The Great Gatsby

I loved this book when I had to read it in school as a 16 year old and love it now after reading it again as a 33 year old.

It is one of those books that will be loved throughout the years because your perception and understanding of it changes each time you read it. The story grows as you do.

The characters always made me feel many different emotions towards them including anger, sympathy, pity, understanding, and disgust.

The story touches on real things that happen in life. Death, broken marriage, affairs, greed, lost love, wanting to reinvent yourself, and so much more.

The only thing I don't think I will ever understand is why Jordan, Nick, Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby didn't just drive into the city that fateful night in their own cars. It will never make sense to me.

This book also shows how the acts of one or two people can destroy so many lives.

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a masterpiece of American literature that tells the story of the rise and fall of the titular character, Jay Gatsby. Set in the Roaring Twenties, the novel follows the lives of Gatsby and his acquaintances as they navigate the lavish and decadent world of the wealthy elite.

Fitzgerald's writing is absolutely stunning. His prose is lush and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the opulence and excess of the era. He possesses a knack for capturing the mood and atmosphere of the times, and the novel is imbued with a sense of glamour and romance.

The main characters in The Great Gatsby are complex and multifaceted, and Fitzgerald does an excellent job of bringing them to life. Gatsby is a mysterious and enigmatic figure, and the reader is drawn in by his charm and allure. The other characters, including narrator Nick Carraway and love interest Daisy Buchanan, are equally well-developed and their relationships are explored with depth and nuance.

However, one aspect of the novel that has been criticized by some readers is the lack of depth and complexity in some of the minor characters. While the main characters of Gatsby, Nick, and Daisy are well-developed and multi-faceted, some of the supporting characters, such as Tom Buchanan and Jordan Baker, are more one-dimensional and serve more as caricatures than fully realized individuals. This can be a bit disappointing for readers looking for more depth and complexity in the characters.

One of the most striking aspects of The Great Gatsby is the way Fitzgerald uses the novel to comment on the corruption and decadence of the times. The roaring Twenties were a time of unparalleled prosperity, but Fitzgerald shows that beneath the surface, there was a moral decay that would ultimately lead to the fall of Gatsby and many of his contemporaries.

In short, The Great Gatsby is a timeless classic that is as relevant today as it was when it was first published. It is a beautifully written and emotionally powerful novel that should be on the reading list of anyone interested in literature.

I listened to the audiobook via BBC Radio and watched the Robert Redford 1974 movie too.

My favorite book I was forced to read

Another book I am late to the party with... deemed a classic by most - the great American novel even; a 3.39 star average with over 4.6 million ratings and nearly 90,000 reviews. I guess I don't have much to offer that isn't already out there!

I enjoyed it for the strongly defined characters; the liked the narrative flow - the story all told looking back, but with some slight non-linear slips - little looks ahead and looks behind, all delivered with a slight detachment by the narrator, Nick Carraway. I thought it had clever dialogue, the plot cleverly intertwined and it was one of those rare novels where the reader doesn't need to side with the characters - a dislike for all the characters doesn't ruin the story (OK I didn't dislike Nick, just all the others).

The post WW1 period, with shallow, selfish and hedonistic people with money, playing at life with little consideration for consequences; the ostentatious nouveau riche, where being seen to enjoy yourself is more important than actually enjoying yourself; social classing and standing in society; the gossip of scandal. The 1920s Long Island, New York scene was beautifully set in what is a remarkably short novel which appears to pick up on details from the authors youth (he fell in love with a girl, but was rejected by her wealthy family; falls for another girl who postpones their relationship until he was finally secure).

I'm glad I finally got to this one.
4.5 stars, rounded down.

very much enjoyed this! accessible classic filled w/ beautiful prose.

The Great Gatsby well illustrates the hollow misery of a life lived primarily for self and money. I did not much like the story or characters, but I can admire the way Fitzgerald used tone and beautifully crafted sentences to tell the story beneath the surface.

This was such a layered book to immerse myself in. The theme of the insurmountable barrier between classes was expanded beautifully into this elaborate story of Gatsby in his pursuit of the American dream.

