worst book ever! Showing 901-950 of 1,030

[Rand]

John wrote: "I don't like many of the characters, they are shallow and easily penetrable, the plot is sometimes elusive and offpoint, but the book is still genius. Fitzgerald is truly able to capture and depic..."

yes!

[Marco Paulo]

John wrote: "Bobh wrote: "Ashley wrote: "It's not about relating to the characters in the book, it's about reading. The novel Crank is used in drug addiction classes, you really want your 16 year old "relating"..."

that sounds like there's boo-ya after it... well said and i couldn't more...

[Paul]

One can see the tendency towards over-explaining mentioned by Ashley in the trailer of the new Gatsby movie. Even from the trailer, one can see the attempt by the film maker to fill in what he sees as Fitzgerald's gaps. The truth is that the 'gaps' were there on purpose, Fitzgerald wanted his readers to think. The Redford movie did this better-more mystery, more symbolism. But the book obviously did it best.
Is Gatsby still relevant? Read 'The Gold Coast' by Nelson DeMille. Like Fitzgerald, DeMille spent a portion of his life on the North Shore of Long Island. He does a great job of describing life among the ruins of the society that Fitzgerald chronicled so well in Gatsby.

[Paul]

Ashley wrote: "Because most books teenagers want to read don't follow school and government requirements."

My teenage daughter wants to read about vampires and wizards. With the possible exception of the Harry Potter novels, I haven't seen much that will stand the test of time.

[Geoffrey]

I couldn`t agree with you more Paul. Yes, Fitzgerald does force you to think about what is actually happening. In that respect, he`s much like Faulkner in that he is not totally explicit and leaves it to the readers to figure out what is happening. That is another brilliant aspect of his good, not masterpiece, writing.

[Alexandra]

It's a book about rich people and their problems in struggles. I felt no connection to the characters and thought that they were all silly and superficial. I've had to read it in high school and in a college class I'm taking now and both times I've dreaded it. There are so many more interesting and valuable books and I don't understand why English teachers feel the need to push this one.

[Paula]

The Great Gatsby is not one of my very favorites but, like all Fitzgerald's works, it's full of brilliant writing; I think, judging from these posts, perhaps it's too sophisticated in style, and too unrelated in era, to what today's teens are used to for it to be easily accessible. Probably a bad idea to *require* it in schools. Read it again, kids, in your 30s or 40s perhaps; better, read F's "Diamond as Big as the Ritz" and other short stories first; they're magnificent.

[Joseph]

Like most lit, it is best with context. Reading Gatsby in tandem with Eliot's wasteland for example can be very powerful connection making. Putting this work next to a contemporary like Hemingway is also a worth while activity. The thought that a book could represent an entire age or generation and yet be a waste of time seems scary to me. Since when did cheating, moral codes of honor, the dangers of materialism or living in the past become Passe? Content aside, I think this book is more well used as an example of a Narration style. Point of view is a large part of the book, on a separate note, the Redford/Farrow movie version is one of the best movie adaptations from a novel that I have seen.

[Paul]

Alexandra wrote: "It's a book about rich people and their problems in struggles. I felt no connection to the characters and thought that they were all silly and superficial."

That's precisely the point of the book. Fitzgerald says this himself in so many words.

[Gregory]

I never wanted to read Gatsby because everyone I knew was reading it, but when I did read it I thought about someone I knew that was much like Gatsby and I thought Fitzgerald did a great job of describing the person I knew and I no longer disliked the person I knew, I felt sorry for him which was even worse than saying I hated him. You have to admit the writing of this book compared to a lot of other books is pretty good to have elicited the kind of remarks above.

[Gil]

Sometimes to enjoy a book, you have to have at least a little sense of history, something which is kind of lacking today. I have the feeling most of the negative comments about The Great Gatsby are by younger people who have little or no appreciation for a good story unless it contains a serial murder per minute, or a vampire. Please don't be offended, anyone, but the best books I've read required a little mental energy on my part to get something out of them.

