Renni browne biography of william

by Renni Browne and Dave King

What's wrong with this paragraph:

The conversation was barely begun before I discovered that our host was more than simply a stranger to most of his guests. He was an enigma, a mystery.

And this was a crowd that doted on mysteries. In the space of no more than five minutes, I heard several different people put forth their theories--all equally probable or preposterous--as to who and what he was. Each theory was argued with the kind of assurance that can only come from a lack of evidence, and it seemed that, for many of the guests, these arguments were the main reason to attend his parties.

Renni browne biography of william hurt

In a sense, of course, there is nothing wrong. The paragraph is grammatically impeccable. It describes the mystery surrounding the party's host clearly, efficiently, and with a sense of style. The writing is smooth.

Now look at the same passage as it actually appeared in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby:

     "I like to come," Lucille said. "I never care