I really loved The Great Gatsby for the story, writing style, and themes/symbolism (corruption of the American dream, shallowness of the wealthy beautiful people, etc.)
I've read the major works of Hemingway and Steinbeck. Haven't read the other Fitzgerald novels though.
What are some other great 20th Century novels to read, similar to these authors?
by rotterdamn8
6 Comments
Trust by Diaz
The Rules of Civility by Towles
The Bonfire of the Vanities by Wolfe
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter Thompson, while wildly different in style was in many ways inspired by The Great Gatsby and thematically linked.
In fact, HST typed out The Great Gatsby in its entirety *twice* just to get a feel for Fitzgerald’s writing style.
I liked Tender is the Night by Fitzgerald too, similar themes but more hangover-vibes than the Great Gatsby
John Irving has written some great American novels; the big three are
*The World According to Garp*
*The Cider-House Rules*
*A Prayer for Owen Meany*.
I would say Irving is like a cleaner, more efficient, and more controlled Dickens. Lots of characters and lots of things to say about Society. He’s a very enjoyable writer.
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I like Marquand, but you have to buy his books. The library doesn’t even have them.
Sincerely, Willis Wade
Wickford Point
Women and Thomas Harrow
B.F.’s Daughter
Brideshead Revisited by Waugh
The Forsyte Saga
I might add, there are several good books about Gatsby that you might look for.
_Absalom, Absalom!_ and _Warlock_, as starting points.