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reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have read this book twice now for my upcoming A-Level English Literature exam and, having now read it once outside of the classroom, it's safe to say the text has really grown on me.
'The Great Gatsby' is one of those wonderfully cynical novels, reflective of the post-war literary time period in which it was written and published, where every character is deeply flawed. This even includes the narrator Nick, which I love because his role as the lens for the reader distorts our perception of the text - which is always an interesting dynamic.
Gatsby is definitely an irritating character in some respects due to his mannerisms and naïvety. His obsession towards Daisy is also quite uncomfortable in places however, this is counter-balanced as Fitzgerald drip feeds us background to their previous relationship throughout the novel. Nevertheless, the final chapter can't help but leave you feeling sorry for the character.
The hedonism, reflective of the time of writing, established by Fitzgerald is masterfully cut through with every character being violently thrust away from the serenity of carelessness into elements of despair - affected by the subsequent events of the novel.
What holds the rating back for me is I didn't find myself longing to delve back into the story as I do with my all-time favourite reads. However, this may well be due to the texts association to work, given my upcoming exam and motivation for re-reading the text, which will always sap some enjoyment out of reading. Therefore, I would interested in re-reading the text to see if my rating of the novel will improve once more.
Nevertheless an absolute classic that everyone should endeavour to read and enjoy.
'The Great Gatsby' is one of those wonderfully cynical novels, reflective of the post-war literary time period in which it was written and published, where every character is deeply flawed. This even includes the narrator Nick, which I love because his role as the lens for the reader distorts our perception of the text - which is always an interesting dynamic.
Gatsby is definitely an irritating character in some respects due to his mannerisms and naïvety. His obsession towards Daisy is also quite uncomfortable in places however, this is counter-balanced as Fitzgerald drip feeds us background to their previous relationship throughout the novel. Nevertheless, the final chapter can't help but leave you feeling sorry for the character.
The hedonism, reflective of the time of writing, established by Fitzgerald is masterfully cut through with every character being violently thrust away from the serenity of carelessness into elements of despair - affected by the subsequent events of the novel.
What holds the rating back for me is I didn't find myself longing to delve back into the story as I do with my all-time favourite reads. However, this may well be due to the texts association to work, given my upcoming exam and motivation for re-reading the text, which will always sap some enjoyment out of reading. Therefore, I would interested in re-reading the text to see if my rating of the novel will improve once more.
Nevertheless an absolute classic that everyone should endeavour to read and enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Murder
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide
reflective
sad
slow-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
I genuinely don't understand how this book is one of the "great American novels." Maybe there is something to take away about how wealth is a disease or that being a socialite doesn't mean you are liked, likeable, or capable of friendship. But there has got to be a better way to do that then to tell the story of wealthy people getting drunk, complaining, fighting and running around on their spouses.
Nick, the narrator, reminds us so many times that hes one of the few honest men, that I fail to believe he is a reliable narrator at all.
Gatsby, whom we know so little about until the end, is honestly a man who is so stuck on the past when he "fell in love" with an 18 year old barely legal Daisy that he spent his whole life accumulating wealth to get her attention. He throws wild parties just to hope she'll come.
The women, Daisy and Jordan, are pretty much here for decoration and to be an object for the men to either fight over (Daisy) or be guided by (Jordan). The exception is Myrtle who is there to simply show you how horrible Tom is and for Nick to describe as fat and bossy.
Nick, the narrator, reminds us so many times that hes one of the few honest men, that I fail to believe he is a reliable narrator at all.
Gatsby, whom we know so little about until the end, is honestly a man who is so stuck on the past when he "fell in love" with an 18 year old barely legal Daisy that he spent his whole life accumulating wealth to get her attention. He throws wild parties just to hope she'll come.
The women, Daisy and Jordan, are pretty much here for decoration and to be an object for the men to either fight over (Daisy) or be guided by (Jordan). The exception is Myrtle who is there to simply show you how horrible Tom is and for Nick to describe as fat and bossy.
She carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can.
Tom is a racist, white supremacist piece of garbage who cheats on his wife, abuses his mistress and just talks trash about everyone.
I disliked every single character in this book. I loathed every page. I am so glad I was never forced to read this in school.
