee of dat beeld klopt, maar zo is het blijven hangen 🤭 Lang leve de leeslijst en dat je dan maar wat kiest, want de lerares vond het zo goed 😉
This is such a thoughtful, spot on review, Ilse. I am happy to know that I'm not the only reader who felt disenchanted with Tender is the Night.
I wonder about the book as a critique of Capitalism, was it Balzac who said that all fortunes come from crimes?Yes and the things we do for love - apparently shooting men dead in swimming pools!
Lovely review, Ilse. It almost made my first impressions of the book vanish and was a good reminder that I need to reread this one. I read it at a wrong time and couldn't appreciate the book as I know I should.
Ilse, what a beautiful review. I’m so glad you got around to reading this. Fitzgerald really showed a different style of writing and storytelling with this novel.
I love your thoughts on love and illusions, the whole idea of being a fool in love, the things people trick themselves into believing, which is truly highlighted.
Ulysse wrote: "Beautiful review, Ilse. Your unique interpretation of this novel makes me want to re-read it for the umpteenth time!"Thank you very much, Ulysse, isn't that the most beautiful compliment one can give to a book, re-reading it countless times :)? I think I got somewhat carried away by the parallels with Pavese's novel that struck me...
An exceptional review, Ilse! I've read this novel twice now, and you've just encouraged a third reading. I especially admire your thoughts on capitalism, competitive societies, and this statement about persons "... judged by (and judging themselves) by what they have and do rather than what they are."
I loved this one...Your review makes me want to read it again!
Beautiful review, Ilse! This calls for a re-read, because your review makes me wonder how I would feel about the novel nowadays. All those illusions!
Terrific review, Ilse. I must squeeze this great classic in there for a reread one of these days.
Praveen wrote: "A wonderful write-up Ilse!"Thank you very much, Praveen! It was a great read, and I am sure I'll enjoy the 'afterglow' of the novel when encountering references to this classic in other tales, which I think are plentiful...
A fine review Ilse ........ glad you enjoyed this so much - it’s a great novel :)
I see I'm very late getting to this, Ilse, and I have only read the latest comments. I think your review is tremendously well written and I'm glad you got around to reading this book - I know you've mentioned it before. We were talking about the scene with Daisy and Jordan in their flimsy dresses with the curtains blowing - do you remember? I think it was when you reviewed Virginia Woolf's The Lady in the Looking Glass.I'm with Jan-Maat in that I wouldn't have placed the accent here on an anti-capitalist statement. I was very impressed by the dispassionate tone set against the pitiless selfishness and shallowness of most of the characters - Gatsby stands out because all that he does is for love of Daisy, The character that embodies sham is the truest - so clever.
The illustration is superb!
I watched an episode of "Endeavour" some time ago (based on the "Inspector Morse" novels) and there was one episode that was completely transposed from The Great Gatsby. I suppose the copyright has run out now!
Being such a classic and all, I must admit I didn't have high hopes, not sure why. Several years ago, I read it and... it's still one of my favorite novels. The story, the characters, the writing in general (one of the best closing lines of all times), the sense of nostalgia and closeness - it was lovely to relive my reading experience through your beautiful review, Ilse. I'm glad you also enjoyed this Fitzgerald. I'm not sure if I should read another one though. :P
Wonderful review, Ilse! Like so many others, I haven’t read this since high school. Your thoughts make me wonder what I would think of it now.
If you ever have to write a one-sentence summary of this, "brightly lit places, populated by shady people" would be perfect, and yet the rest of your review is full of depth.
Finally Isle, I find a common book between our book lists!! Great review as usual! I agree with you about the characters, yes thay are superficial, unlovable and shallow.
Moira wrote: "Dit is dus zo'n boek dat ik ooit las toen ik 16 was voor mijn lijst. Ik denk niet dat ik het ooit nog zal oppakken. Ik vond het als 16 jarige zo'n vre-se-lijk saai boek vol arrogantie uit de upperclass.Moira, ik denk dat dit ook niet echt mijn kopje thee was geweest indien ik het al 16 jarige zou hebben gelezen (ik las het nu omdat mijn 15 jarige dochter het wilde lezen, ze kijkt er naar uit om de film met Leonardo DiCaprio te zien maar het zou me verbazen dat ze veel aan het boek zou vinden, het helpt wellicht al enige disillusies op de teller te hebben staan, en met het ouder worden lijk ik ook meer plezier te putten uit onuitstaanbare personages :)). De leeslijst...een moeilijke kwestie, als je het mij vraagt. Op enkele Franse klassiekers na lazen wij voor school enkel Nederlandstalige literatuur, de rest van de wereld moesten we zelf maar ontdekken. Ik vond dat toen jammer, maar als ik zie dat die Nederlandstalige klassiekers bijna totaal ontbreken op de leeslijst van mijn kinderen en hoe hun plaats is ingenomen door dertien in een dozijn boeken, zij het dan in vertaling, maakt me dit wel heel treurig. Zoon en dochter, die echt geen lezers zijn, vonden het ‘Benjamin Button’ verhaal van Fitzgerald een ware verademing in vergelijking met hun schoolliteratuur 😁
So happy that you made time for this one, Ilse, especially after being disenchanted with Tender is the Night. I first read this when I was too young to fully appreciate it, but I still loved it despite my age. I've read it several times over the years, and have appreciated it more each time. Lovely review, Ilse.
