Seven Reasons Why
September has arrived, and with it, our time for one of the most celebrated novels ever written—The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I’ll be straight with you—I love this book.
So, with ease, I sketched a short list of seven reasons why this novel is absolutely worth reading.
The Second Read is Always Better -
This is an underlying conviction beneath all my reading—if something is worth reading, the second read will always be better. Because The Great Gatsby is one of the few books nearly every American is assigned in high school, for most, the second read is all that awaits. Therefore, it provides the opportunity to test this hypothesis yourself, and learn firsthand what a second read offers.
The River Is Always Changing -
Some might see the first reason listed as an invalid claim, arguing there’s no point in reading something twice. The counterargument is that you never truly read the same book twice, just as you never step in the same river twice either. Because just as the river is always changing, so are you. The words may be the same, but you are not. You’ve lived—you’ve grown; triumphed; hurt; rebounded; settled; sought; risked; lost; and won—you’ve experienced life. And chances are, because of that, your capacity to access a novel’s depth is far greater now than when you were sixteen.
Arguably, it’s the greatest American novel ever written -
In fact, some would say it is the great American novel. In researching for this month, I listened to a few podcasts and watched some videos on Gatbsy. One podcast took a more academic angle and concluded that the novel contained elements of classism, sexism, racism, and was also patriarchal. Honestly, most older novels contain some cringeworthy components (which I think are better handled by thoughtful engagement, rather than just refusing to read at all). Yet, the academic podcasters still concluded that it’s without question in the top three of the greatest American novels ever written. In the midst of a culture that’s not slow to cancel, that’s saying something.
You’ll Learn About The Roaring 20s -
The Great Gatsby is considered the defining novel of the 20s in America. So, if you want to know what the Jazz Age was like, The Great Gatsby is your go-to source, offering one of the finest glimpses to be found of this wild, strange slice of American history.
It will heighten your experience of speakeasies -
The 20s were uniquely marked by prohibition. Alcohol was illegal, meaning so were bars. Hence the creation of the speakeasy—a secret, hidden bar. A significant portion of chapter four occurs within a speakeasy, a bar hidden beneath a barbershop.
Nowadays, prohibition no longer holds sway over the land. But the tradition of speakeasies still lives. In Utah, where I’m at, several bars continue to offer that same vibe and feel, by hiding themselves away in secret nooks and crannies. Catching a drink at a place like this is just plain fun. And The Great Gatsby adds to the allure, because it invites us back into the season of our country when such things were born.
It’s one of the most beautifully written novels ever -
Even apart from the meaning, the novel’s prose is of a rare quality that’s not often found. In reading and re-reading, and in chasing down certain themes and symbols, picking up the narrative at different sections to chase down rabbit hole, I found myself constantly swept up in the cadence, style, and beauty of the language. Even if the meaning was incomprehensible, the style alone is enough for me.
It offers one of the most profound warnings concerning life, and the influence of our dreams upon it -
The novel offers wisdom and guidance to avoid falling prey to the same snares that trapped so many of the characters within. More on that in a couple of weeks. But suffice it to say, the novel does have a meaning; one that’s dense, rich, and profound.
For all these reasons and more, The Great Gatsby is absolutely worth your time. Plus, it’s a super short read. Nothing like that tome, The Grapes of Wrath.
What To Drink While Reading…
True to the Roaring Twenties, alcohol and cocktails abound in The Great Gatsby.
The characters drink champagne, ale, highballs, whiskey, and all matter of other drinks. So, it could be said that any drink is appropriate while reading this classic novel.
And yet, my aim is to give you one specific recommendation, to heighten your experience in reading the novel (and perhaps even in watching the cinematic editions).
To that end, I commend to you—the Gin Ricky.
In the beginning of the Leonardo DiCaprio film version, Tom Buchanan drinks this cocktail. And in the novel, one afternoon, the characters all drink Gin Rickey’s, probably as an aid to dealing with the intense heat.
So all that to say, as you delve into the story, and into the dark and twisted shadows of the lives that mark it, do so with a refreshing, chilled cocktail—a Gin Ricky.
Recipe for a Gin Rickey
2 oz. of Gin (I use American Aviation Gin)
Club Soda
1 Lime
Ice Cubes
Steps
Add Ice to your Highball Glass
Pour in the Gin
Cut the Lime in half, and slice a ring from the edge.
Squeeze in Juice from 1/2 the Lime
Fill Glass to the top with Club Soda
Add a Lime Slice, for garnish
Enjoy!