Great Gatsby, the; (Us Import Ed.)

Ugh. I don't understand how people can laud this as one of the greatest novels ever written. It is a description of the crazy, hedonistic days of the 1920's and little else. Fitzgerald interjects no opinion on the times, no aspect or feelings of what were happening and no likeable characters. At all. Nick Carraway is a pushover and a hypocrite, Daisy a complete and utter fool, and Tom...more

Ugh. I don't understand how people can laud this as one of the greatest novels ever written. It is a description of the crazy, hedonistic days of the 1920's and little else. Fitzgerald interjects no opinion on the times, no aspect or feelings of what were happening and no likeable characters. At all. Nick Carraway is a pushover and a hypocrite, Daisy a complete and utter fool, and Tom the straight-forward, racist brute. The only character you feel is even half-way redeemable is Gatsby, and that feeling isn't particularly strong. Most of all, at the end of the novel, there is a peculiar sense of "What was the point?" We were not reading it to find out what happened the characters, that's for certain. A mystery? Not at all. Was there a message, something the author was attempting to tell the world, something new and innovative? Nope. The Twenties' were some crazy, corrupt times. If you know that, then this book is pointless.   hide

While this book wasn't bad, it was, as is the major flaw of many other pieces of American fiction, too dependent on the circumstances of its time. However, it hits closer to home these days because the extravagance of the 1920's is in many ways alive and well now. It's all about the struggle of rich people (against themselves) to find happiness. The lie, the worry too much about what others...more

While this book wasn't bad, it was, as is the major flaw of many other pieces of American fiction, too dependent on the circumstances of its time. However, it hits closer to home these days because the extravagance of the 1920's is in many ways alive and well now. It's all about the struggle of rich people (against themselves) to find happiness. The lie, the worry too much about what others think, they stop themselves from going out and getting what they want, and those who do are reprimanded. The book censures the affluent life, pointing out its absurdity. I personally didn't like the writing style. I didn't think it was very "literary," especially since Fitzgerald didn't bother using complete sentences often and, in the unabridged version I read, he simply ignores (or forgets) proper mechanics and grammar. The style would be fine if he was, say, writing a book review under 1000 characters, but he's not. He's writing a full novel, and it's hard to handle the abuse of English that long.   hide

By all accounts, a great novel. However, it isn't the paragon of perfection that some people claim it to be. There are certainly grand ideas underneath this novel, but they aren't explored very satisfactorily, not well enough to make the reader feel a sense of closure upon turning the final page. Is the American Dream alive or dead? Is love worth sacrificing your life over? The novel...more

By all accounts, a great novel. However, it isn't the paragon of perfection that some people claim it to be. There are certainly grand ideas underneath this novel, but they aren't explored very satisfactorily, not well enough to make the reader feel a sense of closure upon turning the final page. Is the American Dream alive or dead? Is love worth sacrificing your life over? The novel seems to shrug its shoulders, not take a definite stand. A lot of this can be blamed on the narrator's apathetic worldview, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Those minor caveats aside, Fitzgerald has a way with words, and the book is very quotable. He is able to tell a concise and meaty story without adding fluff to give the book an artificially voluminous page count. He is able to paint amazing pictures with language, and manages the difficult task of balancing the stark reality of modernism with the more artistic conventions of symbolism and allegory. As a documentary of the 20's, it has few rivals. The good outweigh the bad. Even if the book's foundation collapses under its own instability, what's left standing is a very attractive structure. Buy it, if not for education's sake. Best book ever.   hide

A classic -this novel is like a Greek tragedy, but one that readers can relate to because of its more modern setting.In this novel, which takes place during the roaring 20's, we see how wanting the wrong things, or the wrong people at any cost in the end destoys all who seek it. Daisy wants money, and ends up with an abusive, monster of a husband. Jay, wants Daisy, and sells his ehtics to get...more

A classic -this novel is like a Greek tragedy, but one that readers can relate to because of its more modern setting.In this novel, which takes place during the roaring 20's, we see how wanting the wrong things, or the wrong people at any cost in the end destoys all who seek it. Daisy wants money, and ends up with an abusive, monster of a husband. Jay, wants Daisy, and sells his ehtics to get simply her attention - Fitzgerald makes clear how uncapable of true love was Daisy. i After making his fortune as a bootlegger, and finally getting her to notice him, their affair causes him to lose his life - although Fitzgerald in the novel conveys a melancholy, funerial feeling throughout the novelthat reflects his feeling that Gatsby had lost his life and soul long before his physical death - when he gave up his morals in order to satisfy Daisy's materialistic desires and attemp in vain to win her love.   hide

