I’m starting to realize how important it is to stay consistent together. While I’m away on my annual trip, it suddenly felt like no one had time for our usual weekly reading session. It wasn’t until Friday that I noticed there had been no announcement in our reading group. So I texted Nina, and we ended up doing our reading separately.

There were also some issues with the stream account, so everything felt a bit disconnected. I was streaming on TikTok on my own, while Nina read by herself. For a moment, I worried that Fallina might slowly turn into an inconsistent reading club—and that’s something I really don’t want.

Reading Apart, But Still Together

We had already planned our weekly topics (with a little help from ChatGPT) while reading The Great Gatsby, but to be honest, I haven’t made much progress yet. I’ve been too obsessed with Carver’s Cathedral lately.

Still, I feel like we should at least hold onto the structure we created—thinking about each week’s topic and sharing our thoughts, even if our reading pace isn’t perfect.

This week marks our second theme for The Great Gatsby: atmosphere and appearances—what people choose to show, and what stays hidden beneath the surface.

Getting Lost in the Details

I don’t clearly remember which chapter I’m on right now, but I do enjoy the theme. So far, I’m just getting familiar with the characters. Nick, the narrator, and his cousin Daisy don’t seem especially close, despite being family. Daisy’s husband is having an affair, and her friend might be connected to Gatsby. Everything still feels loosely connected.

I also find myself getting lost in the long descriptions of settings and environments. Interestingly, Nina feels the opposite—those details help her understand the texture of the story. I think that’s one of the best parts of reading together: we notice completely different things.

Right now, the characters don’t seem deeply connected yet, and I’m curious about what will eventually bring them closer—or pull them apart.

Consistency, Even When It’s Messy

As for this week’s theme, I do believe that no one ever shows themselves completely to others. Everyone keeps certain parts hidden, and honestly, I find that quite beautiful. Those hidden layers are where stories begin.

For me, reading two chapters for our shared sessions can sometimes feel like a challenge. But consistency is something I want to keep building—and something I hope Nina and I can continue holding onto together.

We’ll try to make earlier announcements next week. And if you’re reading this, thank you for being part of it. You’re always welcome to join us and read with Fallina!

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