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

reflective sad 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

4.25

Upon reflection, I wouldn't have chosen my first time to experience this book to be via a Planet Money (a popular Economics podcast) episode, where each chapter, or even half a chapter sometimes, was read by a completely different person. 

It really affected the flow/continuity for me and I felt I couldn't fully appreciate what were evidently brilliantly beautiful passages of writing. I spent the beginning of each chapter readjusting, in particular resetting my vision of the story's narrator. You're probably wondering why I continued, but by the time I was a fair way into chapter 2, I thought: well, you've wanted to read this book for so long. You're already this far in. Press on!

And I am glad I did. This is one of those books that I didn't realise how much I was captivated by it until the end, when I couldn't stop thinking about it. I felt sad. I had questions, things I reflected on and researched. I was eager for other's opinions on the characters and their decisions and read a bunch of reviews afterwards, which isn't something I normally do.

A great book to study in English class and also one for a rich book club discussion, I say! I am both super excited to watch the recent movie adaptation, but also hesitant if I want to put myself through it all again.

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