"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic American novel set in the 1920s, depicting the excesses and struggles of the Jazz Age. The story follows the enigmatic Jay Gatsby who transforms himself to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, showcasing themes of the corrupting influence of wealth and the elusive nature of the American Dream. Fitzgerald's writing style is praised for its clear, melodious prose with engaging rhythm, and the book is noted for its rich symbolism and portrayal of flawed and complex characters.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of infidelity, domestic violence, death, and moral decay.
Has Romance?
Romance is a significant element in the story, particularly the complicated love between Gatsby and Daisy.
From The Publisher:
Invited to an extravagantly lavish party in a Long Island mansion, Nick Carraway, a young bachelor who has just settled in the neighbouring cottage, is intrigued by the mysterious host, Jay Gatsby, a flamboyant but reserved self-made man with murky business interests and a shadowy past. As the two men strike up an unlikely friendship, details of Gatsby's impossible love for a married woman emerge, until events spiral into tragedy.
Regarded as Fitzgerald's masterpiece and one of the greatest novels of American literature, The Great Gatsby is a vivid chronicle of the excesses and decadence of the "Jazz Age", as well as a timeless cautionary critique of the American dream.
Ratings (901)
Incredible (105) | |
Loved It (220) | |
Liked It (258) | |
It Was OK (200) | |
Did Not Like (96) | |
Hated It (22) |
Reader Stats (1239):
Read It (952) | |
Currently Reading (3) | |
Want To Read (170) | |
Did Not Finish (14) | |
Not Interested (100) |
21 comment(s)
a more cohesive storyline
I've sort of comes to terms why this is one of the classics I seem to want to reread more than others even if I might like the others more. The writing is very compelling, it's easy getting invested in the plot and the drama of the characters. But I still don't enjoy the actual plot or any of the characters, especially not Gatsby. But I think I need to read more retellings of the great Gatsby a it has an enormous pull on me. I keep thinking that Gatsby and the main character could possibly be a good couple if done right.
__
An interesting book to reread, as I hated the book the first time around. Didn't like the characters, especially not Gatsby. But on this re-read it was quite an entertaining story, not with likeble characters though but a decent book to pass some time with. I'm interested to start reading more by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 2021 and I'm hopeful I will have a good time
fitzgerald’s way of writing is awesome, but the plot could’ve been better
I've read this book SO many times and I love it more every single time. I simply adore it. I could talk about it all day long. It's beautiful, smart, multi-dimensional, sad...I love it.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is celebrated for its exploration of timeless themes, masterful use of symbolism, and rich character development. At its core, the novel critiques the American Dream, illustrating how its promise of prosperity and happiness can be corrupted by greed and superficiality. Gatsby himself embodies the pursuit of this dream — a man who rises from humble beginnings to immense wealth in hopes of reclaiming the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. However, his dream is ultimately unattainable, as his vision of Daisy is an illusion, an idealized version that reality can never match. This disparity between illusion and reality is a central theme, emphasizing the dangers of living in a world of false hopes. Gatsby’s relentless pursuit highlights not only the fragility of dreams but also the emptiness that often accompanies material success.
The novel's setting in 1920s America, during the Roaring Twenties, provides a vivid backdrop for Fitzgerald's critique of excess and moral decay. The opulence of Gatsby's lavish parties — filled with music, dancing, and free-flowing champagne — contrasts sharply with the desolation of the Valley of Ashes, where the working class struggles amid industrial waste. This juxtaposition underscores the novel's commentary on class divisions and societal inequality. Characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan represent the careless and entitled nature of the upper class, while George and Myrtle Wilson symbolize the desperation and hopelessness of the lower class. These societal contrasts create a framework for understanding the hollowness of wealth and privilege, where moral integrity is often sacrificed for personal gain.
Ultimately, The Great Gatsby endures because it captures the universal human experience of striving for something greater, often at the expense of recognizing what is real and meaningful. It is a novel about hope, love, and the inevitable disillusionment that follows when dreams collide with reality. Fitzgerald's exploration of these themes, combined with his elegant prose and sharp social insight, ensures that The Great Gatsby remains a poignant and thought-provoking work, relevant to readers across generations.
A love story like all great ones it's also a sad one. Love sick Gatsby pursues his love Daisy. Daisy is married to Tom after she couldnt wait for Gatsby anymore and has a daughter. Tom married to Daisy but doesnt respect or love her much and keeps Myrtle as his mistress. Nick, Daisy's cousin finds a friend in Gatsby and is the only one and true one who stays with Gatsby. And also story is narrated by him.
I couldnt relate to the 20's at all. I had the same feeling of loosing connection while i was reading "the breakfast at Tiffany" too. Some of the conversations were too touchy and i liked them too... But the story was ok overall.
I remember reading this in high school in the 90s and felt like the shallow, optimistic, materialistic, hedonistic, selfish society of the 20s was very similar to my current teenage 90s lifestyle. I also felt the warning throughout the book that things were going to crash. I also felt immense sorrow for the characters in the book who were all ultimately shallow, tragic, and alone, chasing after the promise of a beautiful life that money supposedly buys, only to watch it destroy everyone in its path. I just re-read this today at the age of 29, after the bust of the recession and the post-911 world where everybody is trying to get rich and famous quickly through the media and bad behavior. The book reads just as true to me now as it did then and after years of attending private universities and attempting to make a career in our failing economy that continues to encourage the "have"'s, I have come across people that greatly resemble Gatsby characters. Fitzgeralds prose is beautiful, so much of this book is quotable, and his social satire is biting, while his message remains just as relatable today as it was then.
Necesité 3 intentos para terminar El gran Gatsby.
Tal vez porque conocía la historia por las películas, nunca leí más allá de un par de páginas. Hoy lo hice, estoy muy feliz por ello. Puede resumir sentimientos complejos de la vida real como nadie.
El mensaje también es conmovedor.
Pobrecito Gatsby, creías en el sueño americano, creías en el amor, creías en todas las historias románticas y en las historias románticas, creías que podías pretender ascender. Que tu dinero te daría clase.
Pero todo lo que necesitaba era una confrontación con Tom y tu castillo de naipes, tu imagen de cristal se hizo mil pedazos.
Daisy ni siquiera estuvo nunca en tu mismo universo. Ella ES dinero, tu simplemente lo tienes temporalmente.
Moriste solo, olvidado, descartado. Al mundo nunca le importaste realmente.
El libro golpea duro.
Flawed individuals add a realism to a book.
Beautiful prose but awfully boring story and unlikable characters
What can you read after
The Great Gatsby?
About the Author:
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) was born into a well-to-do Catholic family living in St Paul, Minnesota. At Princeton University he decided to become a writer, leaving without graduating in 1917 to join the army when America entered the First World War. Believing he would be killed at the front, he hurriedly wrote the novel that would become This Side of Paradise, but in the end was not sent to Europe. The novel was published in 1920 to great critical acclaim. He married Zelda Sayre a week after the publication and they embarked on an extravagant lifestyle in New York. Their marriage was blighted by alcoholism, mental illness and financial strife, and provided much material for Scott's numerous short stories and subsequent novels - The Beautiful and Damned (1922), The Great Gatsby (1925) and Tender is the Night (1934). Fitzgerald died aged forty-four, and is regarded as one of America's greatest and most influential writers.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
