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crimsoncor's review
5.0
Completely blown away by this. Gatesby mixes so well with the magic southern gothic vibe. And retelling the story as a queer, non-white journey into a heart of white privilege fits so well with the themes of the original novel, while also examining it through a modern lens. And the prose is just so beautiful.
eaxouris's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
spookyautumnleaves's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
- 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
3.25
s4r1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
lk222's review
4.0
I absolutely love the decadence of Jay Gatsby’s desperation. From Fitzgerald’s original to Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation and now to Nghi Vo’s heady debut novel, I just wish I could attend the party. Vo saturates the story of The Great Gatsby with a deeper, infernal, surrealist quality that blends perfectly with the intoxication of Gatsby’s revelers. The well-known cast of characters sips demon’s blood cocktails; self-made widows keep imps on delicate Tiffany leads; ghosts of careless women haunt the halls; and an event closes Dr. T. J. Eckleburg’s billboard eyes and gives him lips to speak.
This sensually sophisticated retelling is told through the voice of Jordan Baker, Daisy Buchanan’s closest confidant. Still an audacious socialite and professional golfer, Jordan is now of Vietnamese descent brought to New York by her adoptive missionary mother. Jordan maintains a serene exterior as the high society world she inhabits begins to exclude her, from a lack of a formal debut to miscegenation laws and the looming Manchester Act, based on real laws that banned Asian immigration to the US in the 1920s. But Jordan doesn’t let any of this spoil her fun—at least for now. We follow her into queer speakeasies, into the closet with girls, into bed with Nick Carraway (who is also falling into bed with Gatsby), and into revelatory flashbacks to her past with Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby. Se also has “Vietnamese paper-cutting magic,” which leads to shocking escapades.
This retelling might not be for Fitzgerald purists, but they’re doing themselves a disservice. For anyone in search of a surrealist circus of hedonism, affected nonchalance, NY speakeasies, and a hint of hellfire, all led by a queer Asian protagonist: you have finally found your book! Vo captured each character’s affectations with such precision and enriched their development by delving into their backgrounds, psyches, and supernatural leanings (or lack thereof). It was the gosh darn bee’s knees.
This sensually sophisticated retelling is told through the voice of Jordan Baker, Daisy Buchanan’s closest confidant. Still an audacious socialite and professional golfer, Jordan is now of Vietnamese descent brought to New York by her adoptive missionary mother. Jordan maintains a serene exterior as the high society world she inhabits begins to exclude her, from a lack of a formal debut to miscegenation laws and the looming Manchester Act, based on real laws that banned Asian immigration to the US in the 1920s. But Jordan doesn’t let any of this spoil her fun—at least for now. We follow her into queer speakeasies, into the closet with girls, into bed with Nick Carraway (who is also falling into bed with Gatsby), and into revelatory flashbacks to her past with Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby. Se also has “Vietnamese paper-cutting magic,” which leads to shocking escapades.
This retelling might not be for Fitzgerald purists, but they’re doing themselves a disservice. For anyone in search of a surrealist circus of hedonism, affected nonchalance, NY speakeasies, and a hint of hellfire, all led by a queer Asian protagonist: you have finally found your book! Vo captured each character’s affectations with such precision and enriched their development by delving into their backgrounds, psyches, and supernatural leanings (or lack thereof). It was the gosh darn bee’s knees.
ketutar's review
4.0
I thought it was just a retelling of Gatsby, but it was magical realism. Nice surprise.
I don't much care about the historical inaccuracies and improbabilities, it was a well told story and I liked it a lot :-)
I don't much care about the historical inaccuracies and improbabilities, it was a well told story and I liked it a lot :-)
mirrorofneptune's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing style and narrative choices of this book were truly lovely. The descriptions of characters and settings are so evocative and so perfectly match the time period, the magical realism, and the themes. As a major Gatsby fan I was really pleased with the direction this reworking took— it's always fun when the changes or additions made function in such a way that the original actually makes more sense. For instance, Gatbsy making a deal with the devil ! I loved that and thought it worked so well.
I always liked Jordan in the original, and I belong to that determined cohort of wlw who claim her as one of us, so this book was also delightful in that regard. The way this reworked Jordan— a Vietnamese "immigrant" (quotes becauseshe was pretty much kidnapped )— fits into the themes of the original book, while also bringing her own themes to the table, was really neat. The Chosen and the Beautiful overall felt very complimentary to the original Gatsby story: showing a side of America that Fitzgerald likely didn't think about or see, but that is very in line with the decadent and desperate America he presented.
I always liked Jordan in the original, and I belong to that determined cohort of wlw who claim her as one of us, so this book was also delightful in that regard. The way this reworked Jordan— a Vietnamese "immigrant" (quotes because
teacrew's review
5.0
Soooooo beautifully written, everything I didn't know I wanted to read in a book, in a book. ❤️🧡💓