[Gil]

And sometimes it's just a matter of taste. I've read Gatsby four or five times and enjoyed it every time.

[[deleted user]]

Gil wrote: "Sometimes to enjoy a book, you have to have at least a little sense of history, something which is kind of lacking today. I have the feeling most of the negative comments about The Great Gatsby are..."

Hear, hear Gil!

[Josh]

Gavin wrote: "Great Gatsby haters? I think I finally understand why brain addled Americans are crawling out of the woodwork to go on shooting sprees with assault rifles."

Blaming shootings on people who don't like The Great Gatsby?

I'm done with America.

[Jena]

Josh wrote: "Gavin wrote: "Great Gatsby haters? I think I finally understand why brain addled Americans are crawling out of the woodwork to go on shooting sprees with assault rifles."

Blaming shootings on peop..."

I've just gone through all the comments and I was waiting for someone to mention that. Thank you for having being the sanest person on this board.

[Jena]

This book is not the worst book I've ever read but it is at bottom (for me and my sister). I remember reading The Great Gatsby for either honors or AP and doing an analysis of it but don't remember the details of the book. I do remember being really upset at the end and wanting to burn the book. But I couldn't due to the part that it was on loan from the school.

As an adult, I would not waste my time rereading it, like many on this board have so nicely suggested. I was an avid reader growing up (and sort of still am to a lesser degree) and devoured books at every corner. I still like a few books that I had to read in high school (i.e. Their Eyes Were Watching God) especially the ones I had to read for World Lit (which is where my interest lies).

I would rather read the books I liked again but would never spend a second of my time rereading books I disliked. And yes, opinions can change over time. I've found that the emotions I felt previously, I feel them at higher degree so TGG is a no go. I can't even mention this book to my younger sister without her shaking her head (due to her dislike).

[Simplerman]

Ok, I think this book sucked too and somehow we're not quite realizing the main reason due to overanalyzing the many other reasons it sucked.

Why do I think it sucked so much? I didn't find the characters believable at all. Here you have Gatsby who managed to make an enourmous fortune (through whatever means), but somehow along the way didn't meet a real woman or mature to point where he realizes whose worth hanging out with and whose obviously not. Yes many of the others where simply spoiled rich and I get that, but at some point the characters have to be believable. Yes, I don't care about likeable. I can see the merits of the story, but as one poster previously stated they don't learn from the moral. Also, how did Gatsby get lucky enough to land right next door to what'z name (Daisy's cousin). Seems a little contrived to me. Anyway even if the character had been more believable/plausible the story still seemed predictable and bland. I suspect this is more autobiographical for Fitzgerald. I suspect hype and other interventions have made this story famous because it is famous.

[Katherine]

Gatsby is not your average high school jump in and read it like Of Mice and Men might be. It is a tour de force of great writing and characters who reflect the various aspects of "The American Dream" set in the 1920's. There is symbolism, unrequited love, the shallowness of the monied people, the fact that money does not buy respect, etc. and to really appreciate Gatsby, read it with a guide who knows the way.

[marie]

The Great Gatsby is not the worst book ever. That would be Atlas Shrugged. However, I do think Gatsby is way overrated and just about anything we were forced to read in high school will be hated. I had to read Bleak House and though it was aptly named... Re-read it decades later and loved it! Gatsby I read for the first time last year and found it: meh...ok-ish.

[Simplerman]

Also, I think he's kinda beating a dead horse with the shallow greedy rich concept/theme. Take a story like the Godfather that covers many of the same issues, but does so without the tediousness of TGG - and at the same time with believable characters. Just sayin'. The whole thing is a little pedantic.

[Ashley]

yes it was awful

[Yadi]

I'm so glad I found others who weren't crazy about this book. It was very hard for me to finish it.

[Geoffrey]

There are large parts of the book that are just tiresomely trivial. The conversations between the principals is so hackneyed that they could have been written by Ionesco or other absurdist playwrights.

