The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's book "The Great Gatsby" set in the 1920's known as the "Roaring Twenties" is about a man called Nick Carraway, and his journey through witnessing his cousin's relationship with a mysterious, rich man named Gatsby, who is trying to win over his first love once again, having lost her years ago, but also dealing with many obstacles getting in the way. I must say, when my English teacher first told us we were going to read The Great Gatsby this year, I wasn't very thrilled about it. I'm not a big fan of mandatory reading books, they always seems so dragged out and boring to me. So I was very surprised when I found myself getting more interested in this book the more we read each day. I almost wanted to read ahead if only I owned a copy!

The books starts out a bit slow, I was kind of bored with the first chapter, but once you start getting more in depth with the characters, and learn of their connections to each other, I started to wonder how this book would turn out in the end. So I kept reading! As I read further into the book, I really did love the characters. They were all wicked and crazy people who knew how to have a good time, but the downside to their lives was their ungratefulness towards others and took society for granted.
One of my favorite scenes from this book was when Daisy told Tom she never loved him. You could almost feel Tom's anger, and Daisy's nervousness!
Overall I do not regret reading this book! One of the best books I've read this year!

When I was little, I can remember my older sister talking about some magician she’d heard of, I assumed she’d seen him perform at a party. She had told our parents about this “Great Gatsby.” At this point, I was young, and I didn’t realize that this magician, was no magician at all. He was one of the main characters of a book called the Great Gatsby. After eyeing the book on her shelf for years, and listening to her go on and on about why that book was the “best book ever,” the book was finally assigned to me in class.
To tell the truth, I don’t think I liked the book as much as my sister did, but it was not a bad read. It is one of those stories where you have to look between the lines at the symbolism, instead of just taking the story word for word. The symbolism, themes, and motifs of this book are what complete it. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses this novel as a way of explaining the world full of decay as it was in the 1920’s. He sets the scene with vivid imagery which helps the reader get a better idea of what is happening, especially the younger reader.
My favorite character was the narrator. He is an interesting character with a lot to say on paper, but with rather little to say to the other characters in the story. He worked behind the scenes, as a supporting character in his own story, telling the tale of Gatsby. Gatsby was a rich businessman in search for love, however not form anyone. He wants Daisy Buchanan, a married woman he was once in love with, to love him again.
A great scene of the book was in one of the earlier chapters where Daisy and Gatsby meet again for the first time in half a decade. It made me laugh at their awkwardness, and Nick even left the room to try to help them bond again. “This is a terrible mistake,” he said, shaking his head from side to side, “a terrible, terrible mistake.” Gatsby had lost hope. But soon Daisy and Gatsby were chatting up a storm, just like old pals.
If I were to change any part of the book, it would be the ending. It was just so tragic and sad. One unhappy event followed the next. I would have made the ending happier, but unfortunately, if it was different, the book would not flow as well, and it would lose a lot of meaning and symbolism.
It is a great and easy read for those who don’t want to read the 300-page novels. I would definitely recommend the book to anybody who is a fan of historical or realistic fiction, but it has something in it for everybody. Even though Gatsby is not a magician I can have booked for my next birthday party, the book was worth reading overall, and I would read it again.
Ellie Bivins

I read this book for my junior year of high school's English class. And just recently, in my last semester of college, I read it again for my English Composition II class.
And in that 5 year span, The Great Gatsby still spoke to me. It spoke to me when I was 16, and it still speaks to me at age 20. This theme of the american dream that Fitzgerald writes about is timeless, except his story is corrupt and evil. These characters are searching for something that doesn't really exists, and abandoning all morals along the way.
It's sad, but true.

I don't know about you but when I hear the word classic to describe a YA book I'm a little weary. I don't want to read a novel written in the 1920s, it'll be weird, how will I ever understand what's happening?! These thoughts flit through my mind but I was pleasantly surprised by The Great Gatsby.
First off, Fitzgerald's writing is amazing. Normally I don't pay attention to that much but we read this book for my lit class. Part of our reading included having to record the color references in the book. Now some of the colors are symbolic, but others are just used for description; yellow jazz music, the green light on the deck, and everything gray in the valley of ashes. Once you start to pay attention, all you notice is Fitzgerald's use of colors!
The characters are interesting and mysterious. I still couldn't decide how I felt about Gatsby in the end! And Nick's revelation that Daisy and Tom are careless people is such a well written conclusion to a fabulous book.
I can see why this novel is considered of the best of the 20th century. You may be scared to jump into this book. But don't fret - you will get swept into the Roaring Twenties and the great world of Jay Gatsby!

