The Great Gatsby

I have read this book four times and I maintain that the only good thing about this book is chapter 7.

I will admit that my judgement of this book is probably colored by the teachers who forced me year after year to nitpick this text and pull all the joy right out of it; the book is technically well-written but it is intensely difficult to connect to the characters, who seem bored with their fabulous, decadent lifestyles. Am I meant to sympathize with these rich people, throwing party after party in fancy clothes with fancy cars? It's alienating just reading about it.