[Joseph]

Side conversations are what make books like the "Eternal Husband" or "Herzog" work, I prefer this method to the author directly speaking to the reader...that isn't narrative. It's about what Barthes called the "obtuse meaning."

[Laura]

Laura-lou wrote: "does anyone agree with me that this is the worst and most boring book of all time?" yes I hated it .... the point of it is??

[[deleted user]]

Yep, its in my top 5 of worst and Atlas Shrugged that one too.

[Anna]

Trivial, pedantic, boring: all perfect words to describe The Great Gatsby. I also agree with the poster who said they would be more likely to reread books they liked previously than books they didn't. Frankly, I wouldn't want to retorture myself by rereading a book I disliked.

[Geoffrey]

It`s nice that we had some more posters weigh in, especially on the negative side. I really love to hate this book. Maybe it will eventually turn to complete infatuation.

[Beate]

I didn't have to read it in High School but I chose to read it and I've got to say I loved it.
I think that when some people start reading this book they expect some huge action but honestly it is a rather simple, sad yet beautiful story.It is Fitzgerald's voice,his style,that makes it so interesting to me. I think this is one of those books that you can't read only once but of course every person is different.

[Anna]

I've never been one for the action-packed stories. I like it, but it isn't part of my criteria for reading a book. It wasn't part of my criteria for Gatsby, either. I'd heard all kinds of positive things about it; it was a classic, it was one of the greatest books ever written, it was one of those books you have to read before you die, etc. Needless to say, I had high expectations. I thought to myself, "Hey, if it's that popular, it should be pretty good, right? [Not that popularity fits into my criteria for reading material] And I like classics, so I'll give it a chance."

Fast-forward to me finishing it.

"Huh? Where was the best book ever written? I'm supposed to have read this before I die? I nearly died of boredom and confusion reading it!"

[Anna]

Jimmy wrote: "Finally, someone isn't kissing this book's ass. While I disagree that it's the worst book ever, it is definitely overrated. I'll give props to its influential writing style, but there has never bee..."

(Nods) Waaaaaaayyyyyy overrated, Jimmy.

[Jay]

Maybe not the worst book I've ever read but only because I had to read Native Son in the same class in college. Give me Steinbeck any day.

[Geoffrey]

FitzGerald comes across as a misanthrope disillusioned by the greed and charácter flaws of his fellow men. Steinbeck is much more forgiving, compassionate and humane.

[Margaux]

I rather enjoyed the book. I first read it when I was around the age of twelve, and I immediately became far too attached. I wouldn't let my mother borrow my copy because I feared she would ruin it.

I'm having a bit of trouble looking past the grand generalization that you have here. "The worst and most boring book ever" is stating that everyone in the entire world has come to agree that it is THE MOST DREADFULLY DULL BOOK EVER WRITTEN, and I can tell you that is most certainly not the case. Was it maybe because you heard so many wonderful things that you were expecting something a little more engaging, and were therefore let down, never to trust the book recommendations of your close friends ever again?

[Geoffrey]

Margaux

It`s unclear who you are addressing these questions to. If the first three lines are a quote from another party, please write the message number and person`s name.

I will address the question, however, as if directed to me. I had never Heard of GG when I first read it in high school for an assignment. I was very much put off by the weird description of the billboard overlooking the "primordial swamp" behind the Wilson garage. I take it that Nick is obliquely vetting his social snobbery by having a swamp next to the working class stiff, as well as adding a surreal touch of decadence with the weird imaging on the billboard. I found SF`s writing in that passage too weird and too snooty. I took it that SF shared Nick`s social attitudes.

When I saw the movie, I was equally dumbfounded by the poor imagery. It was atrocious. As for book recommendations, I have read MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA on the recommendation of friends as well as the POISONWOOD BIBLE, SECRET LIFE OF BEES and LIFE OF PI.

Now that I have harrangued you with my own personal comments, I hope that in the future you are more explicit as to whom you are addressing.

