Reviews with content warning for Antisemitism - The Great Gatsby

Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

161 reviews

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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werepsyche's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

3.0

wasn't that good. had antisemitic parts. tom is super racist. the characters except for gatsby every once in a while were really boring and uninteresting. this book is so overrated it's insane.

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tamsinlynn21's review against another edition

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fast-paced

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

5.0

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melosamatic's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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whenweplay1950's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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finleigh's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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ashwaar's review against another edition

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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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cbt00004's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

It’s not for me, I didn’t like it at all the first time I read it. Listening to it as an audiobook was far more palatable but still not to my taste.
I appreciate the symbolism, imagery and the cultural influence this story has had but it’s not my favourite.

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samanthamurk's review against another edition

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emotional

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

it’s not a bad book but it’s definitely not for me. It’s like a worse version of evelyn hugo, but with men. I think the narrator guy and gatsby r in love lol. the women in this book r poorly written and really only used as props.

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hocuscrocus's review against another edition

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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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