Terre Haute Tribune Star Big Read Column

Gary Daily, "Raise your own questions; make ‘Gatsby’ your book" GO HERE for column

Did Fitzgerald’s famous kiss sell perfume or something else?

Jay Gatsby spared no expense on his parties, his rainbow of silk shirts came from England and his cream finished and silver-plated automobile makes a garage full of James Bond vehicles sound like they’re something straight off of a used car lot. And Daisy’s voice? Well, it sounds like money.

Conspicuous consumption, everything from lap dogs to gilt-edged bonds, all priced for a moment’s pleasure or the leverage of power, runs through The Great Gatsby. Maybe this Obsession commercial is about more than The Kiss and those tuning forks, stars, and blooming flowers. Or, the smell of the stuff.

Nick Carraway observes part of what all of this getting and spending might mean:

“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…”

And then there was this assessment: "I make my money by supplying a public demand. If I break the law, my customers who number hundreds of the best people in Chicago, are as guilty as I am. The only difference is that I sell and they buy. Everybody calls me a racketeer. I call myself a businessman." – Al Capone, 1929

Any thoughts on the materialism and meretriciousness found in The Great Gatsby versus the values we live by today?

Terre Haute Tribune Star Big Read columns

Gary Daily : ‘Time’ is most frequently used ‘excuse word’ for not reading GO HERE

Stephanie Salter : At age 82, ‘Gatsby’ still rocks GO HERE

"Bernice Bobs Her Hair"

A film version of Fitzgerald's 1920 short story "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" will be shown Tuesday, Feb. 27, 6:30 pm, at the Indiana State University Library. In this clip, Marjorie is instructing Bernice on how to be a "modern" young woman--especially in terms of attracting men. The story in print has a darker edge than the film version. The film opens up the story and includes more laughs. Both indicate how society and gender roles were changing in the 1920s. In interesting ways, story and film raise the question: How really different are things today as compared to the Roaring Twenties Fitzgerald depicted in his art and his life?

Read the story, see the movie. And submit comments and questions here.

Terre Haute Tribune Star column on The Big Read

Terre Haute Tribune Star --Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007

Gary Daily : "The Big Read Comes to Vigo County--and not a day too soon"

Go Here for column

20s Charleston Compilation

Checking out this video, I’m wondering if someone who once danced the Charleston ever forgets how to kick out and shimmy about the dance floor in this ‘20s style of wild abandon. And in this age of slithering, worm-mating moves under flashing strobe lights, does dancing the Charleston constitute an adventure or is it closer to being a manic version of the latest exercise workout video?

Once, and in The Great Gatsby, this dance craze seemed to make a statement about life and society. Post your views on what that statement might have been. Or, more particularly in relation to the novel, your reading of the descriptions and significance of the Gatsby parties.

For those of you in Terre Haute and Vigo County, Charleston dancing lessons will be available for the forgetful and the adventurous at “The Big Party for the Big Read.” This party is slated for Friday, March 2. The party is free but reservations are required. This is a hot ticket so call Community Services, Vigo County Public Library (232-1113) now and get your name on the guest list.

Mobile Flapper

Twenties Tube of the Week

It's hard for me to imagine Daisy on a twenties style cell phone. Maybe you can. Any thoughts?

The women in Fitzgerald's writings are often characterized as independent and determined. Do these qualities come through in The Great Gatsby?