Reviews

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

aeprice38's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

brian__reader's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

3.5

woodstoxk's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous relaxing sad tense fast-paced

3.75

lakeshorelibrarian's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Don't love the plot, the characters are hard to like, but the writing is amazing in imagery and the use of language

zmh_419's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

3.75

winegodz's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Não é muito o meu estilo mas acabou por ser uma boa experiência overall

dogmomirene's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I had never read the classic The Great Gatsby and I’ve been delaying watching any movie version of the story until I did sit down and read it. Unlike most of my other reviews, this one contains spoilers. I am just so disgusted by this story that I could not write anything that was neutral and spoiler-free.

Surprisingly, I read this novel much quicker than I thought I would. The pacing worked well. Fitzgerald camouflages most of his self-absorbed, superficial, and judgmental characters well in the first half of the story. Of course, I knew from popular references to the story that things would not end well, but I was hoping for some glimmer of hope.

The majority of this story focuses on Nick Carraway’s observations about his neighbor Jay Gatsby. Nick is the one dynamic character in this entire plot.

All of the other characters are such horrifyingly static characters void of any moral center. The most vile of these characters is Daisy Buchanan.

She is the beautiful, but brainless female seeking the Mrs. degree. She found her rich husband in the philandering Tom Buchanan. The fact that she is raising a child makes me sick. She is completely devoid of any conscience, proven when she runs over her husband’s lover, Myrtle, and leaves the scene of the accident. This working class woman is of no consequence to Daisy. Myrtle is just some commoner; her life worthless.

Then there’s Jordan Baker, the single version of Daisy, spending her time husband hunting. I was relieved when Nick Carraway escaped her advances. His decision to leave the heartless city and reconnect with the real people in his life actually creates a somewhat promising resolution to an otherwise depressing story.

This story overflows with the themes of excess consumerism, greed, and the death of the American Dream, which overwhelm me with melancholy. I may not like these themes, but Fitzgerald writes them beautifully and effectively. I am thoroughly and completely depressed and vexed.

At the very least, if I wish to extend this morose mood, I can now watch various film versions of the story.

bruathayde's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious reflective medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

ella2199's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

caseys927's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Tbh I hated this sorry not sorry. Not a single character is likable. They’re all bad people doing bad or weird things. One of my least favorites…