Now that The Big Read Lakeshore’s events are in full swing, we want to take some time to highlight some awesome events our community partners are putting on and encourage you to look for some events that will be interesting to you! Our student interns will be giving insight into some events we attend, so keep an eye out for event recaps!
Gatsby at the Hackly and Hume Home
By Arayah Weiden
Muskegon Area District Library and the Hackley and Hume Historical Sites, in collaboration with The Big Read Lakeshore, welcomed Muskegon residents to The Hume Home for a lecture on The Great Gatsby by Dr. Van Dyke followed by a tour of the 1920s-styled Hume home.
The lecture focused on the themes, characters, and historical context of the book. The Great Gatsby remains relevant nearly a century after its publication, prompting discussions about ambition, class struggle, and the American Dream. The novel’s complexity deepens with each exploration, revealing themes of conspicuous consumption, racism, and sexism that resonate today. Characters like Gatsby embody aspiration while highlighting the isolation that wealth can bring, exemplified by his extravagant parties that fail to foster true community. Ultimately, Gatsby acts as a mirror reflecting our values, inviting introspection about dreams that can be both aspirational and destructive. As we engage with Fitzgerald’s work in 2024, it challenges us to reflect on our aspirations and the communal bonds that sustain us
The Hume Home
This thought-provoking lecture was followed by a self-guided tour of the Hume Home. This house was constructed between 1887 and 1889 for Thomas Hume–who ran a successful lumber business in Muskegon with his business partner Charles Hackley–and his family. The house has nine bedrooms, a spacious drawing room, a library, and a dining room. Restored and styled to portray the culture in the 1920s, it perfectly ties into the rich lifestyle of the Buchanans, which Gatsby was striving for. The self-guided tour provided insight into what life would have been like for wealthy families in the 1920s.
The Hackley and Hume is open May through October, but you can check out their website for special events as well!
If this event sounds like something you wished you went to, check out our calendar to see what other events you can attend!