feeling

Ⅰ、Introduction

       The Great Gatsby is written by American author F. Scott. Fitzgerald, who is considered a member of the “lost generation” of the Twenties. It was first published on 1925. The following is the main plot of the novel. A young man named Nick Caraway, who came to New York City in spring of 1922. He became involved in the life of his neighbor at Long Island, Jay Gatsby, a very rich man, who entertained hundreds of guests at his party. Gatsby revealed to Nick, that he fell in love with Nick's cousin Daisy before the war. At that time he was poor. However, Daisy married Tom Buchanan, a rich but boring man of good social position. Gatsby lost Daisy because he had no money, but he was still in love with her. He persuaded Nick to bring him and Daisy together again. "You can't repeat the past,"1[1] Nick said to him. Gatsby tried to convince Daisy to leave Tom, who, in turn, revealed that Gatsby has made his money from bootlegging. So they asked Daisy whom she loved. Daisy began to sob helplessly: “ I did love him once-but I loved you too.”[2] Daisy, driving Gatsby's car, hit and killed Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson, unaware of her identity. Gatsby remained silent to protect Daisy. Tom told Myrtle's husband Wilson it was Gatsby who killed his wife. Wilson murdered Gatsby and then committed suicide. Nick was left to arrange Gatsby's funeral, attended only Gatsby's father and one former guest. Nick returned to the his Midwest home, reflecting on Gatsby's dreams and the sad and cyclical nature of the past.

Ⅱ、My viewpoint on good books

The Great Gatsby is ranked second in the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best novels of the 20th century. But everyone has the different criteria on good books. One point of good books is, I think, when you eat it the taste is what you need. The good books tell you clearly something that lurks in your brain dimly. So you will feel very good if you resonate with the character in books. When I put money to stock market, I did and thought the exact same as Nick:

“…I bought a dozen volumes on banking and credit and investment securities, and they stood on my shelf in red and gold like new money from the mint, promising to unfold the shining secrets that only Midas and Morgan and Maecenas knew.” 2[3]

Another point of good books is, after you have eaten it the taste is so good that you want to eat it again. The good book is amusing and thought inspiring. The Great Gatsby also has a lot of puns and symbolisms. This book is a little like what it say on the first page:

“He didn’t say any more, but we’ve always been unusually communicative in a reserved way, and I understood that he meant a great deal more than that.” [4]

So Toru read this book again and again, which is one of his favorite books. (Toru is the main character of Japanese novel Norwegian Wood)

2020-12-27

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