[Melinda]

I just read it for the second time, after finding it tedious in high school, the characters vapid and unsympathetic. I can appreciate it more now. Some of the language is pretty masterful, and the narrative structure is well conceived. But the characters are still vapid and unsympathetic, and I have a hard time enjoying a book, no matter how brilliant a commentary it is, when I don't really like any of the characters.

I can't read anymore without critiquing, and I can't quite get over the switch of cars, which is the most pivotal plot point in the whole story, yet which remains pretty much unexplained. Tom's like "Hey, why don't you take my wife (who I suspect is your lover) and drive MY car to New York, while the rest of us take YOUR car" and everyone is like "Okay." My critique group would call that a plot device, a leap of faith, or both. They would urge me to change it. I suppose I'm not being fair to the author. Things like this would just bug me a little if it were a normal book, but when everyone and their dog is raving about a book, calling it the "best book ever written," I tend to hold it to a higher standard.

I also think Fitzgerald could have shown us the boring, shallow, self-centered, clueless nature of the characters without detailing word for word all the boring, shallow, self-centered, clueless conversations they have. And that three-page list of Gatsby's guests? I think he could have proven his point in three paragraphs.

I admire many attributes of the book, but I cannot call it unequivocably the "best American novel." And as for the biting social commentary and the brilliant depiction of the jazz age...I still think it's a brilliant depiction of one small subset of very rich people, not a description of the whole era.

[Robert]

Laura-lou wrote: "does anyone agree with me that this is the worst and most boring book of all time?"

Not even close. Try The Bridges of Madison County.

[Joseph]

Bellows adventures of augie march

[Genevieve]

Agreed this book is terrible.

[Matt]

"Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault."

[Sean Michael]

It's definitely not the worst book ever, but I do think it may be the most overrated. To each their own, I guess. I love most of the classics, but didn't really see the genius here.

[Katya]

I do think this book is over rated, although i don't think it's SO bad. It was readable, but I thought I was going to die before I actually finish it. Finally I meet people that aren't crazy about this book.

[Robert]

I think the most "overrated classic" I have read is Catch-22.

[Victoria]

This was actually one of my all time favorites, it's been a while since I've read it but regardless you guys don't know good literature when you see it.

[Melinda]

Victoria wrote: "This was actually one of my all time favorites, it's been a while since I've read it but regardless you guys don't know good literature when you see it."

"You guys don't know good literature when you see it." A little harsh, no? Different opinions are what make the world go round.

Robert wrote: "I think the most "overrated classic" I have read is Catch-22."

I thought Catch-22 was much better than the Great Gatsby, but in a totally different way. Besides, there isn't so much hype about Catch-22, so it's harder to be more overrated.

[[deleted user]]

"The Great Gatsby" appears to be a commendable attempt to write a terrible book - and Fitzgerald succeeded. But it isn't the worst ever - that accolade belongs to "Finnegans Wake". :)

[[deleted user]]

I always find it fascinating the different reactions people can have to a book. I LOVED "The Great Gatsby", it was written in a different time and the world has changed so much since then but there are aspects of this book that are relatable today. I think what i liked about it was its ending, there was no happy ending and it is more real, in life there are no happy endings and the "good" guy doesn't always end up with the beautiful girl, though in this instance the girl was less than class.

I think this book is a love it or hate it, if you hated it, it doesn't mean you don't understand good literature.It just means that you couldn't relate to the story, I hated "Catcher in the Rye" i found nothing likable about or interesting but i wouldn't say its the worst just because i didn't enjoy it. So i think it is rather unfair to say that this is the worst book, there are others way worse but its really based on personal opinion.

[Anna]

Thank you, Delmy. This is all just personal opinion and and experience.

[Melinda]

Yeah, well said, Delmy.

[Geoffrey]

Yes, that is one of the more commendable aspects of GG, Delmy, in that the ending was a more realistic one than the sweet pablum offered up to readers in so many other novels.For all that I rail against the book, there are so many sterling qualities and the horrific ending is one of them.