I hear the above quote every so often. Someone discusses a famous book - one that EVERYONE must have read. But then I have to admit that I've never read the book. I don't pretend to be some sort of literature professor. I liked English in high school, I read most of the books assigned to me, and I did read my fair share of books through college. But there are books that I haven't read. For whatever reason, I managed to go through high school and college without being forced to read them - so I never did.
For the longest time, that book was the
Great Gatsby.
Anytime it was mentioned - anytime anyone mentioned F. Scott Fitzgerald, I would simply admit that I hadn't read it. It was never assigned to me, so I'd never read it. This weekend, while visiting some relatives, I found a copy of the book. Relishing the idea of finally taking down this book that had evaded me all these years, I plunked myself down and read it to see what all the fuss was about.
My book report. Imagine my surprise - this is a good book. An interesting-enough plot, some amazing passages that made me shout "I wish I had written that!", a quick read, enough thematic nonsense to fill six or seven Advanced Placement essays. I could even forgive the occasionally dense narrative. So THUMBS UP from me on the Great Gatsby.
So cross this book off my list of famous books that I've never read. Now that I've ridden the Great Gatsby, what book moves up to the top position of book that I really should read? What book will surprise you when you find out that I haven't read it?
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David Copperfield or
Oliver Twist. I still harbor a bitter taste in my mouth from reading
Great Expectations. It's been sixteen years since I read that book and I STILL hold a bitter grudge at Dickens and that lousy kid Pip.
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Moby Dick. I tried a few years back. Call me blue comatose. I've only met one person - other than cartoonist Jeff Smith - who raves about what a great book Moby Dick is, so I think I'll avoid this one.
-Anything by Bronte or Austen. Ha! Just kidding. These aren't gaping holes in my literary background - and more like intentional omissions to preserve my masculinity. I will admit that I liked
Wuthering Heights when I read it - I'm just not interested in revisiting it anytime soon.
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Merchant of Venice. There are a few of Shakespeare's plays that I've managed to avoid, but at least I know what they're about, their major themes, the quotes, etc. But not this one. I imagine it involves some sort of Merchant in Italy, but I suppose I'd get more out of it if I read it. Then again, I didn't exactly do backflips of joy over the guy's other works.
Which really leaves me with one book that's probably next on my list -
War and Peace. Other than being really long, I know nothing about Tolstoy and have no built in excuse as to why I would avoid it. Maybe in a few years I'll try to read this one.
I'm curious - what book is the one that YOU have never read? Which book is your Great Gatsby?
