This scene reflects the motif of appearances vs. reality within the novel. The owl-eyed man is the typical guest at Gatsby's parties. He was not invited, stating "I was brought. Most people were brought." His presence is only underscoring the fact that he is taking advantage of Gatsby, as so many others do. He also confides that he's "been drunk for about a week now." The feeling of decadence and extravagance is heavy in his words. Later, he is a passenger in a car accident that occurs as the party is winding down.
So, being a typical guest, he expects everyone to be as fake as he himself. But instead, he is shocked to discover that the books are:
Absolutely real--have pages and everything. I thought they'd be a nice durable cardboard. Matter of fact they're absolutely real. Pages and--Here! Lemme show you.
He then follows it up:
It's a bona fide piece of printed matter. It fooled me. This fella's a regular Belasco. It's a triumph. What thoroughness!
Here he is comparing Gatsby to a playwright known for his sense of realism. He's pointing out that although Gatsby is building a facade through his wealth, he strives to make it a realistic one in every aspect. Gatsby resembles his books-he's real, but unrefined and unreadable.
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