This was unexpected. On paper it's precisely the kind of thing I like and I've always been fond of the "Jazz-age" too. So it was a real shock when, halfway through it, I began to realise it wasn't quite as groovy as I'd been led to believe. By the time I'd finished it I totally reassessed that view. It was worse. I truly wish I could remove all memory of this from my brain. Except...more

This was unexpected. On paper it's precisely the kind of thing I like and I've always been fond of the "Jazz-age" too. So it was a real shock when, halfway through it, I began to realise it wasn't quite as groovy as I'd been led to believe. By the time I'd finished it I totally reassessed that view. It was worse. I truly wish I could remove all memory of this from my brain. Except of course the memory that I'd read it and hated it. Dull, pretentious, completely unlikeable and unrealistic characters and pretty much nothing happens. For pages at a time. There is no plot. At all. All there is is incredibly beautiful passages of description which not only borders on the purple, but buys a whole tin of paint and dips the roller straight in. So what? If it's not ABOUT anything then it's about as appealing as looking at some really well-designed wallpaper. It's incredibly well-written. It's also incredibly over-rated. I can see why it was popular at the time, lots of award winning and briefly fashionable books ARE after all. Most of them don't get the long-term label "classic" stuck to their dust-jackets though. This has. I'm not entirely sure why. It is my contention that a classic really ought ot have more than one string to it's bow - that is it ought to have a good, intriguing plot, realistic and lifelike (not necessarily likeable) characters, a real sense of taking you to the time and/or place and be well-written. The characters are cardboard cut-outs, utterly unconvincing and unlikeable besides - that means you truly couldn't care less about what happens to them. Yes, it evokes the period, but in a hollow way. The only real area it succeeds in is that of writing. But without all the other aspects it's writing about nothing, which is dull. I've heard that the "style over substance" nature of the book is intended to be a critique of the culture of 1920s America. Hmmmm. That's a pretty convenient get-out clause isn't it? Write a story without a soul, without something to connect to emotionally, then claim that this is precisely the point. Keep a straight face. If you are believed then artistic credibility beckons. Oh, contrary to popular claims - it only gets worse on repeated reading. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose. I just wanted to make sure there was at least ONE mostly negative review.   hide

The Great Gatsby, renowned as one of the greatest novels in the 20th century, in a time where everyone everywhere was finding some way to make a life, whether it's bootlegging, whether it's stealing. Where racial tension prevailed on every street, where the "niggers", as they were known back then, had to steer clear of the prevalent so-called Aryan race. The book was not about racism, but it...more

The Great Gatsby, renowned as one of the greatest novels in the 20th century, in a time where everyone everywhere was finding some way to make a life, whether it's bootlegging, whether it's stealing. Where racial tension prevailed on every street, where the "niggers", as they were known back then, had to steer clear of the prevalent so-called Aryan race. The book was not about racism, but it was a feature in it. However, it's more than just that. This book is possibly one of the most perfect books I've ever read. Smooth, soothing, and tragic at end. Without giving anything away it's a rag to riches story, about the realities of life during that era. It's a brilliant book, absolutely mind-blowing. It's not explosive in content but gripping in sentence structures. The descriptiveness of this book is just beyond belief, absolutely in it's class of it's own. I really run out of words to describe this book. It's simply amazing, and Mr F. Scott Fitzgerald, my friend, you've found yourself another adoring fan of your literary work. Absolutely exceptional!   hide

I liked this book, but I didn't just love it...so why did I rate it 4 stars? The truth is that - though it wasn't "great" - I liked that it made me think. This book reminded me of how much I truly detest pretentious and snobby people. I despise people who can't be true to themselves and those around them, and who put more stock in material things and impressing people than actually being good...more