I had an absolute field day covering this book in sticky notes and organizing themes, symbolism, motifs, characters, etc. by colour. The writing and characters are truly enchanting (props to Zelda) ;)

(I did not read this book in school because covid messed up the curriculum)

such a bittersweet ending
can't wait to teach this

Probably the best depiction of the artifice of wealth ever? Also a fascinating love triangle that actually forms a triangle if you map it out 

This is not a “love story” and I don't understand why it is held in that regard by word-of-mouth. Or at least from my perspective.

The prose was incredible, which I didn't expect; it had an excellent way of incorporating modern and “classical” eloquence that I found enthralling and kept me hooked. The way the author handled each character's introduction was great as well because by meeting them for the first time we had a general idea of their personality as well as how our expectations about them would be “distorted” or “emphasized” as the story continued. I loved the way Gatsby, in particular, was [formally] introduced because it defied my expectations about him: instead of presenting him with an almost regal light or with an imposing introduction that completely defined him (like the author did with Tom a.k.a Toxic #1), he simply appeared as a guy having a good time conversing with the protagonist in the most casual way possible. When he said “I'm Gatsby” I literally jumped and had to go back and read when he came into the scene (as by this point we were introduced to a bunch of characters in said party that we weren't going to see again, so I thought he was one of them).

One of the aspects I like about Nick, our narrator, is that he really didn't care for whatever lavish things Gatsby did or tried to impress him with: he simply looked and interacted with him just like when he first met him at that party. Thus, their friendship seemed palpable and probably the only honest thing devoid of any hypocrisy to come out of this story. Just the fact that he stayed with Gatsby on that long night until morning and said those words about him, about how he's actually worth more than what they made him out to be, was probably my favorite part of the book.

Having said this, Gatsby is an idiot. A lovable idiot (sometimes, especially towards the end) but an idiot at that. Meanwhile, I personally think Daisy is our Toxic #2, and no wonder she stayed with Tom: they belong with each other as they are, in fact, the same (minus the White Supremacy thing, as far as I know). I don't know if that's an unpopular opinion, but three people died in this book and even Nick pointed out their nature TWICE in the novel.

Oh, and I liked Jordan. She was very “grounded” and had a no bs air to her that made her such a compelling character in a way that I didn't understand how she became friends with Daisy in the first place. She and Nick are probably the best couple in the book and they are not given enough credit or attention by the author.

In the end, I really loved this book and story, and well, it's an “American masterpiece” that's deserving of said acknowledgment. Although, I'm picky about something that didn't come to be: when Nick met Tom for the last time before he left NY for good (and after he parted ways with Jordan, which made me mad because I wanted those two to be together but I guess I was asking for a lot), it was revealed that he pointed Wilson in the direction of Gatsby, and said that he got what he deserved for killing Myrtle. Now, I don't know what this says about me, but I wanted Nick (as he shook his hand saying his goodbyes) to pull him closer and say to his ear “Daisy was driving” and just walk away. It would've been satisfying AF.

I was genuinely surprised by this book; I had heard a lot of people talk about how boring it was or how much they disliked it. But as a lover of the era this book is set in, and anything with big fancy parties and good plot twists, I ended up thanking my AP Literature teacher for making me read it. The author's style was the first thing to captivate me, and I remained captivated until the end of the day when I finished the book and returned it to the classroom shelf, one of the few students who borrowed her books. The vivid descriptions and passionate emotions of the characters kept me reading for the whole day. Definitely, something I would read again to notice more than the first time.

i need to read this again bc i fell asleep the first time

Good book, overall, just a very solid read. Beautifully written. There were some aspects that made Gatsby such a lovable character. We can take some of his philosophy and way of living and apply it to our lives and it would make them more exciting and alive, not necessarily better, but definitely more interesting.

One of the things that I take from this book, and that was even more emphasized having watched the movie adaptation of it, was the way in which scenery is depicted, regardless of how important or unimportant to the story it was. Everything so peculiar and embellished, no object in this book seems to go unnoticed and praised. Whether for good or bad. Whenever I think about Gatsby, I think mostly of the landscapes this book describes, that will stick with me for a long time, and to be honest I believe this to be a huge praise to the author.

This left me wanting to read more from the author in the future.

I think i will give it a better rating when i reread it, but that was a great book. In the beginning i was a bit confused, because this writing style was new to me, but at the end I realized that it's one of the best books I've ever read. From the vibe it gives, to the meaning it holds. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read something fresh.