I tremendously like how your review is articulated, Ilse. Aren't all points made in it vigorous extensions from the implicit in the novel? I just wonder whether the mentality depicted in TGG is as striking as it used to be for contemporary readers of Francis Scott Fitzgerald!
Hmm yes, I agree with PE. That’s actually the question I wanted to raise even though I wasn’t sure how to phrase it. To what extent do you think it’s a critique of capitalism? I don’t remember even hearing the term when learning about it in high school! We mostly just saw it as a critique of decadence and hedonism, and how it ultimately leads to disappointment, although it is related.
This is a terrific review IIlse, you've nailed the main themes in this classic. Yes, the superficiality of the party-set was really evident and also the lengths some will go for love, Gatsby was such a forlorn character. I immediately followed my reading of this one by watching the Movie with DiCaprio. Loved that too. This is a wonderful review of a great book!
Elena wrote: "This is such a thoughtful, spot on review, Ilse. I am happy to know that I'm not the only reader who felt disenchanted with Tender is the Night."Thank you so much, Elena. I was quite excited when the reading club put Tender is the night on the list, as we sadly seldom read classics and the title sounds so poetic and alluring. I have the habit of finishing a book also when I don’t like it much but that novel was a fight. Glad we seem on the same page on both novels 😊
As always, an eloquently and beautifully illustrated review, Ilse. I've always thought (and still do) that this book is a paean to human longing and yearning for self-inventiveness outside class and origin and the constraints implicit in both. Gatsby's America, at the time the novel was written, was among the very few places on earth that such striving was feasible and, despite its many shortcomings and inevitable failures, is rightly paid its due tribute.
Even though I can't seem to keep my eyes off of Lagasca's illustration as the only thing that surpasses its beauty and meaning is your review, Ilse. I read your review twice; the first time to hear your thoughts on the book, and the second time to remind myself of the moral of the story. I think most of us are feeling after reading your review that we need to revisit 'The Great Gatsby' :-).
Great analysis of the book and of the times it is set in, Ilse—and of the way life that has evolved since. I may go through my reading life never having read F Scott Fitzgerald (I've not read him for so long I'd hate to break the pattern:-) but now I've got your description of it to carry forward as a kind of 'digested read'. In a way, this celebrated book has been like a green light at the end of a dock across a bay which I've looked towards often but felt unable/unwilling to draw closer to.
That last paragraph that you quoted, Ilse, and Fionnuala referred to, is ceratinly one of the high points of literature for me! But I also agree with Cecily that your own sentence, "brightly lit places, populated by shady people" is masterly - I was going to say that in my earlier comment and forgot (cringe, sorry!).
Jan-Maat wrote: "I wonder about the book as a critique of Capitalism, was it Balzac who said that all fortunes come from crimes?Yes and the things we do for love - apparently shooting men dead in swimming pools!"I don't know if Balzac said so but it sounds like he could have said it and if not one has Proudhon to confirm the thought (if one would still have the need to :)). Anti-capitalist critique, you are right that I am probably overreaching here, thinking to much in current terms- it was the connection of excess, ubiquitous dishonesty and the class struggle Fitzgerald depicts here (and the urge for self-improvement) which made me think (or wish?) he wasn't blind to the downsides and inherent lies within the system. The things we do for love, taking the blame for the consequences of the careless acts of the material girl, staring at the green light for five years! And sadly patience isn't rewarded here...as such virtues aren't of use in the world Fitzgerald paints.
Tatevik wrote: "Lovely review, Ilse. It almost made my first impressions of the book vanish and was a good reminder that I need to reread this one. I read it at a wrong time and couldn't appreciate the book as I k..."Thank you so much, Tatevik! I am sorry you didn’t enjoy the novel much. So often the moment and the mood we are in colour our reading, as do the expectations we have on certain books. I am glad my daughter indirectly gave me the little push I needed to read this. I so hope it will turn out a better experience for you when you would decide to reread it!
Ja de lijst dat is echt een ding.Ik moet zeggen dat ik gezegend was met 4 talen (wat normaal is in NL om mee te beginnen, ik heb er niet mijn examen mee gehaald) en vooral veel belezen en inspirerende leerkrachten. Dat is wel stap 1 en dat is een tijdloos gegeven.
Ik heb ook veel boeken wel met plezier gelezen én ook weleens boeken vervloekt (echt Het jaar van de kreeft van Hugo Claus bracht ik als 14-jarige na 1 hoofdstuk terug met de conclusie 'oh dus dát zijn volwassenboeken.... smerige jaren '70 seks van oude ongeëmancipeerde mannen. Getver....'). Zo hebben we De komst van Joachim Stiller klassikaal gelezen en dat vond ik echt geweldig, wat er ineens allemaal te zien en lezen was in het boek, ik was helemaal gebiologeerd. Jarenlang een lievelingsboek geweest, ook van mijn man waar ik toen al verkering mee had ;-)
Toch zou ik graag zien dat er meer ruimte in het lezen van nu zou zitten, dus ook bijvoorbeeld (net zoals je dat bij de kunstlessen hebt) literatuur uit andere landen lezen naast ook een paar klassieke werken en iets hedendaags én iets wat jij als leerkracht misschien in eerste instantie niet zou oppakken, maar leest omdat de leerling jóu heeft overtuigt. Zo krijg je tweerichtingsverkeer en vergroot je denk ik de betrokkenheid.
