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A review by bookishjournal1
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What I Liked: I absolutely love Nghi Vo's writing style. I think her writing is lyrical and immersive and always seems to make me feel like I've stepped fully into each world she creates. Her writing in this book is so lush and beautiful that it makes the world of The Great Gatsby even more decadent and sinister than before. I liked how much more fleshed out all the characters are including Gatsby and Daisy even though we already seem to know them so well. Seeing Jordan Baker as a queer Vietnamese woman trying to navigate a world where she is made to feel like she doesn't belong is heartbreaking but relatable to my own experiences as well.
What Didn't Work For Me: This book was marketed as having fantasy, magical elements intertwined into the Gatsby story and while those elements are present and have some bearing on the story, I almost felt like it could have done without it. The lack of explanation of the magic system and how it works in this book made the story a little confusing at some parts. This is purely based on my own personal feelings towards it, I know some people will enjoy the story despite the magic being almost in the background.Also, the twist at the end concerning Jordan's true parentage did not really sit right with me. I felt like there were no major emotional repercussions and that it wrapped up too neatly.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book as it reimagines The Great Gatsby. The classic story has already been overanalyzed but having Vo's book coming to this world from a queer, immigrant, perspective was a fresh take and I can't wait to see the author's next work.
What Didn't Work For Me: This book was marketed as having fantasy, magical elements intertwined into the Gatsby story and while those elements are present and have some bearing on the story, I almost felt like it could have done without it. The lack of explanation of the magic system and how it works in this book made the story a little confusing at some parts. This is purely based on my own personal feelings towards it, I know some people will enjoy the story despite the magic being almost in the background.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book as it reimagines The Great Gatsby. The classic story has already been overanalyzed but having Vo's book coming to this world from a queer, immigrant, perspective was a fresh take and I can't wait to see the author's next work.