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The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Start date: July 1, 2019

Finish date: July 31, 2019

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The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
By Marta ౨ৎ˚ · 2 posts · 11 views

last updated Jul 15, 2019 08:36AM

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Jul 14, 2016 Saya etc rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: around-the-year-in-52-books, classics, standalone

Read for the challenge of:
"Read a book that was mentioned in other books"

[3.5 Stars] I am so conflicted over this book. It's my first classic, so that's a thing. But, I just felt the first 100 pages to mean nothing. I feel like I need to study this book to understand the actions of these characters, and the point of this book (not the ending, I mean. The beginning part)

The ending did hit me, I already knew the ending as I have already watched the movie but it was still effective.

I don't kn ...more

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Jan 19, 2017 Jade Wright added it

I listened to this book on audio, narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal which added an enjoyable touch. Fitzgerald utilises the English language artfully and eloquently. While the writing was definitely incredibly detailed, descriptive and intricate, my attention span just wasn't co-operating throughout the entirety of this book.
It is summer and Nick decides to rent a house in West Egg, Long Island - right next door to Jay Gatsby. When the two men meet they bond instantly as they discover they were both I listened to this book on audio, narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal which added an enjoyable touch. Fitzgerald utilises the English language artfully and eloquently. While the writing was definitely incredibly detailed, descriptive and intricate, my attention span just wasn't co-operating throughout the entirety of this book.
It is summer and Nick decides to rent a house in West Egg, Long Island - right next door to Jay Gatsby. When the two men meet they bond instantly as they discover they were both veterans in the war. Gatsby is a mysterious man, someone very few people actually know although they all attend his extravagant parties held at his house. The book isn't about Nick at all, but it is told from his perspective which I found unique and interesting. The story is about Gatsby, a man so used and disrespected, a man so genuine and gracious and giving. It is the story of his love for a woman he believes to be something she is not.

To me, this book seems to be about a bunch of pretentious rich American's in the 1920's who like to throw lavish parties... it is about wealth and morals and the social aspects of the 20s... and there's a selfish woman called Daisy who marries a man called Tom but is in love with (or.... ahem.. leading on....) another man called Gatsby who cannot see through her bullshit (enter love triangle!).

I just didn't feel a connection to the story whatsoever (my fault... not the books). While I found it beautifully written, there was something that just couldn't pull me into the thickest part of this books plot. Reading other peoples reviews, I feel I missed out so much of this book... the affair, the arguments, the backstabbing and crimes. Where was my head??? Did any of that happen? I really want to try to read this book again when I am in a better head space, the physical copy perhaps... I feel it could be worthy of a 5 star rating but I just couldn't wrap my head around it this time around - which is why I left the star rating side of this review blank. ...more

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Feb 22, 2016 Luis rated it it was ok

It was an eh-ish read for me. I watched the 2013 movie first and really enjoyed it, but reading the over-hyped novel was a bit lackluster. I was expecting more since people were saying the novel was better than the movie, and I was let down.
I did enjoy picking up on references that Gatsby, Daisy and Nick might have had black roots but were 'passing' off as white.
But overall, I'm glad that I did read the book. I appreciated how The Great Gatsby is a book about the consequences of loving one per ...more

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