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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby was published in 1925 to little fanfare. Sales of the novel were poor, and critics of the day could not resist mentioning how “slight” this offering was in comparison to Fitzgerald’s previous efforts as a novelist. It seemed destined to be a footnote in an otherwise noteworthy career.

During WWII, free copies of this novel were donated by the Council on Books in Wartime to American soldiers serving overseas. This prompted a new (and somewhat confounding) interest in The Great Gatsby. Today, this novel is a mainstay of the American educational system and a serious contender for the title of Great American Novel.

Kyra, the co-host of Relatable Nerds, joins us for our discussion of (possibly) the first book we’ve discussed that actually belongs on the list.