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jheinemann287's review against another edition
4.0
I expected to be very annoyed by this retelling of The Great Gatsby, but I found it quite charming. I think the characterization--especially of Delilah (Daisy) and Jeff (Jordan)--could actually be clarifying for a high school student reading Gatsby.
The main flaw is that some of the narrator's voice a bit tryhard, which pulls you out from the story, but the parallels to Gatsby's plot and Fitzgerald's writing style are subtle enough to surprise--and delight--you. I looked forward to finding them. Even Jacinta's quirk of calling everyone "love" grew on me. At first I found it forced and annoying, but then I remembered that it's SUPPOSED to sound forced and annoying. "Old Sport" sounded forced and annoying, too; it's just that I've read it so many times that it seems natural now.
Overall, it was a cute read. I'm excited to tell my students about it (but only after they've read most of Gatsby).
The main flaw is that some of the narrator's voice a bit tryhard, which pulls you out from the story, but the parallels to Gatsby's plot and Fitzgerald's writing style are subtle enough to surprise--and delight--you. I looked forward to finding them. Even Jacinta's quirk of calling everyone "love" grew on me. At first I found it forced and annoying, but then I remembered that it's SUPPOSED to sound forced and annoying. "Old Sport" sounded forced and annoying, too; it's just that I've read it so many times that it seems natural now.
Overall, it was a cute read. I'm excited to tell my students about it (but only after they've read most of Gatsby).
chrissymcbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I never cared for The Great Gatsby in high school. I still didn't really get into it all in college, either. The characters always felt so annoying and shallow and frivolous, and I always hoped for a secret chapter to pop in somewhere and redeem the story, but it just never happened for me.
GREAT is kind of like that book -- in that the characters definitely felt annoying and shallow and frivolous --- and the plot line really seemed to go nowhere at times, filled with extraneous quirks and situations that really did nothing to advance the story.
So, why the four star rating, then?
Overall, I do think GREAT was an excellent YA retelling of the original classic. It maintained just enough obnoxiousness to remind me of the first book, with a few modern twists and turns to keep YA fans begging for more.
There was something mildly entrancing about this little book, which makes me interested in future works in the genre by the author.
If you hate The Great Gatsby, but have enough recollection to appreciate a quirky little teenager version of the story, I definitely recommend that you pick up GREAT. Just keep your expectations realistic (this is the YA genre, after all -- not another great literary classic).
GREAT is kind of like that book -- in that the characters definitely felt annoying and shallow and frivolous --- and the plot line really seemed to go nowhere at times, filled with extraneous quirks and situations that really did nothing to advance the story.
So, why the four star rating, then?
Overall, I do think GREAT was an excellent YA retelling of the original classic. It maintained just enough obnoxiousness to remind me of the first book, with a few modern twists and turns to keep YA fans begging for more.
There was something mildly entrancing about this little book, which makes me interested in future works in the genre by the author.
If you hate The Great Gatsby, but have enough recollection to appreciate a quirky little teenager version of the story, I definitely recommend that you pick up GREAT. Just keep your expectations realistic (this is the YA genre, after all -- not another great literary classic).
caresays's review against another edition
2.0
I love Gatsby SUPER HARD, and I found this to be a bit lackluster. I mean, to start off with -- it's the exact same thing.
Overall, this was too true to Gatsby, and felt formulaic in a way. At first I enjoyed seeing the modern-day versions of the characters, but then I got kind of bored. But this did make me feel way worse for Gatsby than the original ever did. In the original I mostly think Jay Gatsby is super naive and kind of dumb, and in this one...well, I felt similarly, but also TERRIBLE. God, Delilah. :|
(I wish it hadn't been a car accident. I feel like that could've been done better.)
Things that bothered me: that throwaway mention of Naomi's butch BFF who she didn't think was attractive because she dressed like a dude, but some girls must have been into that. Her saying that Jacinta and Delilah weren't "real lesbians". "Feminist" jokes or whatever bullshit. It felt preachy.
Spoiler
Also, what was the deal with making Naomi not gay? Nick is CLEARLY GAY. If you were so determined to stick to canon, just go ahead and make Naomi in LUUUUUV with Jacinta.Overall, this was too true to Gatsby, and felt formulaic in a way. At first I enjoyed seeing the modern-day versions of the characters, but then I got kind of bored. But this did make me feel way worse for Gatsby than the original ever did. In the original I mostly think Jay Gatsby is super naive and kind of dumb, and in this one...well, I felt similarly, but also TERRIBLE. God, Delilah. :|
(I wish it hadn't been a car accident. I feel like that could've been done better.)
