Gatsby, the Greatest of the Great

Some time early last year, my brother, an avid reader, was raving about The Great Gatsby and was also quite stoked about the promise that the film adaptation of this classic was rumored to be just around the corner. Turns out, he was right in two regards. First of all, this book is pure gold, undoubtedly rave-worthy. Seriously, I feel as though I am one of the wealthiest people on the face of the earth for having simply read this gem. And second of all, because the film was - and is - indeed just around the corner, and it is my undying - and probably overly-obsessive - pleasure to say that the premiere is but a few short weeks away. Holy cow; I honestly don't know what to do with myself.

Originally, I had planned to write this blog post on May 3rd, a week before the premiere, as a sort of kick-off to the duly extraordinary festivities that would surely accompany such an anticipation-saturated week, but then I thought, "Nah, I think I've got a better idea." And here it is. Now, I totally understand how the trailer alone is enough to elicit excitement and allure beyond belief, but I just think the experience holds even more value for those who have actually read the story for themselves, struck up friendships with the characters, journeyed with these same characters via narrative, familiarized themselves with the intoxicating atmosphere of a Jay Gatsby kind of party, and whole-heartedly delved into a vast new world and a whole different time. It is for that very reason that I decided to write this just a little bit earlier, to give everyone one last chance to read the book before the movie comes out, because I promise you that you will not regret it.

But if this still doesn't appeal to you, then well, I suppose that's okay too. Not really, but we'll pretend it is. I still highly recommend going to see The Great Gatsby in theaters because I just have a really good feeling about this one. Such a classic tale of love - both enduring and unrequited - and hope and devotion and loss and scandal and adventure and devastation. Oh. And some killer parties. Wow. Plus, if I'm being honest here, I don't think I could have conjured up a better Gatsby if I tried. Leonardo DiCaprio will forever be a winner. So get pumped. Get ready to be simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life. Prepare to immerse yourself in the sort of intimacy that only large parties can offer. Get ready to forever question whether or not you can repeat the past. And learn wonders from a troubled man who somehow manages to always look so cool.

Ah. Magic.

P.S. F. Scott Fitzgerald is and always will be the man. Not often do you find a guy who's a genius when it comes to words and a genius when it comes to life. Nice.