Gatsby is the most overrated American novel outside of any POC fiction.
Diane:
How would you characterize “The Great Gatsby”?
Thornton Melon:
He was... uh... great!
I agree about Gatsby from a narrative perspective — it’s trite, formulaic, and contrived, as are the metaphors and narrative ironies, etc.
However, the writing unto itself can be brilliant. And it’s entirely wasted on generations of high school students who are stuck with silly assignments like “what does the green light represent?” or “how bad are rich people: bad, worse, or worst?”
I have to show students that the novel can be rather funny, the irony within the prose itself is vibrant, and, in fact, one could look upon the entire book as a satire of itself.
I grant you that. But I find Old Man & The Sea equally overrated.