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The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Start date: January 1, 2015

Finish date: January 31, 2015

Why we're reading this: Revisit the Shelf Reread, January 2015

Previous Group Reads:
Contemporary Classic Group Read, December 2011
[close] Revisit the Shelf Reread, January 2015

Previous Group Reads:
Contemporary Classic Group Read, December 2011

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What Members Thought

Mar 21, 2013 Peggy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: modernist-novel, new-york-city

Fitzgerald casts his gimlet writer's eye upon love and success. The characters we meet are driven by money, power, and desire; they destroy themselves and each other easily. The wealthy lead a glittering life, but there is no loyalty among them. The story handily pierces all cultural illusions about the American dream and it's written in such clean, pure prose that this novel may never go out of style. Highly recommended for all U.S. readers. ...more

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Jul 26, 2020 Naomi rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I absolutely did not like this book and the fact that so many people do makes me feel like I'm missing something. After many many years of pushing this off, and after a failed attempt last year, I finally pushed through and read this freaking book. It's very short, and I thought it would be quiet and easy but it felt like it took forever. I'll start with the positives, because there are only a few. The writing was good and interesting and definitely managed to paint of picture of the time and pl I absolutely did not like this book and the fact that so many people do makes me feel like I'm missing something. After many many years of pushing this off, and after a failed attempt last year, I finally pushed through and read this freaking book. It's very short, and I thought it would be quiet and easy but it felt like it took forever. I'll start with the positives, because there are only a few. The writing was good and interesting and definitely managed to paint of picture of the time and place of this story. Oh, wait. I think that's the only positive thing I have to say. The negatives: who the hell is this book for? Are we meant to care about any of the characters? Any of the things that happen? Every single one of them is awful. On a whole, I have no issue reading morally grey characters or even straight up unlikable characters. But everyone here was miserable. Zero redeeming qualities. Selfish, self absorbed, racist, misogynist, literally everything. The epitome of rich white boy tears. I don't feel bad for them. I hardly felt anything at all, only annoyance and confusion to the long lasting love this books gets. First of all, there is basically no plot. And saying there's even a semblance of one is being nice. Basically people go to parties, have affairs and spread rumors. That's pretty much it. Everyone is very rich and living in a bubble. Again, usually I don't have a problem with character driven books, but when everyone is so awful there's no one to root for. Anyway, after a summer of parties and sex, (view spoiler) I just... don't get it. I mean, I get that it's supposed to be some sort of commentary on wealth and life and stuff but I just don't think it's well done. It wasn't even interesting. And this is without all the super problematic stuff, like the white supremacy and eugenics and antisemitism and domestic violence. Like WTF. Why is this remembered as such an amazing classic? I don't get it. Usually, when there's a very popular book or a classic that i don't like, I can at least understand why other people do. But I really don't get it here. If someone would like to enlighten me, by all means, do. ...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Mark rated it it was amazing

The Great Gatsby is considered the great American Novel for a reason: it is really the first novel to deal with an American issue; namely, class. Gatsby represents a sort of modern con man who has made his money in many questionable ways and is a member of New Money. He is attempting to compete with the established Old Money for Daisy, his love. Fitzgerald shows that Daisy, like America, has changed for the worse in the association with her husband, that Gatsby's dream which never really materia ...more

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Sep 01, 2010 Stephen Hegedus rated it liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 29, 2012 Barbara rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The characters were shallow and incoherent and childish and didn't even provoke enough of a reaction for me to hate them.
The story could have been good and has potential but not the way it is written down by F. Scott Fitzgerald. ...more

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