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cindyann62's review
3.0
Audio
Well...this was SO not what I expected! My only exposure to TGG before is the (incredibly boring seeming) movie clip of the ceiling fan going around ever...so...slooooowly..Let's just say that did NOT spark my interest in ever reading the book. However..on my quest to read more classics that were not required of me in high school, I DL'd it from my library and prepared to be less than entertained. While I may not be on the 5 star band wagon, I WILL say I'm glad I read it. I wasn't prepared for accident setting. Or, really, the ending. 3.5 stars.
Well...this was SO not what I expected! My only exposure to TGG before is the (incredibly boring seeming) movie clip of the ceiling fan going around ever...so...slooooowly..Let's just say that did NOT spark my interest in ever reading the book. However..on my quest to read more classics that were not required of me in high school, I DL'd it from my library and prepared to be less than entertained. While I may not be on the 5 star band wagon, I WILL say I'm glad I read it. I wasn't prepared for accident setting. Or, really, the ending. 3.5 stars.
shelbycat's review
3.0
I enjoyed it more this time than being forced to read it for school. Such a sad story, with such infuriating characters.
kylita's review
4.0
A great book to reread when you aren't in the throes of high school.
I started to feel physically ill while reading this book because of Daisy and Tom's garish carelessness and Jay Gatsby's unequalled obsession. At first, this bothered me. How could a book with such volatile characters be so incredibly famous? Then I realized: this is what Fitzgerald wanted us to feel. He wanted us to realize the ridiculousness of the thoughtless spending and excess of the roaring twenties, among other things, such as deception and the discontent. Once I realized this, the book read more and more like a reality TV show.
I started to feel physically ill while reading this book because of Daisy and Tom's garish carelessness and Jay Gatsby's unequalled obsession. At first, this bothered me. How could a book with such volatile characters be so incredibly famous? Then I realized: this is what Fitzgerald wanted us to feel. He wanted us to realize the ridiculousness of the thoughtless spending and excess of the roaring twenties, among other things, such as deception and the discontent. Once I realized this, the book read more and more like a reality TV show.
beverleyleeauthor's review
5.0
A true classic of twentieth century literature, this book embodies the Jazz Age of America. Focussing on the charismatic Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy Buchanan, it's a tale very much of excess and desperation. Narrated by Nick Carraway (who I really liked as a character) who finds himself a neighbour of the mysterious Gatsby and is drawn into his fold. It's not long before Carraway learns the true nature of Gatsby's intent, (and Gatsby history with Daisy).
Jay Gatsby is one of life's dreamers and he is held captive by that dream - that he will be reunited with Daisy (although for the life of me I can't see why, Daisy is shallow and thoughtless and I wanted to shake her!) Tom Buchanan, Daisy's husband, is also another vile character, a deceitful man carrying on his own affair, which ultimately leads to the tragic event at the end of the book.
But the star of this book is its atmosphere and its setting - an America where the rich banded together using their wealth as a lifebuoy to forget the horrors of a war that had dared to touch them.
“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”
I believe this book is part of David Bowie's Reading Challenge, and I can see why.
Jay Gatsby is one of life's dreamers and he is held captive by that dream - that he will be reunited with Daisy (although for the life of me I can't see why, Daisy is shallow and thoughtless and I wanted to shake her!) Tom Buchanan, Daisy's husband, is also another vile character, a deceitful man carrying on his own affair, which ultimately leads to the tragic event at the end of the book.
But the star of this book is its atmosphere and its setting - an America where the rich banded together using their wealth as a lifebuoy to forget the horrors of a war that had dared to touch them.
“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”
I believe this book is part of David Bowie's Reading Challenge, and I can see why.
daniairdina's review
3.0
Read for school, and I'm studying it right now so it made the experience less enjoyable for me as I have to prepare a 10 min speech on an analysis of this and it contributes to my final exams fml.
sabrina50's review
4.0
I think I’ve gotten dumber since 10th grade English because I honestly understand this less than I did then. Oh well it’s still dope.
I did however notice that Nick Carroway is most certainly in love with Gatsby. I mean jesus.... straight men don't meet a guy and describe his smile for a whole paragraph. It just isn't done.
Update: okay I think I want to try giving actual reviews this year so I have something to look back on. It's hard to do that for classics though. I had a lot of profound 3 am thoughts about this book but I forgot them all the next morning.
This is for sure one of my favorite classics, and it was a great way to kick off the Roaring 20s 2.0. I had a much greater appreciation for Daisy's character this time around. When I first read this in 10th grade, I only really saw her as just some ditzy blonde girl. Six years of life later, the line, "I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool," hits a little bit different. Daisy makes a deliberate choice to be ignorant in a society that expects her to be exactly that. Because if she paid attention, the truths about the world would hurt her.
And then we have Gatsby. My favorite little disaster drama queen. I was truly devastated for him at the end when nobody but Nick and the servants attended his funeral. And the fact that Daisy doesn't even attend? It opens up a lot of questions - did she ever really love him herself? Or did she, like Gatsby, only love the idea of him? We talk a lot about how Gatsby only loved the idea of Daisy, but I think it went both ways.
Since the tenth grade, I've also become much more attuned to gay subtext, and if anyone is truly in love with anyone in this book, then it's Nick with Gatsby. I have like, 10 different quotes saved as proof. The full paragraph on the second page talking about how his personality is gorgeous really takes the cake though.
All in all, this is a classic that really stands the test of time. It's discussions of wealth, class, love, and ambition are universal and applicable to the modern age.
I did however notice that Nick Carroway is most certainly in love with Gatsby. I mean jesus.... straight men don't meet a guy and describe his smile for a whole paragraph. It just isn't done.
Update: okay I think I want to try giving actual reviews this year so I have something to look back on. It's hard to do that for classics though. I had a lot of profound 3 am thoughts about this book but I forgot them all the next morning.
This is for sure one of my favorite classics, and it was a great way to kick off the Roaring 20s 2.0. I had a much greater appreciation for Daisy's character this time around. When I first read this in 10th grade, I only really saw her as just some ditzy blonde girl. Six years of life later, the line, "I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool," hits a little bit different. Daisy makes a deliberate choice to be ignorant in a society that expects her to be exactly that. Because if she paid attention, the truths about the world would hurt her.
And then we have Gatsby. My favorite little disaster drama queen.
Since the tenth grade, I've also become much more attuned to gay subtext, and if anyone is truly in love with anyone in this book, then it's Nick with Gatsby. I have like, 10 different quotes saved as proof. The full paragraph on the second page talking about how his personality is gorgeous really takes the cake though.
All in all, this is a classic that really stands the test of time. It's discussions of wealth, class, love, and ambition are universal and applicable to the modern age.
sam_griffin's review
4.0
i'm sure i missed lots of the symbolism since I didn't have an english teacher to make me hate the book through worksheets etc., but I really enjoyed it, and was surprised that it had never been spoiled for me at any point.
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