There is a multitude of sub categories for types of readers; There are readers who collect books like shoes, based only on how pretty the cover is. There are series collectors, who only buy books in collectors editions. The list is endless, and I am what people would call, a mood reader.
A mood reader is someone who reads for the vibes. The escapism/story is the main course, but the smell, sound, and mood of the book is the gravy and potatoes, and that is what makes or breaks the book for me. Hence, when I read books I (normally) have an assigned song to it, sometimes an assigned smell or drink, dependent on where I read it.
For The Great Gatsby, I read it all in one sitting, in a coffee shop, with one song playing on repeat: 4runner by Brenn! The song is about losing a friend, having them leave town and seeing them change, but also not change, and not knowing how to feel about it. While TGG is not about a friend leaving, it’s definitely about change. It has a lot to do with thinking you know someone so deeply, but then having to come to terms that they are much more complex that the fragment image you had of them.
Lyrics I found similar to the mood of TGG:
“Living in the past is my specialty”
“Oh, I still wonder why you’d ever wanna leave this town”
“I see you’re still doing the same old…
So, this town is where I’d rather you be”
“And your 4Runner, is runnin’ up north these days?
I’ll say it gets lonely when you’re not here past my hallways
…’Cause, oh, I swear, something ’bout you is changed”
“Oh, this town is empty now
And your crown has lost its power
‘Cause you’ve changed
But you’ve only changed from me”
“Hm, kept those wise words from the letters you wrote me
And your creased pages of your journal entries
Talking ’bout how you wish your life would change”
“Did I let you down on your way back now?
‘Cause, oh, I swear, something ’bout me is changed”
“Oh, this town is empty now
And your crown has lost its power
‘Cause you’ve changed
But you’ve only changed from me
Oh, this boy is broken now
Wondering why you let him down
But you’ve changed
And I’m the only one who sees”
I would recommend listening to the song because besides the lyrics, the song feels like a a goodbye hug to a friend you thought you knew, and at the end he sings what sounds like a wail of sadness from losing his friends and I got goosebumps the first time I listened to it. He sounds sad but the song also feel full of hope, like his old friend had died but a new friend has emerged from the ashes. Its painful but its also inspiring to see your friend because “new” to you, and I think this song perfectly embodied that.
Enjoy – Lucid Lamb