That’s a pretty good interpretation of the novel, and even if some might dismiss it as non-canon i don’t think that detracts from that reading at all. Would love to see a Black Gatsby as it would add more nuance to the story.
Yeah, that would be a good or even better story, and it would pull together some of the novel’s explicitly racial content, like Tom’s racist comments.
I dunno, seems so far to me like we can only say it’s possible, not that what that article (at least) says proves that Gatsby’s passing for white. Maybe archivists digging into Fitzgerald’s papers could find or have found more evidence of his intentions with this character who obviously is passing in other ways.
Oh great, now it can’t be taught in the US anymore!
Odd that the writer, Lowery not Fitzgerald, doesn’t explicitly name Trimalchio’s source, the Satyricon, which, mostly thanks to Fellini, is one of the few Roman works of fiction the layperson might recognize by name.
I recently listened to an audiobook about Douglas Adams’ life and experiences working on the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series… by Neil Gaiman… I know, I know, but it had been on my library wishlist for years, and it was narrated by Simon Jones, the actor who played Arthur Dent on the Hitchhiker’s radio and TV series.
I really enjoyed it. The Hitchhiker’s books have always held a special place in my heart, being perhaps the very first books I read (probably around the 3rd or 4th grade) that were written for an adult audience rather than aimed at kids, but it’s been many, many years since I’ve picked them up and this reminded me how much I enjoyed them and what a fantastic talent Adams was. Now I’m inspired to re-read the whole series this year (I could certainly use the comfort), including the Dirk Gently books and Last Chance to See, perhaps finishing up with And Another Thing…, the sixth book by Eoin Colfer, which I didn’t even know existed until I heard about it from this audiobook. I may also finally get around to listening to the radio plays, as I was unaware for a long time that the series started on the radio and the books were a later adaptation, so it’d be fun to hear the “original” version and how it differs. I never much liked the TV or film adaptations… one of the points the book made is that perhaps the surreal zaniness of the series is just better suited to being imagined rather than visually depicted, and I tend to agree. Anyway, fuck you, Neil Gaiman, but so long and thanks for all the words about Douglas Adams (who, as far as I know, never turned out to secretly be a monster like so many celebrities do?)
I’ve never listened to the original radio productions, some day i need to do so. If i recall correctly, and you can likely correct me, is that Douglas Adams had to be basically forced to write the books because they were just so successful and he was mightily disgruntled and very much over it. I think its correct because as you go further into the book series the characters become more bitter and disillusioned, i recall finding the later books a chore to finish and the end was a mix of being a bummer and a relief that it was over.
(Also piss off Gaiman)
According to the book, you’re partially right. He seemed to enjoy writing the books at first, though around the time of Life, the Universe, and Everything he was going through some personal issues and it was reflected in the book, much to the dismay of some fans and critics. After that he did sort of vow not to do any more Hitchhiker’s stuff, though that stance eventually softened and crumbled. I think he was over it, but not in the bitter way that, say, Arthur Conan Doyle was over Sherlock Holmes and really resented having to resurrect him. He genuinely seemed to love making the text adventure game.
One thing that was always true was that he kind of had to be forced to write at all, because he was infamous for turning in his work late. That just seemed to be his working style a lot of the time- procrastinate, then isolate and churn out everything that had been brewing in his mind at the last possible minute.
Is it by tattooing on a certain persons heart?
I do like him saying that writing is kind of a magical thing, cause it kind of is… the whole idea that we can read what someone else wrote hundreds or thousands of years ago is sheer magic.
There was nothing I could say, except the one unutterable fact that it wasn’t true.
“And if you think I didn’t have my share of suffering—look here, when I went to give up that flat and saw that damn box of dog biscuits sitting there on the sideboard, I sat down and cried like a baby. By God it was awful—”
I couldn’t forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…&
“You’re a rotten driver,” I protested. “Either you ought to be more careful, or you oughtn’t to drive at all.”
“I am careful.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Well, other people are,” she said lightly.
“What’s that got to do with it?”
“They’ll keep out of my way,” she insisted. “It takes two to make an accident.”
“Suppose you met somebody just as careless as yourself.”
“I hope I never will,” she answered. “I hate careless people. That’s why I like you.”
I think the page might have crashed…
I was able to get to it. Had some pages of the book load real pixel-y but most of it worked fine though the digitization of the book isn’t as high quality as i would’ve hoped. Looking at a printed version would probably do more for me but i did enjoy getting to look at all the pages
When I was going to the University of South Florida, I went and looked at a reproduction of the Book of Kells that they had to get out of the stacks. It was impressive
(Purely out of curiosity – I was majoring in management information systems and didn’t have a single history course, and my one art course was a generic art appreciation thing.)
This is what I keep getting when I click through…
This is after I get a captcha page… I even went directly to the Trinity college webpage and got the same thing… Maybe I’m a robot and didn’t know it?
Are you at school and using a work computer?
No, I’m at home… super weird. Maybe I’m not meant to ever gaze upon the book of Kells, even online.
Oh, damn. Hugs?
Aw… thanks!
Having a bit of a day today!