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

emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

This was a reread for me in my attempts to reread some classics each season and this was my pick for summer - and it certainly did not disappoint. I definitely found myself feeling differently about the characters than I remember feeling in high school, but I think that’s expected when you’re about 15 years out.

I no longer found Daisy endearing and actually found myself more intrigued by Jordan Baker and her role in all of the shenanigans. I also used to be fully convinced that Nick was in love with Gatsby, and I just don’t find myself in that space anymore.

Fitzgerald does an excellent job of sharing who characters are through unique descriptors and I think he really excels in reflecting on that human psychology element. It was an extremely internal read which is always interesting. The characters are clearly all a mess which sometimes makes it more enjoyable as well. All in all, you can’t go wrong with giving it a read, especially if you’re looking for a short classic to dive into in summer.

Approach with caution because the racism and anti-semitism, while a product of the time it was written, is rough to read with 21st century eyes.
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