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zams's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I put this on on audio because I thought it was a quick way to sneak in a short little classic to polish the stats and get it under my belt since I've never read it before, but boy was I pleasently surprised.
I think this short book had more depth for most of the characters and more drama than any full length romances I've read. It also gets to show how different relationships - romantic or platonic - can be, and how unlinear they are.
I don't find most classics gripping, and that was also the case with this one, but it was most definitly entertaining.
What I didn't like was that the "bad" mistress as well as all jewish people have seemed to be described as ugly or rude. I also found the sole attendence of certain events of our narrator as a bystander sometimes a little weird, and I get that's for narrational purposes, because how else would he know, but it's been a little weird sometimes. I also was a little confused because I thought that Jordan was a person of color, since she was described as "tan", but considering the comments and reactions of the other characters I figured that she was in fact not.
I could go on about the abundance of commentary on society, wealth and relationships this book has made, but this is still supposed to be a book review and not a discussion round, so I simply won't, but I'm definitly looking forward to a re-reas sometime in the future 😊
I think this short book had more depth for most of the characters and more drama than any full length romances I've read. It also gets to show how different relationships - romantic or platonic - can be, and how unlinear they are.
I don't find most classics gripping, and that was also the case with this one, but it was most definitly entertaining.
What I didn't like was that the "bad" mistress as well as all jewish people have seemed to be described as ugly or rude. I also found the sole attendence of certain events of our narrator as a bystander sometimes a little weird, and I get that's for narrational purposes, because how else would he know, but it's been a little weird sometimes. I also was a little confused because I thought that Jordan was a person of color, since she was described as "tan", but considering the comments and reactions of the other characters I figured that she was in fact not.
I could go on about the abundance of commentary on society, wealth and relationships this book has made, but this is still supposed to be a book review and not a discussion round, so I simply won't, but I'm definitly looking forward to a re-reas sometime in the future 😊
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Car accident
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, and Antisemitism
tifftastic87's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I genuinely don't understand how this book is one of the "great American novels." Maybe there is something to take away about how wealth is a disease or that being a socialite doesn't mean you are liked, likeable, or capable of friendship. But there has got to be a better way to do that then to tell the story of wealthy people getting drunk, complaining, fighting and running around on their spouses.
Nick, the narrator, reminds us so many times that hes one of the few honest men, that I fail to believe he is a reliable narrator at all.
Gatsby, whom we know so little about until the end, is honestly a man who is so stuck on the past when he "fell in love" with an 18 year old barely legal Daisy that he spent his whole life accumulating wealth to get her attention. He throws wild parties just to hope she'll come.
The women, Daisy and Jordan, are pretty much here for decoration and to be an object for the men to either fight over (Daisy) or be guided by (Jordan). The exception is Myrtle who is there to simply show you how horrible Tom is and for Nick to describe as fat and bossy.
Nick, the narrator, reminds us so many times that hes one of the few honest men, that I fail to believe he is a reliable narrator at all.
Gatsby, whom we know so little about until the end, is honestly a man who is so stuck on the past when he "fell in love" with an 18 year old barely legal Daisy that he spent his whole life accumulating wealth to get her attention. He throws wild parties just to hope she'll come.
The women, Daisy and Jordan, are pretty much here for decoration and to be an object for the men to either fight over (Daisy) or be guided by (Jordan). The exception is Myrtle who is there to simply show you how horrible Tom is and for Nick to describe as fat and bossy.
She carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can.
Tom is a racist, white supremacist piece of garbage who cheats on his wife, abuses his mistress and just talks trash about everyone.
I disliked every single character in this book. I loathed every page. I am so glad I was never forced to read this in school.
Only giving it some credit for the accuracy in which Fitzgerald describes drunk people and the way he sets scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Toxic friendship