This was a reread and unfortunately I didn't seem to enjoy it as much as I did the first time around.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars
Rounded up to 4 stars

Summary: Nick Carroway moves into a small home in New York next to a large mansion owned by one Jay Gatsby. Nick gets involved in Gatsby's plan to reestablish contact and woo Nick's second cousin, Daisy Buchanan. The book highlights the American Dream, life in the roaring 20's, and the sometimes-hollow lifestyle 0f the wealthy and famous. Additionally, it highlights the impossibility of recapturing the past (and a little of how we often look to the past with rose-colored glasses).

Definitely not a page-turner until you start to understand what is happening. I am glad I reread this book when I was older and I can appreciate it more. I rated it highly, not because I am in love with the book itself, but rather I find it interesting as a social commentary. American society pushes such extreme messages of hard work, wealth, and individualism–the grind mentality–and this book makes one wonder if it's actually worth it in the end.

Alternative title: Were You in Love With Her or the Idea of Her?

8/10

This is one of those classics that I really should have read way before now. F Scott Fitzgerald's most famous work and usually taken as the defining book of the jazz age. I was not one of those people who studied it at school and I have not seen any of the films but decided to pick up a copy to read now in my 30s. I have to admit I was impressed. The prose reads in a surprisingly modern way and really does capture the changing cultural mores of the time. Yes, I can get the criticism that not a huge amount happens, but that is besides the point - what does happen is written well and captures the life of the 1920s in a way that I have not seen any other book do.

This is a short novel, and worth a read to anyone who has an interest in that period in history or anyone who appreciates a well crafted story.

La narrativa de Fitzgerald en El gran Gatsby es cinematográfica. Al leer la obra, el lector puede imaginar sin esfuerzo una película que requeriría poco más que la letra del propio libro para su realización, sin alterar el orden ni la sucesión de escenas (No vi aún la de Di Caprio).

La lectura es rápida, amena y entretenida. Los personajes me parecieron algo caricaturescos y lineales, aunque creo que es un recurso del autor para retratar a las clases altas de la época. Sin ser un fan de las descripciones interminables, me quedé con ganas de conocer más detalles sobre la New York de la época, sobre las fiestas de Gatsby, en fin, un contexto mejor presentado.

Siendo sincero, sin la fama que precede al libro y al autor, probablemente me hubiera resultado un libro entretenido y ya. La historia es interesante, el retrato de época está bien logrado, pero no me pareció una obra maestra.

One of my favourite books because it explores so many topics and themes. I especially love the writing as well as how tragically in love Gatsby is with Daisy from the past and has not accepted that it's in the past, imagining how they would reunite and then being disappointed that it was not as magical as he hoped it would be.

“Era la prima ragazza a modo che avesse mai conosciuto”

Il grande piccolo finto ingenuo Gatsby. Un grande prato, una grande casa, grande conto in banca. Una bella auto, tante persone, un bel paesaggio. Cosa manca?

I loved this book and all the perfectly beautiful Quotes and small things you take from it but I don't know what the actual point of the story was. There wasn't really a plot and some parts were a little unnecessary to the storyline but it definitely stuck with me and is very worth reading.

This is considered to be one of the best fiction novels and no doubt it is a great novel. After I read the book, I just had to watch the movie and oh boy!, what a beautifully written book. The book definitely arose more emotions than the movie. Gatsby is about the emptiness that is profound in the lifestyle of the society where values are completely distanced from the opulence. The more you read this book, the more you would fall into it.
This is a tragic love story. The feelings are intense and at times you would feel so much for Gatsby. There are things you can't buy with money and that is what is shown profusely in the novel. This is a very simple story but a very very complicated one at the same time. There is a lot of symbolism that one may want to understand a bit in detail. So do a bit of research on those scenarios that the author is building. This one is a classic and will always be with me. You have to read this book more than once to completely grasp what Fitzgerald is trying to convey.
Gatsby is a great character that Fitzgerald has developed and many people will relate with him. Daisy is the demure girl that many people would feel so much for. This book rouses emotions and feelings to a different level.

I read this in high school in the 80s and didn't get it. My daughter did the same this year, but did get it. She persuaded us to watch the movie with her, which I did, and I really enjoyed it. So much in fact that I borrowed the book off her and re-read it. It's a gem.