Comments on: Fitzgerald – Poet of the Jazz Age – a litmus test http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/ Thu, 24 May 2012 17:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: JulieD http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1138110 JulieD Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:16:50 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1138110 Old Grumpy Guy - I agree with you re: Mozart and Fitzgerald. Old Grumpy Guy –

I agree with you re: Mozart and Fitzgerald.

]]> By: OldGrumpyGuy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1138096 OldGrumpyGuy Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:06:37 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1138096 Not disappointed at all. Not disappointed at all.

]]> By: bert http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1138061 bert Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:49:59 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1138061 Anna Kerenina has all the right story elements to make a great opera. Too bad you and your friend never finished it. A lot of people think bert is a male. But in this case it is an abreviated nickname of my first name. Hope it was not a disappointment to learn that I am a she. Anna Kerenina has all the right story elements to make a great opera. Too bad you and your friend never finished it.

A lot of people think bert is a male. But in this case it is an abreviated nickname of my first name. Hope it was not a disappointment to learn that I am a she.

]]> By: OldGrumpyGuy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1138030 OldGrumpyGuy Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:47:40 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1138030 You are never too talkative, bert (whom I always thought was a guy but now discover is a woman). Your posts are always enjoyable and well written. I'm not a great lover of War and Peace, though I agree with you about its breadth and it is certainly a great literary achievement. I became more involved with Tolstoy when I started writing an operatic version of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina with the guy who wrote the lyrics for "The Living Years" for Mike and the Mechanics . (It was never finished, though I still have recordings of parts of it). But generally I have never really been able to get deeply involved with the Russian writers. I think I jus prefer people whose language and experiences are closer to home. You are never too talkative, bert (whom I always thought was a guy but now discover is a woman). Your posts are always enjoyable and well written. I’m not a great lover of War and Peace, though I agree with you about its breadth and it is certainly a great literary achievement. I became more involved with Tolstoy when I started writing an operatic version of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina with the guy who wrote the lyrics for “The Living Years” for Mike and the Mechanics . (It was never finished, though I still have recordings of parts of it). But generally I have never really been able to get deeply involved with the Russian writers. I think I jus prefer people whose language and experiences are closer to home.

]]> By: bert http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137984 bert Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:33:28 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137984 I think Leo Tolstoy's <em>War and Peace </em>is one of the greatest novels ever written, if only for its depth and breath of topics and characters. It is my all time favorite novel. I have read it three times already and will read it once more before I leave this grand earth. Each time I read it I bring new expereinces to it and see something new and different in it.It covers all of the major topics of life that we all face in the course of our lives played out against the backdrop of Bonaparte's major blunder (later to be duplicated by Hitler)thinking he could invade and conquer Russia in winter. Listening to Tchaikovsky's <em>1812 Overature </em>sounds all together different after I read War and Peace. It takes on a new powerful meaning because after'becoming' all those Russinas characters in the book I knew how emotional they felt about anything celebrating defeating Bonaparte. My favorite scene is when Pierre is sitting in a French prisoner of war camp, freezing in the frigid air. And he starts laughing out loud, a booming laugh in the frigid cold star-filled night. He had discovered that the French could capture his body, but no one could ever capture his mind or his thoughts and therefore he would always be free. That thought and understanding just so resonates in me, even to this day. I also think <em>The Count of Monte Cristo </em>is one of the greats. I like redemption stories like this and like <em>A Christmas Carol </em>for the same reason. Another great is <em>A Tale of two Cities.</em> As for American authors, nothing beats Margaret Mitchel's <em>Gone With the Wind,</em> whuch I read in eight grade. It was my mother's book and I still have it. Second printing. More info than you wanted, I am sure. I am talkative today. I think Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace is one of the greatest novels ever written, if only for its depth and breath of topics and characters. It is my all time favorite novel. I have read it three times already and will read it once more before I leave this grand earth. Each time I read it I bring new expereinces to it and see something new and different in it.It covers all of the major topics of life that we all face in the course of our lives played out against the backdrop of Bonaparte’s major blunder (later to be duplicated by Hitler)thinking he could invade and conquer Russia in winter. Listening to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overature sounds all together different after I read War and Peace. It takes on a new powerful meaning because after’becoming’ all those Russinas characters in the book I knew how emotional they felt about anything celebrating defeating Bonaparte.

