Entry No. 10

Entry No. 10: Alternative Responses

85. Illustrate a book cover different from what is on your book.

The first image to the right shows what the book cover of my personal copy of The Great Gatsby looked like while the other is an image of the book cover I designed myself for this novel.

89. Choose a food that represents this book and explain why. 

In my opinion, a food that appropriately represents The Great Gatsby is deviled eggs, these are normally served as appetizers at fancy parties. However, there is actually nothing fancy about deviled eggs as they are simply hardboiled eggs that have been refilled with egg yolks, mayonnaise, and mustard. Likewise, the wealthy characters in The Great Gatsby are made to look like refined and prominent self-made millionaires when they are all actually just like everyone else. They take advantage of the poor and take credit for things they have not contributed to, which ultimately makes them just like deviled eggs. No amount of fancy parties and paprika will change the fact that deep down they are completely ordinary and a little stinky on the inside. 

96. Write a letter to a character in your story.

Dear Mr. Gatsby, 
You do not know me, but I know you. I know about your beautiful house and extravagant parties in West Egg as well as your past and your love and relationship with Daisy Buchanan. That being said, I genuinely admire your hard working and persistent attitude, I cannot imagine how hard it was for you to build yourself up from nothing. I also admire your patience and how profoundly you love others, not everyone would be willing to wait five years to see the love of their life again. Also, not everyone would harvest the same amount of love for someone if they were betrayed and hurt as deeply as Daisy hurt you. Personally, I would never be able to forgive her for marrying someone else after promising we would be together. 

    Despite this, you bought a beautiful mansion right across from her home spending countless nights looking at the green light across the bank. I know Nick Carraway once told you that the wealthy people you surround yourself with are a rotten crowd and that you are worth more than all of them put together, but I think you need to hear that message again. Unlike those rich pompous fools, you know what it is like to live without money, which I’m sure is why you are so generous with others. However, sometimes you are generous to those that do not deserve it like Daisy Buchanan. Daisy has chosen herself and her own interests instead of you in the past and bringing her back into your life just gives her another opportunity to hurt you. 

    You deserve so much better because you are so much better. You did not forget your roots and made sure your father was well taken care of until your very last breath. Meanwhile, Daisy wasn’t even human enough to at the very least call you and tell you that she could not run away with you. And despite seeing all the signs that this would happen, you held on to the fantasy that she would choose you over her own comfort. I understand that you love Daisy very much, but the relationship you have is not healthy or sustainable. I wish that someone could have told you this sooner so that you would not have died in vain. But at the very least your story serves us all as an important reminder to make sure that those we love are worthy of our love. 
All the best,
Abigail Avila

100. List 10 interesting/“expensive” words from your book and…

c. use each in a sentence of your own

1. Contemptuous (Fitzgerald 23)
She contemptuously walked into the room as if she was above everyone else who stood in it.

2. Prosperous (Fitzgerald 46)
It was a prosperous town, most citizens had well-paying jobs and it showed through their glamorous clothing and the fancy restaurants they ate at. 
3.  Hilarity (Fitzgerald 54)

I couldn’t help but laugh at the hilarity of it all, he was wearing his shirt inside out while trying to flip pancakes that were already burnt and unsalvageable. 

4. Triumphant (Fitzgerald 68)
He smiled triumphantly knowing that he had won the race in under 10 seconds, having beaten his personal best.

5. Unfathomable (Fitzgerald 82)
At the time the idea seemed unfathomable, how could a man possibly walk on the moon!?

6. Ecstatic (Fitzgerald 94)
She was ecstatic when she found out that her best friend was moving back to the city. 

7. Laudable (Fitzgerald 103)
Although The Great Gatsby was laudable, it was not very popular when it was first published in 1925.

8. Lethargic (Fitzgerald 113)
It was past midnight and she was feeling lethargic since she had been working on her assignment for four hours straight.

9. Astounded (Fitzgerald 125)
She was utterly astounded when she saw him again five years after they broke up on that fateful summer night. 

10. Despicable (Fitzgerald 150)
He was a despicable man who would often gain pleasure from watching others fail miserably.