I liked this book, but I didn't just love it...so why did I rate it 4 stars? The truth is that - though it wasn't "great" - I liked that it made me think. This book reminded me of how much I truly detest pretentious and snobby people. I despise people who can't be true to themselves and those around them, and who put more stock in material things and impressing people than actually being good and honest people themselves. This entire story was tragic. First, there really were no likable characters because nobody was true to himself. And, along with that, there were no honest people in this book with the possible exception of Carraway. Daisy professed to love Gatsby, but not enough to marry him when he was poor; and though he eventually came to have money that likely far surpassed the wealth of Daisy and her husband, he still wasn't good enough for her because his money wasn't old enough or respectable enough. Furthermore, she lacked a backbone to stand up for her own wrongdoings. Tom professed to love his wife, but that love didn't preclude his need to carry on with another woman right under her nose. And still he had the nerve to feel "wronged" when he realized that his wife was carrying on with another man. Gatsby wanted to be accepted and have the "right" to run in the same social circles as the Buchannans, but never once would be honest about who he was and where his money came from. Even Jordan and Catherine were dishonest. Jordan in the controversy over her golf game, and Catherine lying about her own sister's moral trespasses. And finally, the "friends" of Gatsby - the hundreds of people who attended his weekly parties were all shamelessly pretentious and dishonest. Those who professed to be friends of Gatsby and yet not a single one of them could attend his funeral. The entire story was a tragic portrait of everything I detest and the reminder of those things is why I rated it 4 stars.   hide

The Great Gatsby The American novel The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, focuses on the weakening of the American Dream in the 1920s. It is a story about a man named Jay Gatsby, who is rich and throws parties often to attract a woman, Daisy, whom he has loved for a long time. Daisy also likes Gatsby, but she does not know the truth about his wealth, and the major drawback is that she...more

The Great Gatsby The American novel The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, focuses on the weakening of the American Dream in the 1920s. It is a story about a man named Jay Gatsby, who is rich and throws parties often to attract a woman, Daisy, whom he has loved for a long time. Daisy also likes Gatsby, but she does not know the truth about his wealth, and the major drawback is that she is already married to Tom. Despite the romance, the novel itself portrays the United States during the 1920s, an age where materialism played big role in the human society. The overall theme, the decline of the American dream, is portrayed with symbols and the setting. This novel takes place in Long Island, New York, during summer in 1922. 1920s appeared to be a decade of unlimited economic prosperity of the United States. It was also the time when the American Dream rose; people believed that with money, they could do everything. Gatsby is trying to gain Daisy’s love by showing off his wealth to people. However Gatsby’s wealth is corrupt, since people in the 1920s could easily make money due to the rise of stock markets after World War I. The author tried to represent the corruptness of this age by using Gatsby as a character who becomes rich by working for drug deals. There are symbols in The Great Gatsby that portray the 1920s. First, the Valley of ashes, which comes out in Chapter two, depicts the poor and the completely opposite side of wealth. The tone of the author, when he mentions this valley, is dark. “…Where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (Fitzgerald, 23). Fitzgerald shows that next to the wealth, there are always the poor by writing about the valley of ashes. Another symbol in the novel is the green light that portrays hopes and dreams of the people back then. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses setting and symbols to show the reader the reality of the 1920s. It was a decade when people got obsessed with money and tried to do gain everything with money. This gradually let people became corrupted and let people to become prosperous easily. Gatsby and his background is a perfect character that describes the 1920s.   hide

***SPOILER ALERT***This is one of the novels I think of as American classics along with "Catcher in the Rye", "On the Road", and "Huck Finn". It tells us the story of a self made man who throws great parties at his mansion on Long Island soul with the sole purpose of attracting the woman he loved and lost before he went off to serve in the War. She has married another man and also lives on Long...more

***SPOILER ALERT***This is one of the novels I think of as American classics along with "Catcher in the Rye", "On the Road", and "Huck Finn". It tells us the story of a self made man who throws great parties at his mansion on Long Island soul with the sole purpose of attracting the woman he loved and lost before he went off to serve in the War. She has married another man and also lives on Long Island sound - a fact known to Gatsby and the reason he lives there. He finally makes contract again with the woman via the narrator who is his neighbour and her cousin. The times recounted in novel tell of a great deal of wildness - the parties at Gatsby's house are massive with stage stars and entertainers but none of them are really his friend. The people portrayed are the rich and they seem very careless just as the narrator accuses his tennis playing girlfriend of being. Gatsby is a very mysterious character which adds to the allure some people think he is German, others think he killed someone - as mentioned non of them really know him and many attendees haven't actually met him. In the end Gatsby kills himself after he runs over a woman with his car and he realizes he will never be with the woman he loves. She and her husband retreat to their lives of wealth.   hide