Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

113 reviews

joygarcialim's review

dark 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? Yes

3.25

The story of a mass of toxic characters, being observed by Carraway- it’s impressively written, well ahead of its time. The narration was wonderfully crafted and Fitzgerald truly has a way with writing that makes it sombre, even without referencing much to Carraway’s own emotions as the novel unfolded.

For such a short book though, it started off really slow and the build-up to the climax was slow too. 

I don’t really think Fitzgerald wrote with the intention to flesh out the characters, there is a lack of backstory to all of them except Gatsby. As much as I hated Daisy and Tom, Carraway was ostensibly acquainted with them yet didn’t have much to say about them. The dialogues were confusing at times too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism

blueberryelf's review against another edition

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity and Racial slurs

Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gaslighting

alinantali's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Car accident

Moderate: Domestic abuse

charlotteih's review against another edition

dark 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

4.75

a classic- one definitive of a specific culture during a specific time. it was compelling, critical, and extremely poetic, a very pleasant read if you're like me and like to over-analyze :) read this for school and was glad that i did, because otherwise i probably would have never gotten around to reading my copy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Alcohol

Moderate: Racism and Violence

tifftastic87's review against another edition

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

1.5

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. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Toxic friendship

paigeinabook's review against another edition

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

4.25

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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, and Classism

caramelcopp's review against another edition

challenging lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: War

ashwaar's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-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

3.75

I read The Great Gatsby years ago and didn't enjoy it but approaching it again I understood so much more! I understand the reverberations of Jay Gatsby pursuing the ever elusive American dream only to end up forgotten by most of those who lauded and worshipped him before. I thought Fitzgerald's scenes of Daisy Buchanan's mansion, Gatsby's parties and our narrator's small home, were painted beautifully.

However, I agree that this book is incredibly over-hyped and, especially these days, there are much better books out there with the same themes and comments as The Great Gatsby, that are perhaps more relevant to our modern society. Nevertheless, The Great Gatsby has been popular as long as it has because its message has continued to be relevant and important through the decades after its publication, and I guess that's what makes it a classic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Car accident

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Antisemitism

Minor: Alcohol

livelaughomo's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Car accident, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racism

Minor: War

hocuscrocus's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Car accident, and Alcohol

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Classism