Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Great Gatsby

Rereading an old favourite and it's just as good this time around as it's always been. The Great Gatsby is a phenomenal piece of writing which tugs at my heartstrings every time I read it and I wouldn't have it any other way.

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katharinaamaliae's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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kirstenpod_'s review against another edition

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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

3.75

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jlebon's review against another edition

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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

4.75

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.

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gretchenplz's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense slow-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? It's complicated

2.5

I'm not counting this as a re-read because I'm not sure I consider my high school opinion as law, especially on literature.

However, I just don't vibe with this book. It has an air of pretentiousness that I cannot get with, like the author is dangling a secret in front of us on a string like a "gotcha" or an "I know something you don't."

I do understand and appreciate both the significance of the book and the message this book sends, and I feel that modern society would be smart to remember it, but that isn't the case. If anything, they glorify the very issues that Fitzgerald so desperately tries to convey.

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