Only giving it some credit for the accuracy in which Fitzgerald describes drunk people and the way he sets scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Toxic friendship
dark
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Suicide, Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Violence, War, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thoroughly hated every single character but the book was a great read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Alcohol
challenging
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this book, but I felt like it could have been more. It definitely serves it’s purpose well as a great American novel, but I feel as if it focuses too much on sharing commentary about America than telling an actual story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Minor: War
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A book that doesn’t leave you feeling enlightened or satisfied, but does leave you with a sense of awe. Incredibly written and captivating from the very beginning, even though the story itself isn’t exceptionally fast-paced or adventurous. Fitzgerald’s got a sense of humor that is evident in the book - maybe a sick sense of humor, but enjoyable none the less. His characters are crafted beautifully and are so life-like, and are each so different in their own way. From “gonegtions” to “old fellow”, you are made to feel like you really know each of them. To see Gatsby go from inspiring and elevated in his shroud of mystery to utterly pathetic was fascinating.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Car accident
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read and closely annotated for an English class; my third time reading it. If you can get away from the strange, hero-worshippy attitude surrounding this book in the American canon, it's quite a decent story, and manages to be cohesive and symbolic without being too overdone. In three words: a bisexual disaster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide
Minor: Antisemitism, Stalking
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
At first, I wanted to read this because I had lost the opportunity to read this with the other students in my school when I moved. I have always looked forward to what is to come, especially in education, looking forward to when I would learn and create what others would ahead of me but in my own way. When we read Romeo and Juliet, though it was painful for all the others, I fell in love with literature far more deeply than I already had begun; especially set in a time when romanticism seemed more tangible than most can perceive in everyday life in the present. Though I had been warned it was not a story for me with some content less than charming, I have been left with a feeling I can only compare to leaving the theater feeling hope as if given to you by the character and the author themselves in their stead with hope for your own story. You walk in bliss and deep thought and see the world a little brighter, not as it is, but as it could be.
Though there were moments it was harder to understand or feel moved in the right ways, a writer has left me with their poet's heart that has moved mine so brilliantly that fireworks try to meet it but fool themselves that they can. I have always had a great appreciation for Fitzgerald, and though this is his first novel, I am certain I will continue enjoying his work. I love when I find a novel that moves so brilliantly with twists you may see coming but still move in a more powerful way that you can predict and even still surprise you. I love that it is told from Nick's perspective about a man written so perfectly that I wanted to meet him in person.
I am happy that I am older. I can overlook some of the content that would have been harder for me when I was younger, the first two chapters involving the characters getting drunk and smoking and other less-than-Christian activities that would have made me close the book never to pick up again, but I would have missed a story, unlike any novel I have yet to read.
It angers me a bit that the reason why students are to read it is to dissect the culture of the time, the perceptions like Tom had, the races, and monetary discipline, to contrast with greed, which, yes in the end, plays a part, but they miss the whole point when they look at it that way. The love story is a side angle to that regard, and I feel saddened for people who only would remember it as such because this story has a very beautiful tragic undertone which can only be enjoyed by the happy few that come about this on their own who wish to enjoy great literature as it should be.
I recommend this book, but only to those who will acknowledge the preface, do not take it too seriously, and can be prepared to see the world differently than they know now and even quite different than anyone might otherwise be prepared for.
Though there were moments it was harder to understand or feel moved in the right ways, a writer has left me with their poet's heart that has moved mine so brilliantly that fireworks try to meet it but fool themselves that they can. I have always had a great appreciation for Fitzgerald, and though this is his first novel, I am certain I will continue enjoying his work. I love when I find a novel that moves so brilliantly with twists you may see coming but still move in a more powerful way that you can predict and even still surprise you. I love that it is told from Nick's perspective about a man written so perfectly that I wanted to meet him in person.
I am happy that I am older. I can overlook some of the content that would have been harder for me when I was younger, the first two chapters involving the characters getting drunk and smoking and other less-than-Christian activities that would have made me close the book never to pick up again, but I would have missed a story, unlike any novel I have yet to read.
It angers me a bit that the reason why students are to read it is to dissect the culture of the time, the perceptions like Tom had, the races, and monetary discipline, to contrast with greed, which, yes in the end, plays a part, but they miss the whole point when they look at it that way. The love story is a side angle to that regard, and I feel saddened for people who only would remember it as such because this story has a very beautiful tragic undertone which can only be enjoyed by the happy few that come about this on their own who wish to enjoy great literature as it should be.
I recommend this book, but only to those who will acknowledge the preface, do not take it too seriously, and can be prepared to see the world differently than they know now and even quite different than anyone might otherwise be prepared for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Classism
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War
reflective
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Car accident
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Murder, Alcohol, War