Things that bothered me: that throwaway mention of Naomi's butch BFF who she didn't think was attractive because she dressed like a dude, but some girls must have been into that. Her saying that Jacinta and Delilah weren't "real lesbians". "Feminist" jokes or whatever bullshit. It felt preachy.
plumeriade's review against another edition
2.0
so it wasn't bad, but it also wasn't.... great. i feel like this is a decent ya retelling of gatsby, and i liked jacinta. however, two main problems for me (these aren't really spoilers if you're familiar with gatsby and can draw some conclusions about what happens, but just in case):
1) let's talk about lesbians. the relationship with jacinta and delilah is very sudden and shallow, which, partly because it's not from either of their povs but still, you're not an old dude classic anymore, you're ya, and i want more! also, this is probably something i should have realized on my own, but a lesbian retelling creates A TON OF ANXIETY because we know what happens and i'm just waiting for the inevitable death of the lesbian (tm). and that's definitely HEIGHTENED on purpose when the boyfriend gets angry and starts throwing around the word "dyke."
1.5) speaking of, i thought it was cool at first to have naomi's bff back home be a (butch) lesbian but idk, it seems like it's actually just to exist in contrast to all these nice girly-girly lesbians? to be remembered as looking and dressing like a guy, to make disparaging comments about girliness, to tell naomi that jacinta and delilah aren't *really* together. but then she ~scores~ a cheerleader. blech.
2) things i hate: books that throw in references to feminism to make what a character is doing okay "is it okay to walk a feminist home?" "this feminist is okay with it, heehee" *later, oblig fight over 'pms' remark* how about instead of name-dropping feminism every chapter you show me it with your story? nahhhh
Spoiler
1) let's talk about lesbians. the relationship with jacinta and delilah is very sudden and shallow, which, partly because it's not from either of their povs but still, you're not an old dude classic anymore, you're ya, and i want more! also, this is probably something i should have realized on my own, but a lesbian retelling creates A TON OF ANXIETY because we know what happens and i'm just waiting for the inevitable death of the lesbian (tm). and that's definitely HEIGHTENED on purpose when the boyfriend gets angry and starts throwing around the word "dyke."
1.5) speaking of, i thought it was cool at first to have naomi's bff back home be a (butch) lesbian but idk, it seems like it's actually just to exist in contrast to all these nice girly-girly lesbians? to be remembered as looking and dressing like a guy, to make disparaging comments about girliness, to tell naomi that jacinta and delilah aren't *really* together. but then she ~scores~ a cheerleader. blech.
2) things i hate: books that throw in references to feminism to make what a character is doing okay "is it okay to walk a feminist home?" "this feminist is okay with it, heehee" *later, oblig fight over 'pms' remark* how about instead of name-dropping feminism every chapter you show me it with your story? nahhhh
karak's review against another edition
4.0
Really awesome re-telling of The Great Gatsby, and I hated the original Great Gatsby. But, it really works in the modern era.
vixenchick's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, don't kill me, but I've never read The Great Gatsby. I don't know how it relates to this book. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. It was easy to read and flowed nicely. The only thing that bothered me was how shallow these people were. I know it's part of the book but it still irked me. I live on Long Island and have seen the shallowness of the people that "summer" in the Hamptons. I do really like when an author drops names and brand names. It gives me a sense of familiarity. Like I said before though, I haven't read The Great Gatsby, so I don't know how it ends. I would have liked to see a little more in the ending of this book, but it was good enough. I'm not sure if a younger teen would totally "get" the story, but there is very little strong language and sexual situations. Overall, a great read!
islandgeekgirl's review against another edition
2.0
Naomi Rye never looks forward to spending the summer with her mother out in East Hampton. She's the new girl in a group of teenagers who have grown up rich and spending their summers in the Hamptons. She soon learns that this summer will be different, this summer has Jacinta. Jacinta is her next door neighbor and seems taken in by Noami's my-mother-makes-me-hang-out-with-her friend Delilah Fairweather. Jacinta has secrets and Noami has to decide how far she's willing to be sucked into this world.
