I want to be loved... just like that... with utter adoration and unwavering faithfulness that shines like a million twinkling stars in the dead of night, signaling to the world, 'I am love and my lover loves me'...  just that way Jay Gatsby loved Daisy Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby." Exactly that way. Those were the thoughts that spilled through the gates in my mind and flooded my senses when I first read this book as a young teen, but being a hopeless romantic probably since the day I was born, the heart-on-his-sleeve kind of love displayed by Jay Gatsby was never forgotten by me.

And so, since then, I read "The Great Gatsby" yearly, every summer, stoking my appreciation for the fires of love that refuse to die as this story quietly slips from one era into the next, always delighting the majority of readers with its detailed writing and plethora of emotions, a book deemed riveting in its complexity.

So what is this hold that F. Scott Fitzgerald continues to hold over readers since 1925...?

Well, read these quotes from the book:

“His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy’s white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed like a flower and the incarnation was complete.”

“He looked at her the way all women want to be looked at by a man.”

This... is love on fire. This... love will live on in our minds.  This... is a classic, an original hard to beat.

I was dizzy with the sheer appreciation I experienced from these above-noted quote and many other quotable sentences skillfully sewn together by Mr. Fitzgerald. Dreamy and other-worldly, he writes with a deep sadness, a man afraid to fully enjoy happy moments as he believes them to be fragile, no matter how beautiful they are for the fear of imminent loss is tangible within his mind.  A sense of foreboding rings throughout the book.  The quotable words are heavy and carry the weight of deep thought. The book displays layers of meanings and feelings so vividly, the complexity of the storyline is not lost on a highly attuned reader. Here is one quote that stays with you, coloring your thoughts in shades of gray, creating a sense of foreboding:

“All the bright precious things fade so fast, and they don’t come back.”

To love as fervently and with blind faith as Jay Gatsby, is... heavy. He is chasing an unattainable dream.

Daisy was... Daisy. She is revealed, layer by layer, to the discerning eye. No amount of soft depiction of elegance and grace by the author can hide her shallowness and greed. It begs the question, was Jay Gatsby truly in love with Daisy or the idea of loving her, closing his eyes to the truth, determined to love her for fear of shattering her perfect image in his mind? All his money, all the lavish parties and prominent friends... and Daisy owned his heart. For Jay, his intense feelings for Daisy are summed up in his quote:

“I love her and that’s the beginning and end of everything.”

This ache is prevalent throughout the book and yet these are words our hearts hunger for, to be loved and cherished; but, it is a beautiful thing when the love is equal and reciprocated. 

I want to be loved like Jay loves Daisy but I also want the personal completeness of giving my love wholly in return, unifying the union. No gray within white clouds. Jay deserved that. A balanced love. A great love returned.  A lot of times, we see as readers the intermingling of love and pain and when the author is a natural at depicting these in great detail, the words created become legendary quotes as is the case with "The Great Gatsby."

The writing, plot and characters are strongly depicted in this book. This a classic...an unforgettable, complex, mind-bending journey played out within the recesses of our emotions.

Naturally, 5 out 5 stars.  An annual read.

I was not requested to do this review. I did it of my own volition, volunteering my views in an effort to bring the author and potential readers together. All opinions/views are my own.

This review is also posted on Goodreads and on Amazon.

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing.  It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book.  Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "The Great Gatsby;" Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald; Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc.; 1925 - Reissued (2008)

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021  Mary-Lisa Russo 

I am an avid reader of Victoria Magazine, A Hoffman Media Publication, so much so that I have crates full of their elegant, high quality magazines that boast illustrations and writings that combine together to create a winning reading experience for interested readers. It is during my perusal of the magazine a few years ago that I was introduced at length to Victoria Magazine's annual Christmas event at the historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Pre-Covid, they held holiday excursions which consisted of afternoon tea and a tour of this opulent estate that is Biltmore, all decked in its annual Yuletide splendor.  Special overnight stays were also offered, making it a wonderful, getaway goal.

One of my goals in 2020 was to visit this historic estate, but the Covid era took over, rearing its ugly head,  paralyzing the world into a stagnant existence, dashing all hopes and dreams for travelling abroad. 

And so with plans choked off to attend Biltmore Estate, I have continued to march forward, reading materials that help me gain further insight to this awe-inspiring estate rich in history which piqued my interest so strongly.

In comes Robert Wernick's "Vanderbilt's Biltmore," a book which immediately strikes at you with information at the opening sentence like an arrow determinately aimed from Eros' bow.  I state this because it starts and ends abruptly with a few pages embedded in the middle of this written sandwich.  There are eleven pages in total to this book. Eleven. Reading it, I felt like I was on a parachute that lifted in the air and immediately came back down. I wanted more and it wasn't like I could just simply add more coins to the machine and get my satisfaction.

Now mind you, though it is a very, very short read, it does give you some strong details about the history of Biltmore and it's current state. It is an 'overview' of this estate and all it entails. I am the type of reader, though, that likes  the opening of a story to be detailed, cajoling my interest, gearing me up for what is to come.  I did not feel like I was reading a book but a detailed pamphlet. Despite this shake up to my reading expectations, this is still a good...booklet...to digest. The style may not be what I am used to, but as a reader, it is important to try to keep an open mind and appreciate that not all writers will create settings and plots and execute a writing style that fits with our own reading expectations of perfection. 

