The Great Gatsby: is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922. The story primarily concerns the young and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his quixotic passion and obsession for the beautiful former debutante Daisy Buchanan. Considered to be Fitzgerald’s magnum opus, The Great Gatsby explores themes of decadence, idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and excess, creating a portrait of the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties that has been described as a cautionary tale regarding the American Dream.
The Great Gatsby is on my TBR for Banned Book Week, but honestly I do not know if I will get to it this week… it is the last one on my list. Last night I rented this movie for three reasons… 1) I had not seen it yet. 2) If I can not get to the banned book, I can watch the movie based off the banned book, 3)I needed a good look at the parties… there is a little something up my sleeve I am thinking about.
The movie is powerful. Having never read the book, I was looking up information on the story online while the movie was on. It is an incredible love story, which is normally not my thing but I was caught up in this one.
I found it sad to learn that the original printing of this book the book sold only 20,000 copies. Published in 1925, Author Fitzgerald did in 1940 feeling the book was a failure… sadly, he never knew what it would become…
During WWII the book had new life breathed into it. It became high school curriculum and went on to stage and film adaption.
My take away is that this is a beautiful telling and I personally am anxious to read the book. I recommend you take the time to experience this movie made from a remarkable classic.
So why the banning?
According to the American Library Association, The Great Gatsby was: “Challenged at the Baptist College in Charleston, SC (1987) because of ‘language and sexual references in the book.'”
The elements that have been cited for reasons for challenging or banning the book in the past are also essential to Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age setting. (Apparently some feel the 20’s best be forgotten…) Jay Gatsby is a bootlegger, bad boy.
Book Journey 
I read the book just before seeing the movie…the movie was definitely great at showing the larger than life glitz and glamor of Gatsby’s world.
I need to read the book yet 😉
I’m a huge fan of the 1920s and Gatsby does a great job of painting that picture. The world was up for the taking and some people robbed it blind. Fitzgerald wrote an incredible story and I hope you find the time to read it. I hope to re-read it one of these days, but I’ve got quite the to-read pile in my way.
Happy Reading!
I will make time to read it 😀
I read this book in high school and didn’t like it much. But I didn’t dislike it as much as others. I never enjoy books I have to read on a deadline, analyze to death, and then be tested on and/or write a paper about.
Anyway, hubby and I saw this movie a while back on DVD and thought it was ok, a little slow at first. Hubby had read the book ages ago but didn’t feel the movie was true to the book, especially when it came to Gatsby’s character. From what I remember of the book, I’d have to agree.
That being said, Leonardo is one of my favorite actors and the decadent culture was portrayed well.
Leonardo did a wonderful job (from someone who has not read the book 😛 ) I liked the movie start to finish – I thought it was smart how they started it with someone telling the story… I am curious if that was the same in the book.
I liked this movie a lot but thought it started a little slow. It’s definitely one worth seeing.
I could watch it again 🙂
I enjoyed the movie awhile ago, but never read the book. Thanks for sharing the trailer. It makes me want to see the movie again.
Right? I may watch it again tonight before I return it.
I read the book last summer… I loved the original movie (I wonder which one people enjoy more).
I have not seen the older original one.
Good idea! I love The Great Gatsby but have not seen the latest movie version.
I recommend it 😉
I loved the book and the movie. Gatsby the book holds up even after all the years! Here’s what I wrote about it last year at http://www.thecuecard.com/node/768
cheers
Wonderful – I am going to check out your post!
I really enjoyed the movie but haven’t read the book, must do that 🙂
Me too.. that is where I am at. 🙂 I am hoping to find a copy at this weeks book sale. 😀
I thought the movie was great (I’ve read the book, definitely do it sometime), but the Jay-Z movie KILLED ME. It just didn’t fit, and drove me a little crazy because that’s probably my favorite era of American history.
Jay – Z movie? Now I have to google that… did I miss something? Probably 😀
Ahhh… I am caught up now. I agree…. I didn’t really think about it during the movie other than the fact they had taken some modern liberties…. (honestly I didn’t even know that was Jay Z) 😳 http://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/blog/who-let-the-great-gatsby-soundtrack-happen
The music in The Great Gatsby remake was all hip-hop stuff… Didn’t much fit in my opinion
Thats true!
I’ve read this book a few times, it has been a favorite of mine. I have yet to see this movie version.
I am excited to read it 🙂 I may need two weeks for banned books 😀
I’m a fan of the book and have read it several times over, but am sad to say that I have never seen a single movie version. Perhaps I’ll have to look in to putting one in my Netflix queue.
Oh yes – do that! 😀
I’ve read this book. Before the movie out.
I’ve found it hard to read at first, but as I keep on reading, I can enjoy the story.
Not long after, I watched the movie. And it turns out good. really good 🙂
I am looking forward to the book. I think this time, seeing the movie first will help me with the book 🙂
I am not a fan of this book. I just could not get into it. Maybe I should try the movie & then try the book again.
Yes – thats what I think will help me Mary having seen the movie first 🙂
I’ve seen this movie but I haven’t read the book. I thought it was pretty, but I didn’t really enjoy it.
I am looking at the party part of the book for a possible event I am thinking about. 🙂 I liked the story line, I liked the deeper meaning of Gatsby although it is hard to believe that he made that much money to provide all of what he had.
The party scenes were great, weren’t they?
Amazing!
Loved the book, but couldn’t get into the movie. Although DiCaprio did a perfect Gatsby in my opinion, one of the things I enjoyed about the book was the tone, and the movie’s tone seemed entirely different.
Regarding banning, I’m not sure what people would ever be allowed to read if books like this were banned… The objectionable content is really quite tame as far as I remember. But that’s the case for a lot of these books!
I am anxious to read the book to see the difference 😉
I read The Great Gatsby for the second time, as an adult (first time as a teenager and hated it), and was totally impressed by the quality of the writing, but didn’t really enjoy the story or characters so I’ve yet to watch the new movie. I do remember watching the one from maybe 20 or 30 years ago? Eh.
I dont think I would have appreciated this one as a teen… now I am kind of fascinated by it 😉
I read the book just a few more months before watching the movie. I loved the highly stylized version… it just made a lot of sense after reading the book. I really recommend it! It’s a short one. I actually listened to it on audio. Don’t feel TOO bad for Mr. Fitzgerald. The audiobook I listened to included some correspondence between him and his editors and they were very interesting to listen to!
Our book club recently reviewed this book. We had a wonderful discussion about the characters and the era it takes place. Our leader researched the real characters. It was interesting to hear about the real Tom and Daisy. I liked the movie and the book. Was a few differences.