“I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
-F. Scott Fitzgerald
Thursday marked the end of my editorial internship with Weddingbells magazine. It was a bittersweet last day at the office, the place where I’ve spent the past four months; the place where I thought I’d figure it all out. As it turns out, life isn’t that simple or straightforward. I was sent on my merry way with a big bag of luxury beauty products (including a gorgeous Chanel lipstick that I didn’t know how to open due to my inexperience with Chanel products.) So, regardless of my mixed emotions about my future, I will be temporarily distracted testing out some of these fabulous new products. And despite my confusion, I am thankful for this wonderfully positive experience in such a fun, lighthearted office.
While I don’t want (read: can’t afford) to waste any time jumping into a new job, I also need to find something that relates to my strengths and passions. And with today’s ever-depressing job market, I know finding ANY job with an English degree won’t exactly be a walk in the park. I know I’m a strong writer, but I’m a better editor. I love putting words on paper in an attempt to express my mind’s innermost workings. However, what I enjoy even more is improving a piece of writing that has the potential to be amazing. This leads me to my next endeavour, which will be editing and (hopefully) publishing Nick’s mother’s first novel on Amazon! Admittedly, I have only read the first two chapters, but I already have no doubt it will be a fascinating, gripping read. It’s a piece of historical fiction and like any great novel, the first chapter will have you hooked. I won’t reveal anything else at this point, but it’s going to be GOOD.
IN OTHER NEWS: Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” was released in Toronto last night! And there was no way I was waiting one more day to see my favourite American novel being put to the Hollywood test. I was introduced to Fitzgerald’s third novel in high school by my favourite English teacher. She absolutely abhorred the character of Daisy Buchanan, and could not understand my fascination with this seemingly banal and evidently careless, heartless woman. But back to Luhrmann’s film. Yes, it was gaudy and at times, tacky. Yes, it was drawn out and exhausting. And no, I wasn’t sure whether Luhrmann (who directed Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge) was criticizing 1920s American consumerism or fetishing it. But I think that’s what made it such a rollercoaster ride. Regardless of its imperfections, I held my breath as Daisy and Gatsby were reunited for the first time in five years, I grimaced during every single scene that featured Myrtle, and scowled whenever Tom Buchanan spoke. And you’d better believe I cried like a little baby at the end. DiCaprio was BRILLIANT (as always) and Mulligan was just dysfunctional and vapid enough to be believable as Daisy Buchanan. Tobey Maguire, as Nick Carraway, was absolutely phenomenal, and if I wasn’t a fan of his work before, I am now. I could ramble on and dilute this post that is SUPPOSED to be about the end of my internship, however, I’ll stop and tell you to STAY TUNED for my actual review, which I will post tomorrow!
For now, I’ll leave you with this quote from a review by The Independent: “Leonardo DiCaprio segues with utter conviction in the title role, from the suave, semi-mythical party host to his neurotic, lovelorn alter ego and back again.”
prairie girl musings 