Gatsby Link Round-Up

I covered a LOT of ground in six short weeks. In case you missed out on any of the Gatsby love, here's a link round-up.

Gatsby's Girl by Caroline Preston

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by K. Woodman-Maynard

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor

Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore

The Great Gatsby: The Limits of Wonder by Richard Lehan

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Annotated Great Gatsby - 100th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Green Light: A Gatsby Cycle

The Great Gatsby: A Party Primer by Jennifer Adams, illustrated by Alison Oliver

Gatsby The Cultural History of the Great American Novel by Bob Batchelor

Gatsby on Screen

BONUS! Make your own blackout poetry HERE

Gatsby on Screen

I watched all the Gatsby movies (except the now-lost silent film from 1926) so you don't have to! Just kidding, I'm not a movie reviewer and find it difficult to sit through movies (even though I can sit and read a book in a day, go figure) so I'm often very grumpy and narrow-minded with my interpretations. Still... here they are! Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment!

2013

Over the top. The cinematic swoops, overly bright lighting, and cartoonish sharpness made me think of David LaChapelle photographs, which I know have their fans but just look garish and AI-generated to me.

I think the music was too much and the dancing was so jerky that it should have just gone all out as a musical.

I grew up watching the Robert Redford and Sam Waterston version, so I'm biased, and I also don't like Tobey Maguire or Leonardo DiCaprio, so that furthers my bias, but I just don't like this version. That said, I'm glad it was made since it showed a different take on things, and it brought the book back into the spotlight (more than it being required reading for most high schoolers does). Tobey Maguire as Nick just seems so... empty. He seems like the most clueless, sheltered man ever. I got sick of his blank, dumbfounded stares by the first Gatsby party. I have always been intrigued by Nick as a narrator but this movie makes me hate him and question his intelligence in every way. He's intolerable.

2002

I didn't know what to expect with this interpretation... mostly since it's just 97 minutes, and the previous Gatsby flicks I've seen (1974 and 2013) seem entirely too long. Honestly, I was excited to see how the story would unfold when there was a time constraint.

I think this was actually a good movie. I say actually because, in reading reviews, I see criticism for it not being Gatsby enough and not being hip-hop enough. I can agree with both of those takes, but it was pretty refreshing in my mind. There were some nice liberties taken (I mean, there's a homeowner's association involved!) and a good twist regarding the death at the end that kept me interested.

2000

Janet and I watched this and posted reactions on Bluesky on April 12th. I'd previously seen the first half hour or so... yes, that's all, despite owning the DVD. I can't focus on movies for some reason, even if they do include Paul Rudd. This one was well done and concise and I enjoyed all of the actors, so it became my first place Gatsby version after our watch party.

1974

This is the version I grew up with. I remember watching this and The Natural and developing the biggest crush on Robert Redford - what a dreamboat! I thought Sam Waterston was the best Nick until I saw the Paul Rudd version, but I think they capture the same essence. That said, I can't stand how Mia Farrow acts as Daisy, though I do think she's very Daisy-like. Overall, the movie just seems a bit too long to me, so after seeing the 2000 A&E version, that became my new favorite and this was demoted to second place. Still a solid offering, though.

If I could mix and match them to make my own all-star movie, I would choose:

Joel Edgerton - Tom Buchanan

Mira Sorvino - Daisy Buchanan

Paul Rudd - Nick Carraway

Robert Redford - Jay Gatsby

Elizabeth Debicki - Jordan Baker (a bit Zoey Deschanel though)

Isla Fisher - Myrtle Wilson

Gatsby The Cultural History of the Great American Novel by Bob Batchelor

 Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel by Bob Batchelor

This book was published in 2014 (by Rowman & Littlefield, I have to shamelessly announce because they also published my first book), so a lot of it focuses on The Great Gatsby 2013 movie, which is... not my favorite, but I'll address the movie specifically later.

But this book isn't about the movie - it puts Gatsby in context throughout history, academia, and more. It starts by covering Fitzgerald's life and the process of writing this classic, and then covers eras as the book went in and out of popularity. Batchelor relates the book to the American Dream in different iterations, dives into the romantic aspect, and addresses greed.

Like the novel itself, this is a book I could come back to time and time again and find something new. I already maxed out the library holds (on my card and my son's!) just to spend enough time with it for an initial read. It could be a textbook for a course studying the cultural context of Gatsby... and you know I'd take that class!