My favorite scene is when Pierre is sitting in a French prisoner of war camp, freezing in the frigid air. And he starts laughing out loud, a booming laugh in the frigid cold star-filled night. He had discovered that the French could capture his body, but no one could ever capture his mind or his thoughts and therefore he would always be free. That thought and understanding just so resonates in me, even to this day.

I also think The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the greats. I like redemption stories like this and like A Christmas Carol for the same reason. Another great is A Tale of two Cities. As for American authors, nothing beats Margaret Mitchel’s Gone With the Wind, whuch I read in eight grade. It was my mother’s book and I still have it. Second printing.

More info than you wanted, I am sure. I am talkative today.

]]> By: OldGrumpyGuy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137932 OldGrumpyGuy Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:21:46 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137932 Indeed not Indeed not

]]> By: OldGrumpyGuy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137927 OldGrumpyGuy Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:18:48 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137927 Unfortunately, Annie, apart from "Gigi" I am not all that familiar with her work. I will be concentrating mainly on British and American writers who have had a big influence on me. Unfortunately, Annie, apart from “Gigi” I am not all that familiar with her work. I will be concentrating mainly on British and American writers who have had a big influence on me.

]]> By: AnnieCollier http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137913 AnnieCollier Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:06:08 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137913 OGG, I hope you include my very favorite writer, Colette. Now there was an interesting life! OGG, I hope you include my very favorite writer, Colette. Now there was an interesting life!

]]> By: Interested party http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137889 Interested party Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:28:59 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137889 Comparison does not necessary entail rating. Comparison does not necessary entail rating.

]]> By: AlexisM http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137827 AlexisM Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:17:44 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137827 Actually it is rather interesting to compare Hemingway and Fitzgerald because they themselves fought and were competitive with each other. Actually it is rather interesting to compare Hemingway and Fitzgerald because they themselves fought and were competitive with each other.

]]> By: Interested party http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137822 Interested party Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:12:41 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137822 Agreed it is unfair to rate Hemingway against Fitzgerald. You would hope that each writer would be evaluated on their on merits, right? But then, since we're talking about rating, time wise there are a number of exceptionally talented writers from that period American or otherwise and it makes me wonder what happen to literary talent after their stint was over. Looking forward to your review of other novelists/writers.. Agreed it is unfair to rate Hemingway against Fitzgerald. You would hope that each writer would be evaluated on their on merits, right?
But then, since we’re talking about rating, time wise there are a number of exceptionally talented writers from that period American or otherwise and it makes me wonder what happen to literary talent after their stint was over.

Looking forward to your review of other novelists/writers..

]]> By: AlexisM http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137811 AlexisM Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:56:45 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137811 Good one OGG! Good one OGG!

]]> By: OldGrumpyGuy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137803 OldGrumpyGuy Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:49:21 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137803 Unfortunately I find little to amuse me in the subject matter Unfortunately I find little to amuse me in the subject matter

]]> By: OldGrumpyGuy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137790 OldGrumpyGuy Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:35:49 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137790 The Beautiful and Damned is probably the best TITLE for their lives, or perhaps the Beautifully Talented and Damned The Beautiful and Damned is probably the best TITLE for their lives, or perhaps the Beautifully Talented and Damned

]]> By: AlexisM http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/13760/fitzgerald-poet-of-the-jazz-age-a-litmus-test/#comment-1137780 AlexisM Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:20:43 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=13760#comment-1137780 I think that's why Tender is the Night is more my favorite. It's a thinly veiled portrait of their lives together. I would love to read Zelda, thanks. I think that’s why Tender is the Night is more my favorite. It’s a thinly veiled portrait of their lives together.

I would love to read Zelda, thanks.

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