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hyperchaoschidi's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In reading The Great Gatsby, one thing becomes immediately clear--F. Scott Fitzgerald is deeply in love with his characters, particularly Daisy. His descriptions of them are lush (although occasionally he becomes too enraptured with his own internal euphoria and forgets to use some physical adjectives). As an example, here is one of his initial descriptions of Daisy:
I looked back at my cousin, who began to ask me questions in her low, thrilling voice. It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again. Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget: a singing compulsion, a whispered “Listen,” a promise that she had done gay, exciting things just a while since and that there were gay, exciting things hovering in the next hour.
Fitzgerald's descriptions of Gatsby's parties and the general environment of being alive and young in 1920s New York are equally lush. His greatest strength as an author (at least in this book) is making you feel like you too are part of the flushed crowds poised between swirling bacchanals. The characters are also decently fleshed out, and while there isn't necessarily any real character development, you do become interested in their internal realities, even if that compulsion is largely a result of Fitzgerald's own clear interest and a desire to understand Fitzgerald himself.
The plot, however, is extremely thin and, at least to me, not particularly satisfying; I felt fortunate when I realized the book was only 156 pages in my edition. It is slow, the threads come together in a way that comes across as extremely random, and the ending felt more like an artistic attempt to capture an ephemeral feeling of Fitzgerald's rather than an actual meaningful ending befitting the book.
In sum: a great read if (1) you are into slow character analysis and want to understand why so many English teachers feel compelled to assign this book; (2) you are seeking to lose yourself in an atmosphere of revelry and 1920s America and don't really care if there is a sustained, exciting plot; or (3) you are a book purist and want to read the book before pursuing one of its various adaptations. Otherwise, I would skip it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
At various points throughout the novel the main characters espouse period-typical eugenicist rhetoric.theangelssing's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
Boy, what a journey! I never read this book even though I’ve heard a lot about it. I never thought the story would end like this and I’m quite shocked. Not sure if I loved this book, but it was really great to read.
Don’t hesitate to read it y’all!
Don’t hesitate to read it y’all!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol
thats_eli's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Car accident
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and War
manukahoney_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Minor: Domestic abuse
manukahoney_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
fujiopples's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
A lot of people overlook/dislike this book because they were most likely forced to read it in high school, but I think that everyone should read it on their own at least once. This is my favorite book of all time, and I think there are many themes that are still relevant and relatable today. For example, I see myself a lot in Nick, despite the fact that I am a 17-year-old trans guy living in a completely different time period. Anyway, I love this book, and everyone should love this book! It's short enough that you can read it in a day if you wanted to, and while it does have some problematic aspects (it was the 1920s) it is incredibly worth reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Antisemitism
sbgage's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence and Racism
ziareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What a gorgeously written book! You can almost picture yourself in the scenes that were set, and feel the emotions that came from every character. You might find yourself being incredibly annoyed at all the characters all the time, but I think that was what Fitzgerald was going for in the first place.
The ending alone deserved a five star review, but I deducted a star simply because it was boring at some parts. Overall, this was a delight to read!
The ending alone deserved a five star review, but I deducted a star simply because it was boring at some parts. Overall, this was a delight to read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Racism
atruthuniversallyacknowledged's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racism
kendall216's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Antisemitism