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jlangill's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I couldn't help but compare the book to "The Sun Also Rises", one of my favorites. Self- Absorbed characters, post WW I, with too much money and too much time on their hands. Unfortunately, the characters in this book lack redeeming qualities and likability. I was disappointed. The writing is striking, but the storyline was not. I may have enjoyed it more if I had first read it when I was younger, but I thought it was a bit boring, predictable, and indulgent but not in a pleasant way. It was not the worst piece of literature I have ever read, but it is in my average-below average pile.
fizz619's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
haybmac's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most beautifully written novels in American literature, this is a tale of life and destruction during the 1920s Jazz Age and Prohibition, that shows the power of old money versus new money, long-lost love and loss, and the decaying reality of the American Dream.
The new guy in the city, Nick Carraway, learns of his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gastby, after being invited to one of his lavish parties. He learns of the amazing feats Gatsby has overcome to achieve his dream of wealth and power, but he still lacks the love that he wants in his life.
Little does Nick know, his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, one of the most beautiful and sought after girls of the era, has some history with Gatsby. Although she is married to the strong, hulking, wealthy Tom Buchanan, Daisy reunites with Gatsby and commences the downward spiral of events in this tragedy.
Through both Daisy and Gatsby, Nick rubs elbows with the rich, the famous, and the corrupt, and eventually gets in the middle of many questionably immoral situations that make him see that money is not everything and the people with the money may not be as real as they seem. Nick's spirit and hope for the future decays along with the reality of destructive events throughout the novel, but at the end, he finds comfort in Gatsby's view of the American Dream and love of life.
F. Scott Fitzgerald shows us the dangers of blind wealth and materialistic living through the characters that take advantage of life and destroy it to save themselves. He exemplifies the greed, selfishness, and ability to hide behind wealth in contrast to the hard work and struggles of reaching the *maybe* unattainable American Dream. He also symbolically reminds us through the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg that God is always watching and we humans and our society will be judged by our actions.
Personally, I love this story for the crippling realization that money cannot buy happiness, but the true hope of achieving the American Dream will never die.
A perfect quote that sums up the story is: "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life."
The new guy in the city, Nick Carraway, learns of his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gastby, after being invited to one of his lavish parties. He learns of the amazing feats Gatsby has overcome to achieve his dream of wealth and power, but he still lacks the love that he wants in his life.
Little does Nick know, his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, one of the most beautiful and sought after girls of the era, has some history with Gatsby. Although she is married to the strong, hulking, wealthy Tom Buchanan, Daisy reunites with Gatsby and commences the downward spiral of events in this tragedy.
Through both Daisy and Gatsby, Nick rubs elbows with the rich, the famous, and the corrupt, and eventually gets in the middle of many questionably immoral situations that make him see that money is not everything and the people with the money may not be as real as they seem. Nick's spirit and hope for the future decays along with the reality of destructive events throughout the novel, but at the end, he finds comfort in Gatsby's view of the American Dream and love of life.
F. Scott Fitzgerald shows us the dangers of blind wealth and materialistic living through the characters that take advantage of life and destroy it to save themselves. He exemplifies the greed, selfishness, and ability to hide behind wealth in contrast to the hard work and struggles of reaching the *maybe* unattainable American Dream. He also symbolically reminds us through the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg that God is always watching and we humans and our society will be judged by our actions.
Personally, I love this story for the crippling realization that money cannot buy happiness, but the true hope of achieving the American Dream will never die.
A perfect quote that sums up the story is: "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life."
wilpetty's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
goobgoblin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.0
javagirlkt's review against another edition
3.0
Meh, what can I say? Didn't dislike it, but it didn't do anything for me either.
napoleanne's review against another edition
2.0
I just hated some of the characters so much in this book that I can't read it without having fits of rage. They are just so stupidly useless. Sometimes it feels like such a waste of my time to try to have an emotional attachment to the characters that I just have to give up every time I get to certain parts of this book.
Coincidentally, I actually like the narrator, Nick Carraway, and Gatsby, even if only because I feel sorry for him.
Coincidentally, I actually like the narrator, Nick Carraway, and Gatsby, even if only because I feel sorry for him.
leiaslizzy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was such an interesting read in that it's a more modern classic than the others that I've read which were all from the nineteenth century. The language was quite a challenge to get my head around, but I loved the description and even though the characters were all awful people, they were compelling. It was quite a difficult read to begin with, but it did pick up within the last couple of chapters. All in all, this was alright.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Racism
Minor: War