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A review by shelfexplanatory
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
3.0
I'm just going to cut to the chase with this one - I don't think the expectations that the marketing (and ensuing hype) has set for THE CHOSEN AND THE BEAUTIFUL match with what the book actually is. I think it might be beneficial to level set those expectations.
Read this book if you want:
✓ A lushly told retelling of The Great Gatsby
✓ A hint of mysterious magic
✓ Immersive descriptions of socialite life in prohibition-era New York
But do not expect:
• A bold rewrite of F. Scott Fitzgerald's story: Nghi Vo is quite faithful to the original plot, including the central relationship
• Queer relationships in the spotlight: they are there, but they happen "off-stage"
• A deep exploration of Jordan's character as a Vietnamese American and/or as a transracial adoptee: these a touched upon but not in great detail
When I read The Great Gatsby in school, the curriculum emphasized the stratification of old money, the "nouveau riche," and the working class. TCATB takes that a step further by emphasizing the role of race in the equation.
The Buchanans, especially, become caricatures of white privilege: we hear xenophobic sentiments from Tom and are shown Daisy's white fragility. These are based on details that actually already existed in Fitzgerald's story, but TCATB has us experience them through the eyes of Jordan, a transracial adoptee.
Vo also adds an additional undercurrent of xenophobia through the impending "Manchester Act," a law that would seeks to keep "unwanted unworthies" out and repatriate those who have "overstayed their welcome."
I enjoyed the original ideas that TCATB brought to the table, but I wish that they were more frequent and had more impact on the trajectory of the plot. Vo does extend the ending past the ending of Gatsby, and the liberties that she takes there is what I would have liked to see more of throughout the book. I'd be interested in a sequel about Jordan's life after the events of this book, where we could truly see Vo's creative freedom separate from Fitzgerald's source material.
Overall, although this was an enjoyable read, I was ultimately disappointed by it. I can't help but wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if my expectations weren't so far off from what the book actually was. If you are coming into this primarily for the queer story, I suggest reading one of Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle novellas instead.
Thanks to Tor.com and NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader's copy.
Read this book if you want:
✓ A lushly told retelling of The Great Gatsby
✓ A hint of mysterious magic
✓ Immersive descriptions of socialite life in prohibition-era New York
But do not expect:
• A bold rewrite of F. Scott Fitzgerald's story: Nghi Vo is quite faithful to the original plot, including the central relationship
• Queer relationships in the spotlight: they are there, but they happen "off-stage"
• A deep exploration of Jordan's character as a Vietnamese American and/or as a transracial adoptee: these a touched upon but not in great detail
When I read The Great Gatsby in school, the curriculum emphasized the stratification of old money, the "nouveau riche," and the working class. TCATB takes that a step further by emphasizing the role of race in the equation.
The Buchanans, especially, become caricatures of white privilege: we hear xenophobic sentiments from Tom and are shown Daisy's white fragility. These are based on details that actually already existed in Fitzgerald's story, but TCATB has us experience them through the eyes of Jordan, a transracial adoptee.
Vo also adds an additional undercurrent of xenophobia through the impending "Manchester Act," a law that would seeks to keep "unwanted unworthies" out and repatriate those who have "overstayed their welcome."
I enjoyed the original ideas that TCATB brought to the table, but I wish that they were more frequent and had more impact on the trajectory of the plot. Vo does extend the ending past the ending of Gatsby, and the liberties that she takes there is what I would have liked to see more of throughout the book. I'd be interested in a sequel about Jordan's life after the events of this book, where we could truly see Vo's creative freedom separate from Fitzgerald's source material.
Overall, although this was an enjoyable read, I was ultimately disappointed by it. I can't help but wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if my expectations weren't so far off from what the book actually was. If you are coming into this primarily for the queer story, I suggest reading one of Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle novellas instead.
Thanks to Tor.com and NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader's copy.