Reader reviewed by OIKZ

I wasn't introduced to this book or the writer until I was online, browsing through a list of "The best novels of all time" on amazon. It must have been one of those subliminal understatments that people like to share with others that search and seek for the same material. I finally recongnized the title of the prominently acclaimed book and decided to put a hold on this special one. The author is claimed and known to be as one of-- if not the best 20th century writers of all time. And once again, they were right. It must have been one of those rare writers who suddenly have unexpected thoughts and later write them on paper. Since you can find the novel everywhere, I don't really need to provide a short synopsis or blurb, becuase of the international success and positive reception the book and writer received. Make sure to check it out and read it, you will-- with out a doubt-- be astonished of the language, emotion and characters that the author sublimely implemented in each chapter of the novel.   

Reader reviewed by Booked Books

Considered one of the best literary classics of the twentieth century, The Great Gatsby is a symbolic story that takes a bit of deep thinking to fully comprehend. One has to look past the portrayals of the shallow characters in order to appreciate the depth of the novel.


Narrated by Nick Carraway, The Great Gatsby is a cynical novel portraying the superficiality, irresponsibility, and overall flaws of humans.


After moving to West Egg, Nick befriends Jay Gatsby, his mysterious neighbor who loves to hold extravagant and huge parties weekly. Nick soon learns that Gatsby is in love with Daisy, Nick's cousin, and that she is the reason for Gatsby's ostentatious display of wealth. Gatsby had worked his way up the social classes because he believed himself to be inferior to wealthy Daisy. However, Daisy is now married to Tom, who has an affair with a woman named Myrtle. All these factors eventually lead to Gatsby's downfall.


The characters of this book were not exactly role models. Gatsby himself did not accumulate his wealth in honest ways; Tom and Daisy are narrow-minded, shallow, and selfish people who create messes only to have others clean up after them. Gatsby's dream and love for Daisy made him a victim. What makes him great is his selflessness, passion, and determination for Daisy; he'd do anything for his dream though Daisy continues to reject him. Unfortunately, Gatsby never learned to be careful of what he wish for.


Personally, I thought this was a good book; I can definitely see why it's so famous. It's beautifully written; however, I have to warn you that the plot moves slow, so if you don't pay attention to some of the descriptions, you might miss some important details. Admittedly, I did have to reread some parts to understand it. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who's easily bored, but if you're an advanced reader and you'd like to give this novel a try, I say go for it.


Reposted from: booked-books.blogspot.com

Reader reviewed by Samantha Watt

I had to read this book for my APUSH( AP US History) sumer assigment.

After what my dad told me I thought it was going to be great, a guy who adopts some kids...boy did he tell me wrong.

This book was in a time, the past, where I have never understood the way their society was made up. I thought scoical classes were stupid, and the way Daisy acted.

She loved the little affiar she was having, but when it came time to choose, she wouldn't leave what she had just to be with someone she loved.

She was ditzy, and selfish, look at what Gatsby did for her! He let himself take the blame for a murder of her husband's mistress and ended up getting him killed.

Yet she did nothing, she didn't even go to his funeral. Women like her give women a bad name.

But this book was pretty good in itself.

Reader reviewed by Allire

The Great Gatsby is a good American Classic. The plot tells of how one's life can be run by money. How the American dream may be to become successful and rich, but sometimes those things can't make you truly happy.


I liked this book because it's original, and the theme is unique and true. Sometimes I just wanted to yell at Daisy, but based on the time line and where the characters are located, I'm pretty sure that the characters are realistic. When I ask someone on whether or not they like this book, I get mixed feelings on it from other people. Personally, I liked it, although others have not. I think it depends on whether or not you would like the theme of it (The American Dream), and if you enjoy classic/older books.

Reader reviewed by Megan

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece The Great Gatsby, our moral hero, Nick Carraway narrates to us the story of the rich in the Jazz Age. His neighbor, Jay Gatsby, has a mystery past with Nick's second cousin, Daisy. As Gatsby pined for Daisy, Daisy got married to Tom Buchanan, who still plays around with other women. The Great Gatsby is all about the moral decay all around us, and what some people will go through to get what they want.