Scan barcode
katjacatbeans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
*Fanfic is fantastic, it just was not what I was expecting here!
The magical realism aspect was both less prominent and less explored than I both anticipated and hoped. It feels like a lot was left on the table in that regard. The general vibe of the book is very faithful to the original text, and Gatsby remains somewhat enigmatic.
Graphic: Alcohol, Abortion, Car accident, and Death
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Racism, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Gun violence and War
tinyjude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Despite that, Jordan's heritage and how the political landscape of the time will affect her are barely addressed by. Her paper cutting magic and the magic realism aspects could have been used more prominently and the queerness of, especially Nick and Jordan, could have been explored in more detail. It felt as if still we only got them as a couple who were each fascinated by Daisy and Jay, rather than madly in love with them. I get it was supposed to feel confusing but I think it didn't translate that well into the text.
The interpretation about the souls was interesting, thou.
Graphic: Murder, Infidelity, Racism, Alcohol, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Car accident, Racial slurs, Classism, Death, and Deportation
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
Minor: Trafficking, War, Violence, and Physical abuse
sparklefarm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol and Abortion
Minor: Racism
zombiezami's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Addiction, Car accident, Colonisation, Death of parent, Bullying, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Grief, Violence, and Infidelity
Moderate: Medical content, Vomit, Blood, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Kidnapping, Transphobia, Homophobia, Deportation, Gun violence, Child death, Slavery, War, and Pregnancy
writewithapendragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Abortion, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Racism, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, and Physical abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Classism, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Racism, Toxic friendship, War, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Deportation, Xenophobia, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
lolajh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Car accident and Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Vomit
alizirrah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
So why did it take me over 2 months to read this fairly short novel? I could not tell you. Possibly it was because it often took a lot of concentration to follow and parse each sentence's meaning, and when I tend to read before bed, this would lead to me nodding off after only reading a few pages. There were a few times that the story suddenly slipped into a flashback and I wasn't sure what time the scene took place, and other times I *thought* we had flashed back but then that scene actually had been current.
But it is an absolutely gorgeous book overall. The magical elements were fascinating and very memorable. I found this parallel universe 1920's U.S. very compelling.
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, Infidelity, and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol, Xenophobia, Abortion, Racism, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Abortion, Sexual content, Alcohol, Car accident, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Classism, Death, Murder, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide, Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, War, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Homophobia
kristinhunziker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Vo creates such galactic narrative distance between the reader and the characters that the characters all feel, at best, unknowable. At worst, they're emotionless and boring. I didn't care about Jordan Baker, and I didn't feel any tension regarding Daisy-Gatsby, Daisy-Tom, or the death that I know occurs at the end of the story.
The original work, The Great Gatsby, had a lot to say about how money can't buy happiness and the American Dream isn't real. This retelling strips all of that out. Although the story glancingly refers to the marginalization that Jordan experiences as a queer, Vietnamese, immigrant, adopted woman, it doesn't excavate those themes deeply. Thus, it doesn't remix the original's themes, and it doesn't interrogate the new themes. It feels shallow.
If you don't mind the huge narrative distance and the lack of thematic richness, this book's strengths are that it is an incredibly faithful retelling of the Great Gatsby, and Vo's lyrical prose is rich with imagery. Her prose continues to be some of the best in the genre.
Moderate: Car accident