The Great Gatsby in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Jan 23, 2010 Lydia Presley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, fiction

May 2013 Review:
Wow, what a difference a few years makes. In preparation for the upcoming movie, I picked up The Great Gatsby as the first pleasure of the summer. I remember being in a bit of a fog when I read the story back in 2010, and I think I sped through it quickly sometime in late 2011, but this time.. this time there was something special.

I firmly believe that there are times when the right book is picked up for that time in your life. As I look forward to changes, from graduation to a m May 2013 Review:
Wow, what a difference a few years makes. In preparation for the upcoming movie, I picked up The Great Gatsby as the first pleasure of the summer. I remember being in a bit of a fog when I read the story back in 2010, and I think I sped through it quickly sometime in late 2011, but this time.. this time there was something special.

I firmly believe that there are times when the right book is picked up for that time in your life. As I look forward to changes, from graduation to a move thousands of miles away, I needed a story that not only had lush imagery, but also heart-breaking tragedy. It wasn't necessarily that I felt strongly for any of the characters, although I did feel a bit of an affinity for Daisy Buchanan this time around, but instead I felt sorrow for how empty the life of Gatsby was. I think this is also because I have been immersed in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire (and that series first made me aware of the 1919 World Series story, which was mentioned in Gatsby!) and I have been made super-aware of how lavish life isn't all its cut out to be. Money does not power make, and this story is a prime-example of that. For all of his money, Gatsby never actually achieved or acquired what he wanted, and then when he made that decision to enter his pool in an attempt to actually enjoy a part of his life...well, you know. (Trying to stay away from spoilers - even though this is an older book.)

I cannot wait to see the spin that Leo DiCaprio puts on Gatsby and I think that the descriptions and over-the-top style that makes this book such a beautiful thing will translate well to the screen.

January 2010 Review:
I'm really, unacceptably late in reading this novel. I've heard about it and had a general idea of what the plot was but, for some reason or another, never actually sat down to read through it.

Although it's relatively short at 180 pages it took me a good day to chew my way through it. I loved how simple but completely immersed I became through setting - from the very start. Images from movies, pictures and my own imagination filled my head throughout my reading experience. At times it was so intense I could almost hear the voices and the clinking of glasses during one of Gatsby's parties.

It's fascinating to me how very little there was to the actual story but the book seems so full. There's scandal, romance, heartbreak and tragedy all wrapped up in these pages and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading it. It's always a little daunting approaching a classic and knowing that when you put it down you plan to review it - because everyone takes something different from each book. What I took from this book was vivid imagery and the satisfaction of now knowing what others are talking about when they speak of it. ...more

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