Due to the pandemic, I couldn’t go to Denmark during the holidays. Thankfully, I could meet my friends out running, a great way to meet outside and keep distance – and talk and laugh and have fun! Since literature is also my passion, I took the opportunity to read some of the classics that had been collecting dust in my book shelf. The reason why I prefer reading and writing in English is partly because of the beauty and the nuances of the English language. Furthermore, I prefer to read in the original written language. I write in English because it feels natural to me; more genuine. This might sound strange but even though I think and talk mostly in Swedish, it doesn’t feel natural to write in Swedish. It’s too close to Danish which is my mother tongue. I haven’t lived in Denmark for more thank thirty years, so my Danish is too poor and old-fashioned.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

In literature and in movies, this story is often alluded to and I’ve always wanted to read it. It’s not a thick book so it’s actually read quite fast. I enjoyed reading the story but after finishing it, I first didn’t get it. Why was this book so great? However, after having processed the story, my appreciation grew. Furthermore, I was lucky to have the opportunity to watch both versions of the movie: the one from 1974 with Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby and the one from 2013 with Leonardo DiCaprio. Both movies were good, in my opinion. They followed the original story line quite well. The 1974 version was more genuine and authentic. However, I preferred Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby; he is the better fit for this character. The 2013 movie was more glamorous, and now and then a little exaggerated when it comes to technical effects.

Anyway, I am going to talk about the story, my pure opinion; I haven’t read any reviews. I’ll make it short in order to avoid spoilers.

It’s a love story; a beautiful one but it’s also a story about conventions, expectations, shallowness, honesty, moral, among others. The setting is in the New York area of the 1920’s. Jay Gatsby lives outside the city in his mansion and people come to his big parties but they don’t care about him. They use this opportunity to go to a party and have free booze. Gatsby’s only motive for these parties is that he hopes the woman he loves will show up.

The narrator Nick Carraway is a man who hires the house next to Gatsby during the summer. Nick is the only one who sees Jay for whom he really is. An accident happens; someone blames Gatsby and even though he’s not totally innocent, it is not right and fair what happens at the end. Taking something for granted, spreading rumors, that is unjust when the person accused never gets the chance to defend or explain him- or herself (generally speaking). Rumors can kill. This story made me think about a lot of things in my own life where injustice or misunderstandings have led to unfortunate outcomes. Humans don’t always make things easy for themselves, that’s for sure.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

This book is written more than hundred years ago and the setting is also New York but in the 1870’s.

This is also a love story. However, the themes are many: prejudice, appearances, rich vs poor people. It’s also about freedom and women’s rights. The women of these fine families did not work so they spent their time gossiping about other people and families – how they dressed, whom they were seeing. If a woman wore the same dress the year after a party, the other women noticed it and gossiped about it (I am glad not to live in that world).

The language is wonderful! I truly enjoyed reading and melting these sentences of beauty. That’s one of the reasons why this book should be read in its original language.

This is a movie as well, from 1993 with Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis as main characters. It was all right; I preferred the book, though. What I enjoyed most about the film was the settings in Paris at the end…

Literature gives us perspective

In these times where the world may seem crazy, it’s actually quite a relief to read about how people lived before. What was important to the single person; how did they react to different everyday situations? How did women act and why? The situation for women, among others, has changed a lot. I find it interesting how they didn’t see themselves how unfree they were. They didn’t stand up for each other, probably because of the social norms and expectations and they didn’t know anything different. Except for these great women of history who dared to be their true selves and to question things. Edith Wharton was ahead of her time. So was the Brontë sisters, Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Marilyn French, just to mention a few of the many great female writers.

Are you fed up with all the bad news today? Read some classics; well, reading books in general, is good for your mental health, I believe. A great book can help you grow and may even give you some peace of mind.