Only one hp, huh

Indeed that quote made me stop reading for a moment the first time I picked this book up.

From the unreliability of the narrator—no doubt in part due to his ptsd from WWI—to the overt symbolism both in characters and time setting—which Gatsby emphasizes through his attempts to “fit in,” it really is an enjoyable read.

That said, I agree with OP wholeheartedly that it’s just harder to read—and enjoy—works that are assigned.