As the lights at the end of the dock overlooking Long Island Sound blink in the foggy night, Jay Gatsby hosts another one of his extravagant parties filled with guests who delight in drinking his liquor and gossiping about him behind his back.

Here in one of the classics in American literature is a portrait of a shrewd, ruthless and heartbreakingly pitiable character, as portrayed by the writer who knew the Roaring Twenties better than anyone: F. Scott Fitzgerald.

All this month those who love the novel can indulge again and those who never have heard of the book can discover a masterpiece as the Tri-State joins in a community read of “The Great Gatsby.”

“We have joined the Big Read that the Paramount Arts Center is hosting this year,” said Lori Shafer, adult services librarian at Briggs Lawrence County Library. “We are having a series of programs surrounding that theme and it is funded by the National Endowment of the Arts.”

Book discussions, cooking classes, poetry contests and dance recitals are part of the month-long event this April.

“We always do a poetry contest in April, but never had a theme before,” Shafer said. “This time the theme is talking about the American dream based on Gatsby trying to get his dream. However they want, they can make that the theme of their poem.”

Poems will be judged at the end of the month and first place winner will get a gift card.

The official kickoff for the Big Read will be at 2 and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12 at the PAC where tours of the Art Deco theater will be given, a performance by the Ashland Youth Ballet, under the direction of Maria Whaley, and lessons in doing the Charleston.

At the Briggs library starting on April 16 will be the Taste of the Roaring 20s series.

“There will be food and drinks,” Shafer said. “I picked out recipes that are non-alcoholic versions of some of the things you might taste in the 20s.”

Shafer will cook up some well-known favorites like Waldorf salad and some dishes not so common like celery olive hors d’oeuvres.

“They will take home a recipe book so they can make them themselves,” she said.

Classes will be at the Ironton branch on April 16 at 6 p.m. South Point branch on April 20 at 6 p.m. and the Chesapeake branch on April 20 at 2 p.m.

More information in the Big Read can be found at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland or Briggs Library branches.