Here's the official blurb from the publisher, which explains it more concisely than I can:

In Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel, Bob Batchelor explores the birth, life, and enduring influence of The Great Gatsby—from the book’s publication in 1925 through today’s headlines filled with celebrity intrigue, corporate greed, and a roller-coaster economy. A cultural historian, Batchelor explains why and how the novel has become part of the fiber of the American ethos and an important tool in helping readers to better comprehend their lives and the broader world around them.

A “biography” of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, this book examines The Great Gatsby’s evolution from a nearly-forgotten 1920s time capsule to a revered cultural touchstone. Batchelor explores how this embodiment of the American Dream has become an iconic part of our national folklore, how the central themes and ideas emerging from the book—from the fulfillment of the American Dream to the role of wealth in society—resonate with contemporary readers who struggle with similar uncertainties today. By exploring the timeless elements of reinvention, romanticism, and relentless pursuit of the unattainable, Batchelor confirms the novel’s status as “The Great American Novel” and, more importantly, explains to students, scholars, and fans alike what makes Gatsby so great.

The Great Gatsby: A Party Primer by Jennifer Adams, illustrated by Alison Oliver

 

The Great Gatsby: A Party Primer by Jennifer Adams, illustrated by Alison Oliver

I've been a big fan of BabyLit books since my son was a baby. We had several: Frankenstein, Alice in Wonderland, and Jabberwocky.

I was so excited to see a version for The Great Gatsby even though my son is way too old for them, now! Honestly, I still enjoy them. I love seeing what lines or ideas Adams picks for the books, and the way Oliver illustrates them to convey the meaning of the original text, while making it interesting for younger eyes.

Frankenstein is about body parts, so can you guess what The Great Gatsby is about? Planning and hosting a party! It's so cute and I think it's a fun way to share the story with little kids. They can read the real book later and have their eyes opened, ha!

Countess of Harleigh Mystery Series by Diane Freeman

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder

Read for Cozy Mystery Book Club and really drawn in by the sassy, independent heroine. I’m picky about historical fiction and wasn’t sure how this one was going to hit me but I think the historical elements were just enough to keep the story in a specific place in time while letting the characters and mystery shine. Looking forward to reading more of this series.

A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

I read the first book in this series for Cozy Mystery Book Club and was hooked! I’m picky about historical fiction, but this is… very gently historical, I would say. It’s so easy to slip into the past and join Frances in this world. I thought this was a great second installment with a very interesting case and loved seeing how Frances rose to the challenges.

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder

Book three was a bit slow for me at the start, but the last fourth was fascinating. In my opinion, there were too many minor characters introduced in passing that ended up being suspects. Because of this, it was hard to keep them straight and try to figure out what was going on re: the crime. However, it didn't really matter because there was no way the reader could have solved the crime along with Frances, which was kind of disappointing because that's my favorite part of cozy mysteries. However, the ending was good enough that I'll definitely keep reading the series and hope this was a lull.

A Fiancee's Guide to First Wives and Murder

After a lackluster third installment, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the progression of the relationship between George and Frances, and liked seeing more of Aunt Hetty. It was also nice that Alicia Stoke-Whitney made a reappearance and developed her character a bit more. I got a bit of Irena’s backstory and family confused throughout the first part of the book, but overall it was a good story and great mystery.

A Bride's Guide to Marriage and Murder

This might have been my favorite book in the series yet! I love seeing more of Frances’s family - they’re all really unique characters. After some of the suspects blending together in the previous two books, this crime and everyone involved really stood out and had me hooked. There were lots of potential suspects yet the reader was able to solve things along with Frances and George.

A Newlywed's Guide to Fortune and Murder

I like that Frances and George are growing together and I like seeing how they work together, but this book was a miss for me. I think all the side characters being a previously unknown family made it harder for me to feel invested in the mystery. I did like how Aunt Hetty stepped up again - she's possibly my favorite character!

An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder

This book was so fun! Frances and George finally get to go to France... but not for the wedding trip they expected. I loved getting more of George's family involved and thought the case and its surrounding drama was probably the best yet in this series. I can't wait for the next installment since this book will most likely change a lot of what happens in the future.

