A review by ccwingreads
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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

4.0

I'm not American so I was never fed the American Dream narrative throughout my childhood except through American media. To me, the Great Gatsby is like a warning. You may be able to work your way up to become the glittering envy of the city, but all that luxury is actually meaningless. As for the characters, you could easily drop them into those reality shows featuring decadently rich people who are concerned only with themselves. Even the romance is like loving the idea of someone. It's not a classic about the American Dream. It's a classic about the shallow lie of that dream.

I thoroughly enjoyed the subtlety and imagery of the descriptions. Some lines were stunning. The book is short, and I found it an easy read. I learned a bit about Zelda too.

Also, gayer than I had expected. Pleasant surprise.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings