Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

15 reviews

k_winchester's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Actually, surprisingly good!

I say that because in general for me personally, I've found that most "classics" I've read are not for me at all for one reason or another, so when I started reading this, I did expect not to really enjoy it, despite it being crazy popular and often called one of the greatest novels of all time. 

I really did enjoy the way this was written - the use of language and phrasing was often just delicious. It's frequently very flowery and stylistic, some lines need a reread to catch the meaning, but there is really, really lovely way about so much of it. So much of it alludes to what's under the surface without saying it (soo well done) and there's so much lovely, really unique phrasing (I wish I had jotted down good examples, but towards the end, there's a bit like "the phone book splashed to the floor" - obviously the book isn't liquid, but it gives such a perfect visual of the book falling open and pages splaying, etc).

The characters were... not great, pretty shallow/flat, and ultimately all pretty terrible people one way or another. I fail to see, at all, why Gatsby was into Daisy, as she seemed almost entirely flaky and avoid-y. The way the characters are written is the most interesting part, as in the way they are physically described, thier actions, tone, body language, etc. 

By the end, it becomes pretty clear that the whole thing is pretty much about shallow rich people keeping up appearances while being largely shallow and rich, but letting you THINK for a while that that's not what it is. I don't know if it's specifically classed as a tragedy, but it definitely is. It's certainly not uplifting or satisfying - it's sad and definitely tragic.

When Gatsby dies, essentially because of Daisy, after spending years basically changing his entire life and molding himself in order to "be worthy" of Daisy, after spending years throwing lavish parties and being this popular mystery man (and some secret crime to get money fast), and she is careless/cowardly and he covers for her without second thought... but then *no one*, not even Daisy, goes to his funeral?

I mean, there's not really any way to feel except disheartened when closing the book with that ending.

I'm glad it was short, because pretty though the writing was, I don't think I could have read something double length in the same style or it would've gotten exhausting. I'm glad I read it, I enjoyed it well enough, but I also don't really think it totally deserves the legendary status it has. 

(BUT I also doubt that *anything* listed semi-universally on the "greatest novels of all time" list could really live up to that kind of status/hype either, and without a historical deep dive, it can be hard to pinpoint the influence many of those famous classics have had.)

Anyways, tl;dr: a legendary classic that was actually enjoyable to read. 👍

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Car accident

Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content

lolovg__'s review against another edition

informative mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Be well versed on American history to fully unlock the best parts of fitzgeralds writing in this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism

ravenauthor1013's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Sexual content

abi_04's review against another edition

slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

rachelmcg2004's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Half a star taken away from this masterpiece for the jarring and horrible racial slurs and sexism that cropped up on occasion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, War, and Classism

annasayscheese's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racism

paigeinabook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

agatha_hopkins's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content and Stalking

ameliaflint's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It was good. I hated every character, but I think that was the intent so that is okay. One of the most brilliant works of prose from the twentieth century. Very good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Car accident

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content and War

vinsynt's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment