The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
pgs. 115-189

I am determined to finish this book tonight. Only about 30 pages to go.
I already have my next two books in line, and they are both heavy reads.

So summing up loosely, Tom realizes that Daisy loves Gatsby. Tom is mad, although he is involved in an affair as well. Daisy admits that she needs to stick with Tom, but Gatsby hopes otherwise.

As they are driving back from the city into town, they realize that Gatsby's car has crashed into and killed Myrtle Wilson (Tom's mistress). Daisy was driving the car at the time, but Gatsby was to take the blame.

"So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight."

Chapter 8

"Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery hat wealth imprisons and preserves, of the freshness of many clothes and of Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor."

Wilson had known that his wife had been having an affair, but didn't know with whom. He then remembered how Myrtle had been approaching the yellow car calling out to it, when she was hit. He then went around to the garages asking about yellow cars. As Gatsby was bathing in his pool, Wilson approached and shot twice. One to Gatsby, and another to himself.

Chapter 9

Catherine tried to convince herself that her sister, Myrtle, was perfectly happy with her husband, and also stated that Myrtle had never seen Gatsby in her life. Wilson was described by the newspapers as "deranged by grief" to keep the case in its simplest form.

Nick tried calling Daisy, but she and Tom had left with baggage. Nick wanted someone for Gatsby. He even tried calling Meyer Wolfshiem. Henry C. Gatz, of Minnesota, wired to postpone the funeral until he arrived. He was Gatsby's father and had read about it in the Chicago newspaper.

Nick calls up people to make sure there are people in Gatsby's funeral. Klipspringer, the man who practically lived in Gatsby's mansion, called in for some athletic shoes, but didn't bother going to the funeral.

"After that I felt a certain shame for Gatsby--one gentleman to whom I telephoned implied that he had got what he deserved. However, that was my fault, for he was one of those who used to sneer most bitterly at Gatsby on the courage of Gatsby's liquor and I should have known better than to call him."

Nick went to Meyer Wolfshiem's before the funeral. He didn't like getting involved with people after their death, so he would not be attending the funeral.
Nick, Gatz's father, and the minister were the only ones to attend the funeral. Followed by his servants. Then Owl Eyes showed up, and was disappointed that after many went to his parties, none would care to show up.

Nick reflects that this was a story of the West. He, Tom, Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan were all Westerners and perhaps had a deficiency to the Eastern life.

He decided to move back home, but before leaving he decided to see Miss Jordan Baker. She said she was engaged to another man, and he doubted it, though he knew she could marry whom she chose.

Later, Nick saw Tom on Fifth Avenue. He didn't want to talk to him, but Tom saw him. Nick asked what he told Tom that night. Tom had told him who the car belonged to, because he was holding a revolver throughout the house.

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Fin.

Wait, wait, afterthoughts.
'The Rise of the Coloured Empires" is in allusion to The Rising Tide of Color by Lothrop Stoddard.