About to go on a trip. Maybe I will download House of Mirth to read.

Curious, in what country are you teaching?

Cool fact! Love HST and he had a great take on the grotesque nature of the American Dream and on mainstream American values. We can debate whether he should be counted as a commentary writer, or a fiction writer or a reporter (see a previous comment on purpose of fiction writer)

Yes, that is the bad part of the American trait never to be satisfied. No matter how much Gatsby had, he was never happy. Everything he did he did to impress Daisy and I wonder what would have happened if theyvwould have run off together. Probably drive each other crazy and get divorced after 2 years :)

Your welcomed! Americans love to call things "this is the great American BLANK" and then just think that is the best book, movie, story or whatever in the world. Mostly, I think, because we are so used to people moving here to live. We forget that there are folks all over the world who don't even think about the USA everyday.

What? Dickens, Steinbeck, Tolstoy, Achibe, Toni Morrison were all social commentators as much as wordsmith. Fitzgerald may have been less concerned with commentary than some, but he definitely had a viewpoint.

Also, Roseif you live outside of the urban areas do you think that affects what you think? Is there a city/rural devide?

I think your mostly right. Although, on a positive note, women are now as eligible for the American dream, I think. Social media seems to be dominated by women "living the dream".

For the Canadians, what do think are the American ideals?

I think you are the second to feel embarrassed or cringy for Gatsby.

Exactly! Gatsby is living the dream but the dream is "do whatever you can to make lota of money so you can get the girl". That's what makes this so American to me: anyone can get whatever they want, especially if all you want dr is superficial, stupid and in the end not what makes you happy.

True, you need a very wealthy society to even have that to aspire to. Remember that Gatsby's mansion was built by a beer tycoon, so he was really just replacing an older generation of wealth.

Interesting. But ur right I have no idea what u are referring to. Will Google tonight!

You definitely make it sound all positive lol

Are kiwis not ambitious? Dishonest? Obsessed with status? TBH most of what I know of kiwis is from flight of the Conchords. And yes, they are the antiGatsbys 😄

Interlude? I came here for a party and there wasn't even any ice-cream.

When you go to their house, regardless of time or circumstances they let you in.

Animal Crackers