Should I read The Great Gatsby or The Scarlet Letter?

Question

both seem interesting and while ill eventually read both which one should I read now and end up writing a report on?

*by the way, NOT the easier one, but whichever one you find to be more interesting or meaningful to a teenager. I enjoy classics so the type of writing wont be bothersome (or an issue) to me.

Answer 1

I think you will like "Gatsby" better, though Hawthorne's "Letter" is also wonderful and a personal favorite.  Either report will be great fun to research and write; there's plenty of good literary criticism on each one.

Answer 2

I have not read The Great Gatsby, but there are a number of online study guides for the novel, and quite a few other resources on the web that can help you with this question.  Most of them have quite a bit of good information.  Have a look at these, and you should get some help with your work.  If you do a search you will find many other links.

Personally I would probably choose The Scarlet Letter, as it appeals to me much more than what I know of The Great Gatsby.  I've included a couple of study guides for that novel as well to help you with your decision.

Answer 3

Great Gatsby for sure... I found "Gatsby" to be more entertaining than "letter"... I think kids can relate to the characters' motives in "Gatsby" than in "Letter" and you will see what i mean when you read it. I personally think teenagers can relate to losing a love to someone else than to adultery, causing it to be a bit more fun to the reader. Also, depending on what the report is about specifically, I think you would have a better time writing about a book that you truly enjoyed... but both are good choices! =]

~Hoped I helped!~

Answer 4

scarlet letter. ive read it and it was fantastic. some words are pretty high, but if you read the entire sentence without looking at each word by itself, its a piece of cake.

besides, who doesn't like gothic romance?? and i love pearl

Answer 5

I found the Scarlet Letter more interesting. It's sweet, and teaches a good lesson. It would be a great book to do a report on. It's also really well written. I never once got bored or tired while reading it (unlike the Great Gatsby). And Pearl is adorable!!! Trust me, you'll love her when you read the book.

Answer 6

Scarlet Letter is absolutely amazing and is a must-read for any novel lover.  However, it's no easy read, especially for a report.  I know you said not the easier one, but for your own sanity I would pick The Great Gatsby...unless you enjoy the challenge of de-puzzling symbolism in novels.  If you chose Scarlet Letter, plan on using sparknotes quite often.

Personally, I didn't really enjoy Gatsby that well...it is a little more bland in language and just not as poetic as Scarlet Letter.  Hands down, Scarlet Letter is a much better read aesthetically speaking, and has a better story line.

Why don't you try going to amazon, or any website for that matter, and looking at the synopsis for both books?  Overall, the best book for a report is a book that you feel passionate about (whether positively or negatively).  I hope, though, that you are able to enjoy both of them sometime throughout your life!

Answer 7

The Scarlet Letter not The  Great Gatsby. The former was a classic one while the one isn't and does focuses on illicit affairs.

Answer 8

Gatsby is a great book, it would also be a good book to do a report on