Good day, readers. Today is September 24th, the 268th day of the year 2024, with 98 days remaining.
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.
Oscar Wilde
Today in Literary History:
On this day in 1896, author F. Scott Fitzgerald was born. Known for his portrayal of the Jazz Age in works such as “The Great Gatsby” and “Tender is the Night,” Fitzgerald’s writing captures the spirit and complexities of early 20th-century America.
Notable Birthdays:
F. Scott Fitzgerald, born on September 24, 1896, was an American novelist and short story writer widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. His masterful storytelling and vivid characterizations continue to resonate with readers today.
Today’s Readings:
From “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
Literary Fact of the Day:
On September 24th, 1964, “The Munsters” premiered on CBS. This television sitcom, portraying a family of lovable monsters, has become a cultural icon and inspired numerous literary and media adaptations.
Advice for Writers:
Oscar Wilde’s quote challenges us to truly live rather than merely exist. In your writing, infuse your characters with vibrant lives and rich experiences, making their stories compelling and their journeys memorable.
Wishing you a day of inspired writing and vibrant creativity, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your literary endeavors be as full of life and meaning as the words you craft.
A person in my writing group is writing their own, contemporary, version of The Great Gatsby. While it’s an interesting project I feel it’s, to take Wilde’s idea, not really living. I feel like a bit of a hypocrite, of course—I’ve just taken someone else’s words and rephrased and recontextualized them. Something I think all artists have to contend with is balancing tradition and originality.
It’s always fascinating to see how people approach well-loved works like The Great Gatsby, but I can’t help but wonder—why would anyone feel the need to rewrite a classic like that? Fitzgerald’s novel, for all its layers of decadence and disillusionment, holds a unique place in literature. The magic of it lies in its perfect marriage of time, place, and Fitzgerald’s voice. Reimagining it seems almost impossible without losing the very essence of what makes it a classic.
I’m reminded of my high school English teacher, who assigned The Great Gatsby as mandatory reading. He treated it with an almost reverential seriousness, delving into the symbolism of every color, the tragic beauty of Gatsby’s dreams, and the profound sense of loss that permeates the story. I suspect that had he seen someone attempting to rewrite it, he would have viewed it as literary blasphemy!
Of course, we all borrow ideas—no artist works in a vacuum. But there’s a fine line between paying homage and diluting the magic of something that already speaks for itself. It’s the balance between tradition and originality that every artist has to contend with, but in this case, I can’t help but feel some things are better left untouched.
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