If you are not looking for an in-depth, sweeping saga, this short version of Biltmore has all the right buttons for a reader not hung up on bulk. It is perfect if you have a bit of time to spare and would like to read something educational in one sitting. A solid 4.5/5- half a mark removed for style but a lovely effort in total. Having read this book, I am confident this writer could write a sweeping, epic account of Biltmore. And yes, I would consider reading other books by this author.

You can  learn more about author Robert Wernick and his other successful titles by clicking HERE.

​I was not requested to do this review. I did it of my own volition, volunteering my views in an effort to bring the author and potential readers together. All opinions/views are my own.

This review is also posted on Goodreads and on Amazon.

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing.  It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book.  Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "Vanderbilt's Biltmore" Author: Robert Wernick; Publisher: New Word City, Inc; 1st Edition (Feb 24 2014); (Kindle Edition).  Also available in print.

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021  Mary-Lisa Russo ​

He was beloved.
He was adored by his doting parents, Jacqueline Lee Kennedy (Onassis) and John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 36th President of the United States.
He was America's son. 
He was hope, a continued legacy, a dynamic addition to the famous Kennedy clan.
He IS John F. Kennedy Jr... beloved Prince of Camelot... and although he is not with us in body, his striking memory will continue to live on for many years to come.

After reading the first chapter of the #1 New York Times bestseller, "The Day John Died," penned by renowned author, Christopher Andersen, I immediately noted that I was on my way to reading a huge rendition of the history of the Kennedys as pertaining to John Kennedy Jr. and his family before he was born, leading up to the poignant moments of his tragic, untimely death. The book also details John's aspirations, his love life, relationships with those that graced his life and his inner struggles being a famed Kennedy. The book's title, "The Day John Died," had nothing to do with the inner contents of the book.  Yes, it did expound on circumstances of John Jr.'s death- at the very end of the book. The entire, meaty portion of the book expounded on his family and upbringing. I am not sure why such a boxed-in title was chosen for a book that included a sweeping, historical rendition which was the main focus of the book.  

It is very obvious that the author conducted massive research behind the writing scene, re-enacting a very detailed world that revolved around John Kennedy Jr.  For someone like me, who was not born during the "Kennedy" era, this was a one-stop read for all things regarding this legendary family. I praise the author for his intense research which served well to create a strongly detailed book.  

What really struck me as being tragic was that many people mentioned in the book feared John flying a plane and told him so, but ultimately, he did not heed their concerns.  His mother was extremely protective of John Jr., having endured bad premonitions of John dying in a plane crash. Her fear was palpable as tragically stated in the book: "in the latter years of her life, Jackie had a recurring premonition that John would be killed piloting his own plane."

It is no secret that the Kennedys are thought to be a cursed clan, fraught with untimely death, the name carrying a legacy of tragedy that breaks anyone's heart who learns of it.  Besides John Jr.'s mother, his wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who tragically perished in the fatal plane crash along with her sister, was deeply anxious about John Jr. flying. 

John Jr.'s sister, Caroline, other Kennedy family members and friends, who knew John Jr. were not confident about him flying a plane. His friend, Bailey, had ominously stated: "John is going to kill himself in that airplane," Bailey told his parents a few weeks earlier. "The Piper Saratoga is a faster, more complex plane than he was used to. Sometimes I got the feeling  that he didn't fully appreciate that. In some ways, he was like a little kid playing with a shiny new toy."

The famed Kennedy tragedies were too much for anyone connected to them to feel confident about John Jr. flying.  Add to that John's daredevil antics, fear of nothing and unwavering determination in the face of danger to the mix and that became an explosive recipe and perhaps contributed to his death as well as that of his wife and sister-in-law.  

As stated in the book: "There had already been widespread criticism in the media of John's decision to fly that night, and charges that a congenital streak of Kennedy recklessness had cost John not only his life but the lives of his two innocent passengers. It was pointed out that John not only took off under questionable conditions and without an instrument rating, but that he also did so with a severely injured foot that may have made it difficult for him to operate the rudder and the brakes."

John Jr. was definitely rash, bold and perhaps over-confident but he and his passengers did not deserve such a tragic, untimely death.  No one deserves that.  His death brings into questions a lot of "what ifs?" What if he heeded everyone's warnings not to fly a plane? What if he was more careful and less bold when it came to decision-making? What if he had immediately set the plane on autopilot by punching the two switches to enable that? Would the plane have landed safely? Was he destined to die so young, no matter what he did in life, even if he avoided this particular disaster?

I cried reading about the crash and the frantic search that ensued after everyone learned John Jr. was missing. He and his passengers were found still strapped in their seats five days after the tragic crash in the frigid Atlantic ocean.  The world knew intense "Kennedy" loss once again.  The Camelot Prince had tragically  slipped away into eternal sleep.

This book was very well written, details stream-lined from year to year to reflect the full, impressionable effect that was John Kennedy Jr. and his dynamic family. I give it a 4.5/5 as the title conveying that the book was just about "the day John died" was an understatement; however, I rounded that rating up to  5/5 as the book is deliciously detailed and although not what I expected in depth, it was an excellent, informative read I walked away from intellectually gratified.

(Opinion/views are all my own).

You can  learn more about author Christopher Andersen and his other successful titles by clicking HERE.

​I was not requested to do this review. I did it of my own volition, volunteering my views in an effort to bring the author and potential readers together.

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing.  It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book.  Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "The Day John Died" Author: Christopher Anderson; Kindle Edition. Also available in print.

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021  Mary-Lisa Russo ​