Scan barcode
saritaadam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: Terminal illness and War
basementofbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Car accident and Abortion
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Deportation
aplpaca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Abortion, Alcohol, and Classism
sierrainstitches's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Racism and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
tinyjude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Despite that, Jordan's heritage and how the political landscape of the time will affect her are barely addressed by. Her paper cutting magic and the magic realism aspects could have been used more prominently and the queerness of, especially Nick and Jordan, could have been explored in more detail. It felt as if still we only got them as a couple who were each fascinated by Daisy and Jay, rather than madly in love with them. I get it was supposed to feel confusing but I think it didn't translate that well into the text.
The interpretation about the souls was interesting, thou.
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, Classism, and Deportation
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, Trafficking, and War
zombiezami's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Abortion, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Slavery, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, War, and Deportation
lolajh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Sexual content and Car accident
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Abortion, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
augustrogue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
So why did it take me over 2 months to read this fairly short novel? I could not tell you. Possibly it was because it often took a lot of concentration to follow and parse each sentence's meaning, and when I tend to read before bed, this would lead to me nodding off after only reading a few pages. There were a few times that the story suddenly slipped into a flashback and I wasn't sure what time the scene took place, and other times I *thought* we had flashed back but then that scene actually had been current.
But it is an absolutely gorgeous book overall. The magical elements were fascinating and very memorable. I found this parallel universe 1920's U.S. very compelling.
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Car accident
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
lktx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Chosen explores Jordan growing up in Louisville as the adopted daughter of the Louisville Bakers, taken from Vietnam as a young child; her friendship with Daisy Fay Buchanan; her relationship with Nick Carraway; her queerness and complicated feelings about relationships; and of course, Gatsby. There's the addition of magic, pacts with hell, and a drink called demoniac, outlawed just like alcohol. It follows the summer of Gatsby, and the scenes from the original source show up in the right places, but fills in the gaps of what Nick either doesn't see or doesn't want to tell. The events are, thankfully, predictable for anyone who knows The Great Gatsby well, but the rest of it is a delightful take, and it has a surprisingly uplifting ending.
I listened the audiobook and the narrator, Natalie Naudus, was fantastic. I loved the voice she used for Jordan. It was slightly different from her standard narration voice, but it made Jordan's character and the face she put on for everyone--including herself sometimes--feel quite real.
Pros:
- Jordan was a delightful narrator and writing her as an adopted daughter brought from Vietnam was an interesting perspective that allowed the author to explore a new side of the character.
- Well developed characters, especially Daisy, who though not the protagonist is the hingepin in all the characters lives. Gatsby also felt true to who he was, just from a different perspevtive.
- The magic and fantastic world building was interesting and I liked the alternate history that was developing.
- Did not see the reveal at the end coming.
Cons:
- At times a little too racy, though it seemed to fit Jordan's character.
- The addition of the Vietnamese paper-cutting troupe felt rushed as that arc started around 60%. I wished there'd been a little more there.
- Jordan is a well-known golf player and there were mentions of her playing, but rarely. She felt like a socialite. I would have liked more of the golf.
- Not a con, persay, but the end is surprisingly uplifting for what a tragedy The Great Gatsby is.
Moderate: Sexual content
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and War