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Whenever I read through this thread, I really ought to slap on Goldsmith's Islands in the Stream.
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Posted: |
May 9, 2017 - 9:12 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Hem's "Dear John" letter from Agnes von Kurowsky is cold blooded, but then no Dear John letter can be anything but that, can it?
I am writing this late at night after a long think by myself, & I am afraid it is going to hurt you, but, I’m sure it won’t harm you permanently.
For quite a while before you left, I was trying to convince myself it was a real love-affair, because, we always seemed to disagree, & then arguments always wore me out so that I finally gave in to keep you from doing something desperate. Now, after a couple of months away from you, I know that I am still very fond of you, but, it is more as a mother than as a sweetheart. It’s alright to say I’m a Kid, but, I’m not, & I’m getting less & less so every day.
So, Kid (still Kid to me, & always will be) can you forgive me some day for unwittingly deceiving you? You know I’m not really bad, & don’t mean to do wrong, & now I realise it was my fault in the beginning that you cared for me, & regret it from the bottom of my heart. But, I am now & always will be too old, & that’s the truth, & I can’t get away from the fact that you’re just a boy – a kid.
I tried hard to make you understand a bit of what I was thinking on that trip from Padua to Milan, but, you acted like a spoiled child, & I couldn’t keep on hurting you. Now, I only have the courage because I'm far away.
Then – & believe me when I say this is sudden for me, too – I expect to be married soon. And I hope & pray that after you thought things out, you’ll be able to forgive me & start a wonderful career & show what a man you really are.
Ever admiringly & fondly,
Your friend,
Aggie
That she puts her thumb in his eye by repeatedly calling him "kid" only drives the hurt in deeper. I giess she was better off without him--four marriages for our man Papa--but I wonder what kind of quality wife ol' Aggie would have been.
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Posted: |
May 12, 2017 - 11:28 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Gatsby completed. Amazing how much more discerning a reader becomes at later ages. Same thing probably holds for film. Saw the Redford flick opening night as a h.s. senior and was in unimpressed in the manner of a sports freak h.s. senior. Saw it yesterday for first time since and was amazed at faithfulness to text. Huh, didn't even remember that Coppola did screenplay. Flaws to be sure in some areas cinematically speaking but reverence for Fitzgerald opus not one of them.
This very morning I picked up a Fitzgerald "Classic Works" from Barnes and Noble. It contains Scott's first two novels and 19 of his short stories. Not bad for $7.98. Heck, it even has some swell-looking 1920s cover art.
I'm not sure where I read it, maybe even from you, Howard, but some wag wrote that Redford's Gatsby doesn't convince because RR already WAS what Jimmy Gatz wanted to be in order to win back Zelda, uhm, Daisy. However, I have to wonder if Redford's take on the role influenced Baz to bring in the Redfordian-looking DiCaprio. Leo does love doing period pieces, doesn't he? Check his filmography and you'll see that there are scads of 'em.
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