just finished reading Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm & Great Gatsby

[Jeannie in NJ]

I really liked all 3 of these books . I greatly enjoyed them. It was the first time to read them. My dh always talks about how much he hates The Great Gatsby so I was surprised how much I loved it. I have seen the movie more times than I can count and I was very pleased to see how much the movie stayed true to the book. The only place that I noticed a difference was at the end . In the book, Nick runs into only Tom while in the movie, it is both Tom and Daisy that he encounters. I , myself, think it is better that Daisy is also there. At least I am pretty sure that it is the end that he runs into Tom and Daisy. EVen tho I have seem the movie many times, it has been quite a few years since the last time. Need to rent it again.

I have also seen the movie of Fahrenheit 451 but it was a long time ago so I don't remember too much except that I think the same actress, maybe julie Christie, played both the wife and Clarrisa. It I am remembering that correctly that seems kinda odd and different from the book as Clarrisa is a young teen.

[Chris in VA]

I liked these books, too! Very accessible.

[FloridaLisa]

Love Farenheit 451. Perhaps one of my favorite distopias. Dd1 and ds2 read it at the beginning of summer. Dd1 hated it and asked to put it aside. :001_smile: She's so sweet, I think the writing and graphic images were just too unappealing.

 

Lisa

[AngieW in Texas]

I agree with your dh. The Great Gatsby is awful and has no redeeming value whatsoever. The time I spent reading it was an absolute waste.

[Lori D.]

We did Farenheit 451 and Animal Farm 2 years ago, and they were BIG hits with DSs -- in fact, older DS says Bradbury is one of the favorite authors we've encountered in our 3 years of doing The Great Books, because DS really likes Bradbury's writing style. We also really liked Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes" as a fun/creepy summer read aloud.

 

We did The Great Gatsby this year. I went into expecting to hate the disapated "Lost Generation", and both DSs thought it would be boring. Surprise! It was very enjoyable! DSs both said several times how much they enjoyed it. Absolutely lovely writing. Sad story, but the theme of "reaping what you sow" -- the consequences to our choices -- was very sound and came through clearly through the *negative* example of the various characters' poor choices. Also found the dark take on the "American dream" fascinating. Really captured the mood and feel of a certain segment of America of the 1920s!

 

 

Isn't it *great* discovering and enjoying good literature! :) Warmest regards, Lori D.