The Great 'Great' Gatsby-Reviewed by Beverley N N

When I was about seven or eight years old, my English teacher, after reading to us 'Charlotte's Web,' gently tossed the novel onto her desk, after which she told us,

"Every time I finish a good book, I toss it onto the table."

After I read 'The Great Gatsby,' I gently closed my laptop and leaned back with a smile of contentment. I had just read what has been arguably categorised as one of the world's 100 greatest novels, by Scott Fitzgerald. The themes in this endearing novel did not confound me. Instead, I felt pity and understanding for the characters and the 'Greats.'

'The Great Gatsby,' is available for free download, and as you read it, you will marvel at how our minds can reduce our greatest works to common misadventures and tragedies.

Nick Carraway, a World War 1 veteran and Yale University alumnus, is the voice of this novel, caught in the middle of swirling worlds of the rich and wealthy, caught in the middle of their dreams and lofty ambitions and also their duplicity. He observes how the heart, once unchecked, can lead to a spiralling of events, and eventual tragedy.

The affairs between Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson, and Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby, are central to this novel. These people who belong to the upper class of the fictional communities of East Egg and West Egg in New York and its nearby surroundings, are not immune to the salacious lives common to man.

Their downfall is exactly that. Instead of living above reproach, they succumbed to their lustful desires and met tragedies that could have been prevented.

They lost their appeal and sense of mystery once they became common and basic. Jay Gatz, who transformed himself through big dreams and hard work, becoming Jay Gatsby, with the American dream before him, could not contain his desires for Daisy Buchanan, a married woman.

Daisy's husband, Tom, likewise, lived out his own affairs. Amidst these were the lavish  parties, luxurious lifestyles and extended displays of wealth amongst the upper class. This was unsustainable, because of the secrets and lies, the gossip and deception and eventually the facade came to a halt.

Published in 1925, this novel captures the inner thoughts of men and women, the systems meant to create illusions of happiness and the drawbacks of depression.

It also rides on the American dream, which is real as much as it is an illusion. It rides on idealism of friendship, all of which still exist today.

A must-read.

Reviewed by Beverley N N

Can't Hurt Me, by David Goggins-A Book Review by Beverley

I first heard of David Goggins in 2020 during the lockdown, a period of great change for the entire world. What better time to learn about mastering self than during this unforgettable period.

What a building of excellence, David Goggins is. He is that skyscraper that lights up at night for everyone to witness and acknolwedge that great heights are indeed possible. His autobiogtaphy, 'Can't Hurt Me,' is one of the most important lessons on the body and mind.

This photo of mine was taken during the lockdown during my great physical transformation where I reached my weight goals. Let's go 2026.

David Goggins embodies what it means to be indefatigable and pursuant of  what is deemed impossible. There is no giant that he is afraid to conquer. Being overweight by over 100 lbs and living a rather ordinary, comfortable and forgettable life, he had an epiphany when during his extermination job, he encountered vermin and he couldn't imagine having to contend with that his entire life.

Further along in his autobiography, David Goggins enlightens the readers that the vermin in his life began as a boy, with a father who physically, emotionally and psychlogically abused and tormented his mother, younger brother and himself mercilessly.

This childhood trauma had a profound effect on who he became; a person who lost over 100lbs in just 3 months in order to qualify as a SEALS trainee. In order to accmplish this, he exercised for over 5 hours daily while reducing his calorie intake by at least 800 a day. The exercised included weight lifting, swimming, stationary bike and running.

This strenuous exercise shifted his mindset and built an unshakeable belief that everything we set our minds to, was possible.

Qualifying as a NAVY SEAL, the US Navy's elite special operations force, trained to operate in sea, air and land environments, is in itself a feat worth celebrating and yet for David, what he faced on the inside was excriciating both mentally and physically and only strengthened his resolve.

His struggles seemed to deepen with each physical conquest, and each time, he reshaped his thinking to learn the art of inner healing.

A book about mastery, forgiveness, physical possibilities and unlearning. A book about a man who emobidies his words. His social media are not a lie. He is that iron man who lives what he teaches. He is a man of integrity who has overcome everything he writes about.

Read his autobiography, ghost written by Adam Skolnick and discover how much unlived potential lies within you.

'Can't Hurt Me' was published by Lioncrest Publishing and is available on Amazon.

Reviewed by Beverley N Nsengiyunva