From the Bookshelf of Addicted to YA…

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Start date: November 1, 2024

Finish date: November 30, 2024

Discussion: Stand Alone

Why we're reading this: Won the stand alone poll.
[close] Won the stand alone poll.

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Stand Alone

* Stand Alone- Maybe Meant to Be
By Bailey · 3 posts · 29 views

last updated Aug 18, 2025 12:04PM

* Stand Alone- The Summer of Broken Rules
By Bailey · 4 posts · 48 views

last updated Jul 08, 2025 08:57AM

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What Members Thought

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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Apr 10, 2011 j o r y rated it it was amazing

Words cannot express how much I love this book. I can't even right a legitimate review because it would be just gibberish and insanity about how much this book means to me. So I won't do it. It's just too flawless to me. ...more

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