Comments on: F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:31:59 +0000

I just came across this wonderful post detailing the valley of ashes (complete with overhead photos) in 1924 and today. Very cool!

By: Trevor

Trevor — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:07:25 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Nicola. You’re welcome to join in the debate anytime, but of course I also much appreciate the images you listed above.

I’m thinking of reading Tender Is the Night next and have it on order. To any, does that sound wise?

By: Nicola

Nicola — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:42:42 +0000

Oh, I love Gatsby. I went through such a Fitzgerald obsession in my youth that I just stopped short of calling everyone ‘old sport’! So many images in the book resonate with me; Jordan’s tilting chin, Nick sitting on the old grass roller in the garden looking out over the Sound, Gatsby catching the clock when it falls and the rain pouring down at Gatsby’s lonely funeral.

Nice to see lively debate on the comments thread.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:42:28 +0000

I withdraw my comment about Time’s Arrow in light of John’s explanation. Sorry about the confusion. I agree that it does fit my original premise, or reverse premise if you will.

By: John Self

John Self — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:35:02 +0000

I think the backwardness of Time’s Arrow is about as backward as a narrative could get, but nonetheless Amis does require some tricksiness to make it work, or at least to achieve his effects. The central character Tod is living his life forward – he does everything normally – and the bouleversé effect comes from the fact that his ‘soul’ (for want of a better word) is narrating the story, and seeing it happening backwards. So he sees Tod bringing food out of his mouth on a fork and rearranging it on his plate, for example. The central conceit is that the Holocaust is an experience so inhuman that it can only make sense by viewing it backwards (“Creation is easy”), by reversing its effect. So I suppose in that sense, Time’s Arrow is not a backwards novel at all. How curious.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:30:06 +0000

My view is that John’s voyage is irreversible. Today I got home and my wife had made some forts out of blankets for the boys. When I looked for her, I couldn’t find her. I called for her for a bit, and then she popped out from under the fort.

I guess I’m not sure what you mean by the other references being flashbacks. Both I referred to are pure backwards narratives, told in reverse chronological order. Did I mistake your sentence?

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:31:49 +0000

Benjamin Button must have been in my sub-conscious because it was not front of my mind — it certainly is appropriate and I do wish it had been deliberate. As for the other references, they are flashbacks and that was not what I was really looking for, although again it may be appropriate. What we don’t know from the gravatar is whether this is a temporary thing or the start of some irreversible voyage into John’s past. I have no experience at parenting and you do, so I will cede to your view.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:24:08 +0000

I know there are others but they have not come to mind yet.

I have to say that your posting this on Fitzgerald's post makes me wonder if you're being plaful, Kevin, but . . . there is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. There's also the famous segment of Slaughterhouse Five and Time's Arrow. It's not a convention that I think should be used frequently, but it sure has been put to good use in these books.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:00:04 +0000

Penguin UK advises that the volumes have shipped already — nothing quite like a great seller.

On another matter, I can’t help but say that one of the by-products of the young Self gravatar is that it has started me thinking about novels that are told in reverse time. Dorian Grey counts in at least one aspect; Nancy Huston’s Fault Lines certainly does. I know there are others but they have not come to mind yet.

By: John Self

John Self — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:24:15 +0000

A fine choice, Colonel. You will not be disappointed.