The Voice of Faulkner

[Drolefille]

It's conceivable I'm just biased about things I was forced to read.

But I found both Catcher and Gatsby to be novels without purpose, with relatively unlikeable protagonists and Gatsby in particular was vapid as hell.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

It's conceivable I'm just biased about things I was forced to read.

Just giving you a hard time. That has certainly happened to all of us. I hated The Old Man and the Sea for that same reason, and I've had a hard time with Hemmingway ever since.

But I found both Catcher and Gatsby to be novels without purpose, with relatively unlikeable protagonists and Gatsby in particular was vapid as hell.

You found Gatsby the book or Gatsby the character vapid? (Or both?) The character is supposed to be somewhat vapid.

As for Holden, I don't know that I ever liked him -- there were times I liked him, but I don't know that I'd want to spend too much time with him. But I did find him really interesting, and in some way, relatable. Part of what I found compelling about it was the realization that I was relating to a character I didn't necessarily like a lot.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Just giving you a hard time. That has certainly happened to all of us. I hated The Old Man and the Sea for that same reason, and I've had a hard time with Hemmingway ever since.

You found Gatsby the book or Gatsby the character vapid? (Or both?) The character is supposed to be somewhat vapid.

As for Holden, I don't know that I ever liked him -- there were times I liked him, but I don't know that I'd want to spend too much time with him. But I did find him really interesting, and in some way, relatable. Part of what I found compelling about it was the realization that I was relating to a character I didn't necessarily like a lot.

Both Gatsby himself and the book in general. I didn't really feel like I could relate to Holden even when I was feeling some of the same things. He was entirely offputting. But then the only Jane Austen I've read was augmented by zombies and there were still moments where I was wondering WTF they were doing standing around talking and how in the world is there a plot without zombies.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Both Gatsby himself and the book in general. I didn't really feel like I could relate to Holden even when I was feeling some of the same things. He was entirely offputting. But then the only Jane Austen I've read was augmented by zombies and there were still moments where I was wondering WTF they were doing standing around talking and how in the world is there a plot without zombies.

Huh, I wondered why I felt like I'd written this before.