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k_winchester 's review for:
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Actually, surprisingly good!
I say that because in general for me personally, I've found that most "classics" I've read are not for me at all for one reason or another, so when I started reading this, I did expect not to really enjoy it, despite it being crazy popular and often called one of the greatest novels of all time.
I really did enjoy the way this was written - the use of language and phrasing was often just delicious. It's frequently very flowery and stylistic, some lines need a reread to catch the meaning, but there is really, really lovely way about so much of it. So much of it alludes to what's under the surface without saying it (soo well done) and there's so much lovely, really unique phrasing (I wish I had jotted down good examples, but towards the end, there's a bit like "the phone book splashed to the floor" - obviously the book isn't liquid, but it gives such a perfect visual of the book falling open and pages splaying, etc).
The characters were... not great, pretty shallow/flat, and ultimately all pretty terrible people one way or another. I fail to see, at all, why Gatsby was into Daisy, as she seemed almost entirely flaky and avoid-y. The way the characters are written is the most interesting part, as in the way they are physically described, thier actions, tone, body language, etc.
By the end, it becomes pretty clear that the whole thing is pretty much about shallow rich people keeping up appearances while being largely shallow and rich, but letting you THINK for a while that that's not what it is. I don't know if it's specifically classed as a tragedy, but it definitely is. It's certainly not uplifting or satisfying - it's sad and definitely tragic.
When Gatsby dies, essentially because of Daisy, after spending years basically changing his entire life and molding himself in order to "be worthy" of Daisy, after spending years throwing lavish parties and being this popular mystery man (and some secret crime to get money fast), and she is careless/cowardly and he covers for her without second thought... but then *no one*, not even Daisy, goes to his funeral? I mean, there's not really any way to feel except disheartened when closing the book with that ending.
I'm glad it was short, because pretty though the writing was, I don't think I could have read something double length in the same style or it would've gotten exhausting. I'm glad I read it, I enjoyed it well enough, but I also don't really think it totally deserves the legendary status it has.
(BUT I also doubt that *anything* listed semi-universally on the "greatest novels of all time" list could really live up to that kind of status/hype either, and without a historical deep dive, it can be hard to pinpoint the influence many of those famous classics have had.)
Anyways, tl;dr: a legendary classic that was actually enjoyable to read. 👍
I say that because in general for me personally, I've found that most "classics" I've read are not for me at all for one reason or another, so when I started reading this, I did expect not to really enjoy it, despite it being crazy popular and often called one of the greatest novels of all time.
I really did enjoy the way this was written - the use of language and phrasing was often just delicious. It's frequently very flowery and stylistic, some lines need a reread to catch the meaning, but there is really, really lovely way about so much of it. So much of it alludes to what's under the surface without saying it (soo well done) and there's so much lovely, really unique phrasing (I wish I had jotted down good examples, but towards the end, there's a bit like "the phone book splashed to the floor" - obviously the book isn't liquid, but it gives such a perfect visual of the book falling open and pages splaying, etc).
The characters were... not great, pretty shallow/flat, and ultimately all pretty terrible people one way or another. I fail to see, at all, why Gatsby was into Daisy, as she seemed almost entirely flaky and avoid-y. The way the characters are written is the most interesting part, as in the way they are physically described, thier actions, tone, body language, etc.
By the end, it becomes pretty clear that the whole thing is pretty much about shallow rich people keeping up appearances while being largely shallow and rich, but letting you THINK for a while that that's not what it is. I don't know if it's specifically classed as a tragedy, but it definitely is. It's certainly not uplifting or satisfying - it's sad and definitely tragic.
I'm glad it was short, because pretty though the writing was, I don't think I could have read something double length in the same style or it would've gotten exhausting. I'm glad I read it, I enjoyed it well enough, but I also don't really think it totally deserves the legendary status it has.
(BUT I also doubt that *anything* listed semi-universally on the "greatest novels of all time" list could really live up to that kind of status/hype either, and without a historical deep dive, it can be hard to pinpoint the influence many of those famous classics have had.)
Anyways, tl;dr: a legendary classic that was actually enjoyable to read. 👍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Car accident
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content