#the great gatsby – If Mermaids Wore Suspenders

Mr. Darcy is whiskey

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that whiskey makes for an excellent character arc. –Jane Austen, probably

Have you ever thought about how different drinks have different personalities? If chocolate milk were a person it would surely have different hobbies, character traits, and life goals from Wine or Orange Juice, for example. So naturally, this question simply begs to be asked: if certain characters from literature were beverages, what type of beverage would they be?? Continue reading “Mr. Darcy and Whiskey: If Literary Characters Were Beverages” →

Books

If Gatsby’s Car were Remote-Controlled (and Other Literary Vehicle Toys That Need to Happen)

June 30, 2018 Aubrey Leaman

The Great Gatsby car

What if you could bring a piece of your favorite book’s world into real life–a piece that you could manipulate and control? Continue reading “If Gatsby’s Car were Remote-Controlled (and Other Literary Vehicle Toys That Need to Happen)” →

Classical Music Stories

Classical Music Stories: The Great Gatsby and Debussy

February 23, 2018 Aubrey Leaman

The Great Gatsby headphones music

Wow, has it really been over two years since I shared a Classical Music Story with The Great Gatsby?? We’re breaking the streak today with a short piano piece by Debussy, composer of the beloved “Clair de Lune.”

Classical Music Stories is a series that connects music to your favorite books and characters. Since listening to classical music can be like hearing a story (albeit an abstract one), imagining specific stories that match the music can make it that much more fun and accessible!

Estampes No. 3: Jardins Sous La Pluie by Claude Debussy Continue reading “Classical Music Stories: The Great Gatsby and Debussy” →

Books, Songs For Every Book

Songs for Every Book: Arcade Fire and The Phantom of the Opera

August 30, 2017August 30, 2017 Aubrey Leaman

“Chemistry” off of Arcade Fire’s latest album “Everything Now” is a) super catchy and b) intriguingly similar to both the phantom from Phantom of the Opera and Gatsby in The Great Gatsby. Continue reading “Songs for Every Book: Arcade Fire and The Phantom of the Opera” →

Books, Songs For Every Book

Songs for Every Book: The Great Gatsby and Adele

June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 Aubrey Leaman

Adele Great Gatsby 3

“Songs for Every Book” is a series bringing you songs that could have been sung by (or about) your favorite book characters.

I’ve recently come to the fascinating and exciting discovery that Adele’s hit “When We Were Young” has a lot in common with The Great Gatsby. More specifically, it sounds like the singer could be Daisy Buchanan herself! But let’s go to the lyrics: Continue reading “Songs for Every Book: The Great Gatsby and Adele” →

Books

If The Great Gatsby Characters Had Favorite Colors

May 18, 2017 Aubrey Leaman

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I mean, surely they had favorite colors, but we’re never told what they are (as far as I can remember). Since people seem to believe that our favorite colors say something about us, I thought I’d try to enter into some characters’ minds and imagine what theirs might be… Continue reading “If The Great Gatsby Characters Had Favorite Colors” →

Books

If Book Characters Celebrated Thanksgiving (And What They Would be Thankful for)

November 24, 2016November 24, 2016 Aubrey Leaman

Thanksgiving may be a traditionally American holiday, but what if your favorite book characters celebrated it, as well? Amid the food comas and family visits, here’s what I think they might be thankful for: Continue reading “If Book Characters Celebrated Thanksgiving (And What They Would be Thankful for)” →

Books

If Shoes Were Made From Books

September 22, 2016September 22, 2016 Aubrey Leaman

When I saw these amazing shoes made out of paper, I wondered what would happen if someone were to make shoes out of book pages. And then what if those shoes were actually made to look like the themes or setting of the stories they were made with in some way?

I would love a pair of shoes made from pages of The Night Circus. Imagine what they would look like if they matched the magical atmosphere of that book! I’d also be sorely tempted to buy some Great Gatsby shoes. It would be interesting how the artist/shoemaker combined the flair of the Roaring 20s with the tension between characters.

So if you could have any pair of book-themed shoes, which ones would you want?

theuniversalcabinet

Marie Louise Otte’s paper shoes were a discovery on Instagram and I can’t decide if they’re more macabre or beautiful, or maybe both. Ghosts of Marie Antoinette, and they also remind me of the old violins bought by Rita Lydig to form shoe horses for her dancing slippers. If this inspires you, there is more of Rita’s excess (and emeralds) here.