Ilse wrote: "Ulysse wrote: "Beautiful review, Ilse. Your unique interpretation of this novel makes me want to re-read it for the umpteenth time!"Thank you very much, Ulysse, isn't that the most beautiful compl..."
I'm not familiar with Pavese's book, but I'm glad you got carried away with the comparison between him and Fitzgerald. Getting carried away is the only way :)
A classic we all love in our family and your review is the best I've read of this novel, with some wonderful insights.
I just finished "Nick" the story of Nick Calloway before he met Gatsby. It's a wonderful book! I would highly recommend it to any Gatsby fans!
Cheryl wrote: "Ilse, what a beautiful review. I’m so glad you got around to reading this. Fitzgerald really showed a different style of writing and storytelling with this novel. I love your thoughts on love and illusions, the whole idea of being a fool in love, the things people trick themselves into believing,"Thank you so much, Cheryl, I am glad we seem quite on the same page on this novel! I just read your wonderful, poetic review and now feel a bit guilty of lumping together all the characters in an unforgiving way, as Jay Gatsby doesn't deserve such. Fools in love, sad creatures which perhaps many of us can relate to at some stage or another in life - you remind me of this song :).
Anne wrote: "Superb review, Ilse, as always."Thank you so kindly for reading and commenting, Anne. The iconic status of this boo initially intimated me too much to post anything but than I found that illustration that for me perfectly captures Gatsby's hopeless reach out for Daisy's love, as unobtainable as the stars...
Candi wrote: "An exceptional review, Ilse! I've read this novel twice now, and you've just encouraged a third reading. I especially admire your thoughts on capitalism, competitive societies, and this statement about persons "... judged by (and judging themselves) by what they have and do rather than what they are."Thank you so much, Candi! I hadn't expected this would be a book I would like so much, let alone consider re-reading, but there you go :). The strict schedule of self-improvement (apparently a parody of one of Benjamin Franklin) reminded me how much we have internalized that idea that is at the core of many HR departments, the pressure of ever striving to become a better version of ourselves, to 'optimize' ourselves - at least in a work context - and why? For whom?
Ilse: Very interesting commentary on The Great Gatsby. Oddly enough, I've read Fitzgerald's novel 3 times & it's been a different book each time. I for one do not see it as an anti-capitalism tract but as a story about dreams and the personal transformation required to gain them, even if they are dreams that others see as invalid ones. In America, it is perhaps easier than elsewhere for someone named Gatz to shed a layer of skin & become Gatsby, just as a Jewish fellow named Lifshitz became Ralph Lauren, the ultimate WASP. Perhaps, such transformations are "the stuff that dreams are made of" as the final words in The Maltese Falcon had it but then Gatsby remains true to his dream & takes the fall for Daisy & in the end no one really mourns him. Your quoted passages seem somehow sublime & I think I may read the novel yet again...
L.A. wrote: "I loved this one...Your review makes me want to read it again!"Glad you did love it too, LA - it is the kind of book that one can read several times from a different perspective, isn't it? Thank you for stopping by and reading this :)!
Hanneke wrote: "Beautiful review, Ilse! This calls for a re-read, because your review makes me wonder how I would feel about the novel nowadays. All those illusions!"Thank you so much, Hanneke! You make me wonder if I would have liked it so much as I did now when I would have read it as a young person - somehow one can relate more to the loss of illusions with some more years on the clock :). I'd love to hear if you would feel different about the book reading it now!
Beautiful as always .. got any latent flapper in-ya that wants out?
That's a great review, Ilse. While I still remember having read the book, I can't remember what was inside the covers. Thanks!
Steven wrote: "Terrific review, Ilse. I must squeeze this great classic in there for a reread one of these days."Thank you very much, Steven - the good thing is you just need one evening to squeeze it in :)!
I've read this a couple of times, Ilse, but you've brought new insights into it for me. I hadn't really thought about Fitzgerald as a visionary critic of late-phase capitalism. I'm 100% with you on the poison of neo-liberalism.
What a wonderful thought provoking review, dear Ilse. You’ve made me think about w lot of your ideas here! I’ve read this book when I was very young and I did not remember anything about it apart from people going around having parties:-) f course it was very shallow reading probably:-). It is interesting how you compare the description of the 20s in Pavese and here. I think that aura of the time it is great way how to know those people who lived then and are they different from us:-) and I need to think more about what you are saying about the American idea of self-made person. I think my view on this is changing.
Richard wrote: "A fine review Ilse ........ glad you enjoyed this so much - it’s a great novel :)"Thank you very much, Richard! This novel was such a pleasant surprise after reading 'Tender is the night' (which I know you liked more than I did).