This is a retelling of The Great Gatsby with teenage characters. I enjoyed The Great Gatsby so I was excited to read this one but it came nowhere near to giving me the same feelings as the original. I think the author tried to put her own spin on it but I never forgot that this was a retelling the way I have with other books.
The descriptions in the book are pretty amazing. The parties, the clothes, the decorations, it all gives major feelings of 'I want to be there!'. Just not with these characters. There wasn't a whole lot of depth to any of them. Maybe it was because the story was so similar to the original that it lacked surprising moments and even when the plot did deviate a bit, it still didn't end up shocking me.
I had a really hard time with the characters, especially the main, Noami. She was supposed to be the everyday girl who got thrown into this world and took the reader with her but I never felt a connection with her. She came across just as spoiled and self-centered as the kids she judged. The connection between Jacinta and Delilah felt forced and shallow, more like a mutual obsession than any real feelings. Maybe it's because we saw it all through someone else's eyes and it was repeating numerous times about their connection but without showing it.
The plot was a bit slow but it did really pick up in the last thirty pages or so. It did feel like a missed opportunity to take the modernization and do more with it, especially considering the LGBT twist to the characters.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a retelling of The Great Gatsby with teenage characters. I enjoyed The Great Gatsby so I was excited to read this one but it came nowhere near to giving me the same feelings as the original. I think the author tried to put her own spin on it but I never forgot that this was a retelling the way I have with other books.
The descriptions in the book are pretty amazing. The parties, the clothes, the decorations, it all gives major feelings of 'I want to be there!'. Just not with these characters. There wasn't a whole lot of depth to any of them. Maybe it was because the story was so similar to the original that it lacked surprising moments and even when the plot did deviate a bit, it still didn't end up shocking me.
I had a really hard time with the characters, especially the main, Noami. She was supposed to be the everyday girl who got thrown into this world and took the reader with her but I never felt a connection with her. She came across just as spoiled and self-centered as the kids she judged. The connection between Jacinta and Delilah felt forced and shallow, more like a mutual obsession than any real feelings. Maybe it's because we saw it all through someone else's eyes and it was repeating numerous times about their connection but without showing it.
The plot was a bit slow but it did really pick up in the last thirty pages or so. It did feel like a missed opportunity to take the modernization and do more with it, especially considering the LGBT twist to the characters.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
adamantium's review against another edition
4.0
Good start to 2016. Finished in one quick burst and one (not too long) marathon. I last reread Gatsby in 2011, and this is just the right amount of faithful. Also, how can you spoil something based on The Great Gatsby? But I will say nearly a century later that more than ever, it reads like the coward's way out.
ifthebook's review against another edition
2.0
So, this was not good. It was a pretty faithful re-telling of Gatsby, which is fine, and I was excited about the gender-flipping of Gatsby, but it all sort of fell apart for one key reason: the characters are all teenagers. On one hand, this works well because all the characters in the original sort of act like teenagers in that they're reckless and stupid and selfish. The problem is that because that they're teenagers, they have no previous life experience. There is no basis for their characters.
Mainly, I speak of the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy, or, in this case, Jacinta and Delilah. There isn't any. In the original, there was an actual relationship and Gatsby is pining after an actual love. In this retelling, none of that happens and so Jacinta just ends up looking creepy and obsessed. (Not that Gatsby isn't creepy and obsessed, but he at least has more of a reason to be.)
The point of Great Gatsby is to tell Gatsby's story and (potentially) Nick's story. In this retelling, I couldn't believe in Gatsby's story and so the whole thing fell apart.
Mainly, I speak of the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy, or, in this case, Jacinta and Delilah. There isn't any. In the original, there was an actual relationship and Gatsby is pining after an actual love. In this retelling, none of that happens and so Jacinta just ends up looking creepy and obsessed. (Not that Gatsby isn't creepy and obsessed, but he at least has more of a reason to be.)
The point of Great Gatsby is to tell Gatsby's story and (potentially) Nick's story. In this retelling, I couldn't believe in Gatsby's story and so the whole thing fell apart.
jackieeh's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. Almost worth reading for these things: the fact that Jordan Baker's male analogue is SO MUCH MORE ANNOYING, natch, and also crying over Birkin bags instead of shirts.