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millman's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Loved the book but the theatrical ending did not age well to me.
Too bad because the way the characters are revealed to us step by step is amazing.
Too bad because the way the characters are revealed to us step by step is amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Antisemitism
_httpsvintage's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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
5.0
This book is extremely insightful into the world of the rich, and it truly shows how divisive the different classes are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Racism, Suicide, and Violence
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A literary classic, Gatsby centres around the party host and smuggler Jay Gatsby. A man of "new wealth" in the rich part of Long Island, he secretly harbours a deep love for the wife of a nearby family, whom he has known for years. As the narrator Nick Carraway learns more about the enigmatic Gatsby, the more events begin to conspire to topple the self-made man from his throne.
I first read this book in English class in high school but did not remember a single part of it. I enjoyed re-reading it now and remembering all of the symbolism, the plot, the characterization of both Gatsby and Nick. I would not recommend it if you struggle with purple prose, as Fitzgerald can get flowery with descriptions or use some (now) obscure term for seemingly no reason. The plot is fairly straightforward and predictable, and because of the third-person narration it is hard to understand Gatsby's motivations. An enjoyable read nonetheless!
I first read this book in English class in high school but did not remember a single part of it. I enjoyed re-reading it now and remembering all of the symbolism, the plot, the characterization of both Gatsby and Nick. I would not recommend it if you struggle with purple prose, as Fitzgerald can get flowery with descriptions or use some (now) obscure term for seemingly no reason. The plot is fairly straightforward and predictable, and because of the third-person narration it is hard to understand Gatsby's motivations. An enjoyable read nonetheless!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Cursing, Genocide, and Colonisation
xinawebb's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Sexism, Antisemitism, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
sydneykaye's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Antisemitism, Stalking, Car accident, and Alcohol
jenmaysiereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
5 out of 5 stars
It almost goes without saying but every time I read ‘The Great Gatsby’, I fall in love with it that little bit more.
It’s difficult to not get drunk on the atmosphere of the narrative within ‘The Great Gatsby’. Fitzgerald effuses the novel with a magic and majesty that is truly intoxicating. Following the journey of story’s narrator; the reader can’t help but be submerged in the whimsy of this sparkling, discomforting story alongside Nick.
The shimmering mirage of ‘The Great Gatsby’ is a cruel facade. Behind the glitter and glamor lies a story of discontent, obsession and the greed of man — throwing the nature of human desire into a harsh, all too revealing light.
At the heart of the story is Jay Gatsby, the man who has everything. It’s impossible not to feel the same bone-deep draw that the novel’s narrator feels toward him. There is something unknowable about Gatsby — something unreal and intangible that makes him all the more desirable. Like the green light at the end of a dock.
The tragedy of his loneliness, of his longing, is a knife to the heart. Gatsby is a character that wants and dreams as deeply and profoundly as any of us. It’s painful to watch as everything he has ever wanted and all he has worked for come so closely within his grasp, only for it to slip through his fingertips, drawn away by the cruelty and carelessness those he purports to love.
Reading comprehension be damned; they could never make me hate you, Jay Gatsby.
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter — tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning —— So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
amberg25's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
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
wheatlyre's review against another edition
medium-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
4.25
I will preface my review with the fact I read The Great Gatsby in a classroom setting, with a chapter-per-week pacing, as it was for an English assignment, and very little out of class reading; which I feel should be noted, as the way I interacted with and read the book was slightly different than how I would in a recreational/normal environment.
I liked The Great Gatsby quite a bit, and while I found my feelings for most of the characters to be on a spectrum of apathy to (just barely not) hatred as people, they are interesting characters, and you could find a lot of depth through speculation over them. There are a few lines and descriptions that I found quite revealing regarding the underlying feelings and motivations of some of the characters, especially Daisy Buchanan, Jay Gatsby (aka James Gatz), and Tom Buchanan , but that you might normally ignore or look past.
While I did enjoy it, there were some areas that felt slightly dull or dragged out, to the point I felt I had to skip though a bit my first read through, then re-read after finishing the chapter for additional context in the later scenes.
Nick Carroway, the narrator, skips through the summer while telling the story. He keeps the timeline linear, so it could feel a bit off-putting in the moment when he would mention seemingly random events between parties and dinners with acquaintances, but the events do all have actual meaning for being there, biggest reason being to build characterization and foreshadow future reveals or events.
I liked The Great Gatsby quite a bit, and while I found my feelings for most of the characters to be on a spectrum of apathy to (just barely not) hatred as people, they are interesting characters, and you could find a lot of depth through speculation over them. There are a few lines and descriptions that I found quite revealing regarding the underlying feelings and motivations of some of the characters, especially
While I did enjoy it, there were some areas that felt slightly dull or dragged out, to the point I felt I had to skip though a bit my first read through, then re-read after finishing the chapter for additional context in the later scenes.
Nick Carroway, the narrator, skips through the summer while telling the story. He keeps the timeline linear, so it could feel a bit off-putting in the moment when he would mention seemingly random events between parties and dinners with acquaintances, but the events do all have actual meaning for being there, biggest reason being to build characterization and foreshadow future reveals or events.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Bullying and Antisemitism
ginbat's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was easy to read but idk
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Car accident, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and War