freyas_bookshelf's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mxnhtrv's review against another edition
4.0
Do you remember around this time last year the whole social media went crazy about that girl with the solid 10 on literature for the university entrance exam? Right after that, fed up with vicious criticism as the comment section kept inflating to adapt to the netizens' gloat, I dropped this book with a disgusting feeling. Well, if they thought having read a book equals the right to bash the whole education system under their shoes then I will give them that privilege.
But now, a particular person has been the reason I came back and completed this piece, engrossed in English and Vietnamese versions simultaneously, plus pages of critique, dive down earnestly days and nights. That's a quite wild trip, due to Fitzgerald's penmanship, and the whole midsummer atmosphere repressed.
Nonetheless, there will be no specific review, over 2 million existing ones are already enough. I just want to recommend you guys to read some analyses on the meaning of "Great", Gatsby's concern with time, the American dream, Nick the narrator, and a bunch of Easter eggs to literature, architecture, musical, philosophic masterpieces. Or maybe I will extend this review someday when I end my phase as a sloth. Bye.
But now, a particular person has been the reason I came back and completed this piece, engrossed in English and Vietnamese versions simultaneously, plus pages of critique, dive down earnestly days and nights. That's a quite wild trip, due to Fitzgerald's penmanship, and the whole midsummer atmosphere repressed.
Nonetheless, there will be no specific review, over 2 million existing ones are already enough. I just want to recommend you guys to read some analyses on the meaning of "Great", Gatsby's concern with time, the American dream, Nick the narrator, and a bunch of Easter eggs to literature, architecture, musical, philosophic masterpieces. Or maybe I will extend this review someday when I end my phase as a sloth. Bye.
ed_moore's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald was such an easy book to get into and also finish, not being too long. It is the story of Jay Gatsby, a bachelor of the upper class in New York City renowned for his lavish parties, and his desperate longing for a brief wartime romance he had with Daisy Buchanan, a girl he spent the last five years of his life making every effort to pursue. It is a story of capitalist critique, hopeless romance and unlikely loneliness, and a perfect literary rendition of the idea of being alone among a crowd, a mental crisis that haunts many inhabitants of the 21st centuries cities. Fitzgerald’s descriptions were sublime and the foreshadowing interwoven frequently throughout the book was a highlight, though this was more glaringly obvious to me as I borrowed Ella’s A-level copy where each occasion of such is highlighted in neon pink! The ending is also largely unexplained, though I was unusually content with this and don’t regard it as any such drawback to the story. I will however criticise the often racist and sexist remarks of the novel, whilst a product of the context at time of writing and often such ideas being voiced through the character of Tom Buchanan, who Fitzgerald presents as full of himself, incorrect and dislikable from the start, there are still occasional racist and sexist remarks inserted within ‘The Great Gatsby’s’ prose and descriptions. It does however make a theme out of capitalist critique, and in the same lens the sexist and patriarchal attitudes of the male characters to objectify and commodify women, therefore is mostly a social critique that falters in just a couple of exclamations. Overall ‘The Great Gatsby’ is a highly enjoyable and commendable text; and Nick and Gatsby were absolutely a missed romantic opportunity.
carlyisnotliterate's review against another edition
2.0
Boring. Don't know why this is considered a classic or why people think it's good. Just rich white man commentary on rich white man. Not entertaining in the slightest.
peyyyyton23's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-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
4.25
kace91's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The last page of the book alone makes the read worth it.
That said, the book's age shows in some aspects - it's hard to see events from the eyes of the author's generation (are some events to be seen as sinful debauchery or found freedom?). I found that watching the movie first helped set up the mood for a read.
That said, the book's age shows in some aspects - it's hard to see events from the eyes of the author's generation (are some events to be seen as sinful debauchery or found freedom?). I found that watching the movie first helped set up the mood for a read.
sharkmane's review against another edition
too complicated for me to understand for ap lit. maybe i'll come back to it.
meganlouise815's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-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? No
5.0