The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Book Review
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Table of contents
⛰ What It's About (No Spoilers)
Nick Carraway, a young man trying to pursue a career as a bond salesman, moves to New York and reconnects with his old friends Tom and Daisy Buchanan. His neighbor, Mr. Gatsby, was in love with Daisy before going off to war. Nick narrates the story of Mr. Gatsby desperately trying to cling to the past when he was smitten.
Rating
3.5/5
🔍 How I Discovered It
My AP Lang teacher made us read it. I also heard about it from one of my friends, an avid reader, when discussing classics.
🧠 Thoughts (Spoilers)
I’m not sure why “The Great Gatsby” is heralded as one of the best American classics. Perhaps I just don’t like classics (although I haven’t read enough classics to make that assertion).
The story really is about Gatsby, even though it’s told through Nick’s narration. I find the book to be an interesting critique of the American Dream. Gatsby exemplifies the “typical American” looking to gain more status or success. The climb to success, however, isn’t easy and ultimately leads to Gatsby’s death.
One could argue that Gatsby’s selfishness for Daisy’s love brought him to his demise. I think in modern society, Gatsby’s deliberate attempts at being a homewrecker are morally reprehensible. Daisy was already married, but Gatsby still decided to entice and flirt with her to the point where he made her “admit” that she never loved Tom. Gatsby resembles a sort of wistful longing for what once was, which a part of me can relate to. I just don’t understand why he goes to such an extreme to actualize the past.
As a critique of the “American Dream” or longing for what once was, I think it’s a nice book. The actual reading experience wasn’t super fun for me, and I didn’t find myself wanting to stay up at night to finish each chapter.
🥰 Who Would Like It?
If you like classics, you’ll probably like this book. If you like romances, you might like this book. This book is very atypical in relation to contemporary romance books.
✍️ My Top 3 Quotes
“Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”
“Nevertheless you did throw me over,” said Jordan suddenly. “You threw me over on the telephone. I don’t give a damn about you now, but it was a new experience for me, and I felt a little dizzy for a while.”
He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced—or seemed to face—the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.
