1. F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby has shaped the minds and hearts of readers of all ages for 90 years.
2. The Great Gatsby is so well loved that it's the kind of book readers return to again and again.
3. There's so much more to The Great Gatsby than the lavish parties.
4. That said, it also taught us how to throw the quintessential Roaring Twenties party.
5. The novel gave a lot of insight into some of the more unsettling realities of the 1920s, and in great detail.
6. Such as the futility of the American Dream.
7. Through Nick Carraway's perspective, we see the emptiness of wealth and the other characters' extravagance.
8. Fitzgerald’s critique of class and socio-economic status is still something that resonates with people today.
9. The Great Gatsby has some of the most memorable lines in American literature.
10. Nick's opening narration is iconic, and may be one of the best beginnings ever.
11. And there’s this: “'They’re such beautiful shirts,' she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. 'It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such — such beautiful shirts before.'"
12. And this:
13. Unlike Gatsby, the book didn't fade into the background. Now it's on nearly every high school reading list across the United States.
14. It's so beloved now that fans get tattoos of the most iconic images, like the green light.
15. And who could forget the seemingly ever-present eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg?
16. And for those not inclined towards tattoos, there are always shirts.
17. The Great Gatsby has inspired a number of films. The two that are most well-known feature the most iconic actors of their generations: Robert Redford and Leonardo DiCaprio.
18. The 2013 version brought Jay Gatsby to life, giving us a new nickname for all our friends and acquaintances.
19. Finally, if parties over the weekend seem too overwhelming, you can read the book, and still say you partied with Gatsby.
