The Great Gatsby: the Movies, and the Unabridged Audiobook

This book was required reading when I was in High School, and at the time, I just could not get into the book at all.  It bored me.  I could not relate to the characters or understand their situations.  I had my dad read it to me, just to get through it, but even then, my mind would just wander off.

After finishing the book, our class watched the 1974 version of "The Great Gatsby" with Robert Redford in class.  I remember thinking, "Is this the same book?"  I still felt disconnected from the characters, I did not completely understand what was going on, but I sort of understood a little better.

A few months ago, I went to see the 2013 version of "The Great Gatsby."  The movie to me, brought the book more to life, and I wondered how well it followed the book, since to me, it was much more entertaining and interesting, than the book or the earlier movie.  

The new movie really had some great qualities:  lots of color and movement in the beginning, retro versions of current popular songs, making them almost seem futuristic for the time, and I feel that Leonardo DiCaprio really kept true to the feelings of the Gatsby character in the book.

I put several versions of "The Great Gatsby" on hold from the digital library.  While I was waiting, I decided to watch the 1974 version of "The Great Gatsby" again.  As I watched the old movie, I felt the new movie was similar enough, just better.  The older movie did not depict the book as well as the new one did, but it did cover the main points.  There are sounds that let you know that there were parties at the Gatsby home, but they never actually showed one in the 1974 version.  There is one scene that is almost laughable, though.  When Myrtle gets so upset she hits the glass window, cutting her hand, and goes ballistic.  Some things in the older movie really would not work in today’s movies.

I finally got one of the Gatsby books on digital download.  It just happened to be an audio version read by Robertson Dean.  I instantly recognized the story-line, being true to both movies.  The narrator, Robertson Dean, has a very soothing voice.  He does an excellent job in bringing the book to life.  I felt a greater appreciation for the book, partly because the movies helped me understand it, but also because I felt my maturity has helped me understand the characters and recognize some of the symbolism that I was oblivious to before.  I changed my mind about thinking the book was boring; into thinking it is truly a piece of art.

John Green has done an excellent YouTube review of this book, and I have to agree that it is pretty much what I think as well.  I do, however, think Gatsby did love Daisy, even if it was a shallow love.