My Great Gatsby Failure (twice)

[King Bob]

I've tried to read this book twice. The first time, right after the Baz Luhrman movie came out, I got about two pages in. This time I made it through the first chapter. I just can't do it. I found his style slightly annoying, and reading it felt like a chore. So I gave up. Again. So I wonder if any of you think it's the great book that people say.

[Drunk Monk]

My daughter had to read it for school.  Maybe we need to assign homework for you next time?

[King Bob]

Maybe. Once I would have been compelled to finish once I got started, but now that I'm in the back half of my life, I feel no need to finish all the books I start.

On the other hand, sometimes you have to pick up the book at the right time. The first time I tried to read Jane Eyre I couldn't really get going, but when I came back to it I was reading it compulsively and really enjoyed it.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Overrated. Should be The *Meh* Gatsby. I'll take Hemingway over Fitzgerald. I'll take Cormac McCarthy over any American author, living or dead.

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(It will be interesting to see what kind of push-back I get for that statement)