19 Comments
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David Roberts's avatar

yeah, I remember you. You kept egging Gatsby on when he would talk for hours about Daisy. The rest of us–––bored out of our mind. We all wanted to tell Gatsby to shut up or try on some shirts or cut open the pages of the books in his library but we were all scared we'd be off the list. Now I drink your liquor and eat your food and have to listen to you talking about Gatsby talking about Daisy. Hell on earth.

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Naomi Kanakia's avatar

OMG Gatsby's in the public domain now. We should have an oral history project of Gatsby's friends =]

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Kate Gale's avatar

You are frickin hilarious and yes Gatsby? Hemingway? Omg

Give me women

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Naomi Kanakia's avatar

Thank you!!!! BTW I read your novel recently. It really held my attention. It had so much life, so many lively characters. Really enjoyed it! When your memoir comes out, send me an email.

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Ismail Hatago's avatar

"And I feel like, you know, like…like why are mine not the same? I did everything Gatsby did, but it’s just…it’s not the same. When I was with him, I felt so alive, so full of happiness, but now it’s just…it’s all different."

Maybe it's what all the booze--past and present--is doing to your memory, so let me tell you, as a friend: back when you were going to Gatsby parties, you were getting laid. Maybe you don't remember, but you were. Now, though, you're what we in the 21st century call an "incel."

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Naomi Kanakia's avatar

LOL. Hamptoncelled

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Prado's avatar

Right?! I mean, I was in some deals with the guy, and he was a business genius! This Nick should’ve written about that. Gatsby was a brilliant businessman and it’s sad he is remembered from this piece that looks like a social column. Where is his business biography?

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Naomi Kanakia's avatar

I chuckled =]

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Shantelle Mueller's avatar

The book that sucks the most is Jane Eyre. No thank you to her complaining about Mr. Rochester.

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Buku Sarkar's avatar

hah. I just unsubscribed from some paid subs and was wondering which deserving person to give it to next (I believe in supporting this community as much as my wallet permits) and your page is glaring at me with a big red button saying UPGRADE TO FOUNDING. I almost did, then I thought, with that kind of money I could support at least two other writers. Who to go for next. I feel the big guns already have their share. Who needs me?

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Naomi Kanakia's avatar

OMG no don't do founding! I just have that out there for the whales.

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Buku Sarkar's avatar

i know. i know. it was so tempting though because I like supporting people I like and believe in.

i am lucky to have two founding members-- both friends and very well off-- but yes i agree it's for whales.

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Elise Scher's avatar

What is a whale please? I am a special Ed teacher who mostly does not have time to read. I take my job home, with all the IEPs and the demanding parents who threaten to lawyer up

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Naomi Kanakia's avatar

It was a joke. Casinos make most of their money off what they call “whales”—rich clients who can lose a lot of money without noticing. I have a very expensive ‘founder’ tier to support my Substack, and I set the price extremely high because I imagined there might be readers who are so rich that money is meaningless to them.

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0xcauliflower's avatar

Fitzgerald was also an admirer of HG Wells and Charles Algernon Swinburne: I don’t really see the former in his work, but the influence of Swinburne, imo, is there.

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Naomi Kanakia's avatar

Fitzgerald wrote some science fiction(ish) stories! Most notably "Diamond as big as the Ritz"

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Quiara Vasquez's avatar

You will be amazed to learn that I know a guy who scored a MUSICAL ADAPTATION of "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" -- https://www.rcstaab.com/ritzmusical ... I did not see it and thus have no idea if the framing device works. But maybe it does!

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Naomi Kanakia's avatar

Wow!

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0xcauliflower's avatar

I didn't realize that! I'll have to read them.

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