Cannonball with Wesley Morris Our Last Chance to Talk ‘Gatsby’
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Dec 25, 2025 
Min Jin Lee, acclaimed novelist behind 'Pachinko,' and Gilbert Cruz, editor at The New York Times Book Review, dive deep into the timeless allure of 'The Great Gatsby.' They reflect on their early encounters with the novel, exploring how perspectives shift with each reread. The trio analyzes Fitzgerald's mastery of satire and tragedy, while also wrestling with characters like Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. As they discuss the book's critiques of wealth and aspiration, they underscore its lasting relevance in today's cultural landscape.
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A Book Changes With Your Age
- Wesley Morris realized rereading The Great Gatsby across life phases revealed new meanings each time.
- The book's power comes from how it maps different ages' perspectives onto the same text.
A Student's Devotion To Gatsby
- Min Jin Lee bought The Great Gatsby in high school despite limited money because she believed it mattered.
- She read it repeatedly and it became personally important to her life and craft.
Rereading Reveals Time's Theme
- Gilbert Cruz rereads Gatsby often because it's short, beautifully written, and mutable in meaning.
- He says its recurring theme about time makes the book speak differently at each life stage.