Green Light: A Gatsby Cycle is OUT!

I'm thrilled to announce that my hybrid chapbook, written with Janet Dale, is out today!

Green Light: A Gatsby Cycle offers a striking reimagination of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, told as a collaborative chapbook of found poetry and flash fiction. Using only the first page of each chapter from the novel, Dale and Renner craft a fresh meditation on the classic story—one that explores a boy’s struggle to break free from the place that made him, questioning the very notion of the American Dream.

The authors create a seamless dialogue with Fitzgerald’s work, transforming familiar passages into something entirely new. Each flash fiction piece and poem reflects themes of ambition, yearning, and the pursuit of freedom, while offering a thoughtful exploration of the literary masterpiece.

You can buy a copy directly from me and get it delivered in a shiny green mailer along with a book cover postcard and sticker. 

In the meantime, add it as "Want to Read" on Goodreads and The StoryGraph, then share your thoughts when you've read it.

The Annotated Great Gatsby - 100th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

 

The Annotated Great Gatsby - 100th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

I couldn't resist this gorgeous book. It's the original story, commentary, and almost a textbook, all in one. Okay, textbook might not sound appealing, and I don't really mean it that way. But there's so much information to help put the story and the writing process in context.

There's so much in this book that I haven't even made it all the way through yet, but check out the details from Penguin Random House:

• A new introduction by Amor Towles, bestselling author of Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow
• A corrected text of Gatsby based on Fitzgerald’s composite manuscript, working galleys, and personal copies 

• Restored American spellings and emendations made by Fitzgerald throughout the book’s life 
• 13 annotated letters between Fitzgerald and Gatsby’s star editor Maxwell Perkins 
• A detailed chronology of Fitzgerald’s life and career, plus extensive explanatory and textual notes 

Here's just a sample of the page layouts, with the original text there to read, but also sidebars about F. Scott himself or details about that time, things he mentioned in the book, etc.

I think this is a must-have for any Gatsby fan, or anyone who loves history, or anyone who loves reading classics and putting them in context. Above all, it's also a gorgeous book.

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell

Alex Marks moves to New York City hoping for a fresh start—just a quiet life with her copywriting job. But when she hears about the murder of her childhood hero, Francis Keen, everything changes. Keen wasn’t just any journalist; she was the beloved voice behind Dear Constance, a famous advice column. Her death shocks everyone, but the killer was never caught.

On a whim, Alex applies to take over the column, never thinking she’ll actually land the job. But once she does, strange letters start showing up at the office, making her wonder—why hasn’t the murderer been found? And could her new boss, the powerful editor-in-chief Howard Dimitri, have something to do with it?

As Alex digs deeper, she realizes she’s not just uncovering Keen’s secrets—she’s stirring up ghosts from her own past. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Can she solve the mystery before she ends up just like Francis Keen?

I loved the premise of this book. It felt almost comfortable and literary at first, before unsettling things came into play. One slight pet peeve was that I felt like Lucy was too obvious - not who she was necessarily, but how she fit in. I think that reveal came a bit too early and was too heavy-handed. 

Overall the book was a page-turner and I wasn’t sure who did what until the end.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I have never reviewed this one because I read it before Goodreads existed and never thought to go back and cover my bases. This was required reading my junior year, and is one of the few required books I actually read. (I have always been a bookworm but argue that there's a difference between reading what I want and required reading, so I often skipped out on anything beyond CliffsNotes for schoolwork.)

When I read this in high school, I loved the language. It was gorgeous, so descriptive I could picture it all. After struggling through dry, long books, this felt refreshingly contemporary. Since that initial reading, I've re-read it several times and always find something new to appreciate. Even now, reading critiques of the book along with spins and retellings, I keep noticing qualities I never noticed on my own.

I'm proud to have my own version of this story (in a way, since it uses some of the original language) out in the world. At least, it's coming soon - on April 10, 2025, the 100th anniversary of the original.

Want a signed book?

I'm excited to have a limited stock of books ready to send to YOU!

This page has direct links to buy copies of my books through PayPal. 

You can request a personalization, or I'll just sign it with my name... or try to be witty like David Sedaris, if you're lucky!

Green Light: A Gatsby Cycle orders include a book cover sticker and postcard!

Won't Be By Your Side orders include a custom book plate!