there have been a few million Gatsby book/film comparisons already but here is another one

(disclaimer: I haven't read the book in ten years, and saw the film while intoxicated this weekend

both of which can only help my understanding thematically.)

it's actually a very well done, very lovingly made adaptation

it's more interesting to talk about where it falls short of course, that doesn't mean it wasn't worth making or seeing

you expect a certain level of Lurhmann insanity and garishness because hell, it's Lurhmann

and it's actually more subdued than that, as if he took a step back to the story, which helps at times but not others

because he's already injected enough of his madcappery into it that it's too late to play it as a straight adaptation, yet that seems to be what he wants

it's a faithful adaptation but a very rudimentary interpretation

there's too much emphasis on the obvious symbols, especially the eyes of Dr. T. S. Eliot (ha)

too much emphasis that this is a tragedy, that is to say, the film makes Gatsby seem too noble

there's actually two layers of this, and the second reading is that

not only is Gatsby deluded about Daisy to an extent that should not be admired at all, but Nick is equally deluded about Gatsby

it comes across but not obviously in this version, and I'm not even sure it's intentional

in the text Nick was very difficult to grasp as an unreliable narrator, and I think his neuroticism was exaggerated uncomfortably for the film

Jordan is underutilized, instead of seeing her flaws she becomes someone who happens to be there, the only sane person in the madness

though it all builds up Nick's unreliability even more, I guess

the soundtrack is awesome I will defend it

in conclusion it's something that would be suitable to show in conjunction with teaching the book in high school lit

but it would be good for the instructor to pique the class toward finding the biases in the interpretation, and whether they agree with them

switching gears

I'm currently reading an actual physical book(!), The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

it's a very uniquely twisted little book, with an unconventional narrator reminiscent of Merricat in We Have Always Lived in the Castle, though probably more unpleasant

and I love that it has all the negative book reviews right on the back:

"Rubbish!" --The Times (London)

I have some conjectures about what it's trying to say but will have to wait until the end

I REALLY DO NOT RECOMMEND PICKING THIS UP IF YOU ARE UPSET BY CRUELTY TO ANIMALS THOUGH

but anyway, Iain Banks is marvelously talented, and remarkably also writes scifi (with an added M in his name)

I'd heard recently that he is very ill, which is terribly sad

switching gears yet again

I'm also reading a book on kindle because I can't carry a paper book everywhere (no, Makishima-kun)

The Dangerous Memoir of Citizen Sade by A.C.H. Smith

which I picked up on a complete whim after reading A Place of Greater Safety, which featured de Sade and Laclos as minor characters

it turned out to be a selfpub book no one has ever reviewed, so I thought it couldn't possibly be good and forgot about it

but having started it, it's actually really enjoyable

basically

TWO HIGHLY UNPLEASANT WRITERS OF QUESTIONABLE THINGS LOCKED IN A ROOM TOGETHER DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

the prose is not the greatest but it can be goddamned hilarious, though I do recommend reading APoGS or otherwise something else about those two first

or BY those two, who knows!

Laclos is actually the more interesting of the two so far, which was also the case in APoGS

he is such a contradictory hypocrite oh god. the fact that he actually thinks his book was meant to educate and warn people away from bad behavior is kind of precious

a proto-feminist, aristocrat-hater who wishes he was in the aristocracy, accidental pornographer, and de Sade tells him he's so full of himself his farts must smell like lavender

LMALKSDFJALSDF

that is all for now dear god how did I ramble so much

I love your book plurks.

thanks bb <3

Thanks to you I have a Things To Read List! I love reading but am... awful at finding things to read, sob.

Glad to be of help! Hopefully my goodreads and librarythings lists have something interesting on them, though they're a mixed bunch, haha.

It happens, aha 8'D They can't all be good...