Recent comments about the relevance of some of our 10 Books to Read Before You Die inspired me to do a little delving. I happened upon an interesting 2008 article about The Great Gatsby in the New York Times. The author Sara Rimer wrote:
“Some educators say the best way to engage racially and ethnically diverse students in reading is with books that mirror their lives and culture. But others say that while a variety of literary voices is important, “Gatsby” — still required reading at half the high schools in the country — resonates powerfully among urban adolescents, many of them first- and second-generation immigrants, who are striving to ascend in 21st-century America.”
It may be interesting to note that The Great Gatsby had fallen into obscurity by the time of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s death in 1940, and only became popular again when critic Edmund Wilson began to promote it, and Scribner’s published a paperback edition.
“Some educators say the best way to engage racially and ethnically diverse students in reading is with books that mirror their lives and culture. But others say that while a variety of literary voices is important, “Gatsby” — still required reading at half the high schools in the country — resonates powerfully among urban adolescents, many of them first- and second-generation immigrants, who are striving to ascend in 21st-century America.”
It may be interesting to note that The Great Gatsby had fallen into obscurity by the time of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s death in 1940, and only became popular again when critic Edmund Wilson began to promote it, and Scribner’s published a paperback edition.
Even though I was an English major, I did not read Gatsby until my son was in high school. He read it and loved it so much, I felt I had to give it a try. I have to admit, I didn't love it as much as he did (and still does).
ReplyDeleteMaureen, as they say in the old country, "De gustibus non est disputandum."
ReplyDelete