Nataliya’s review of The Great Gatsby > Likes and Comments

I remember reading this book in high school and hating it with a passion. But, then, I hated most everything I read in that American lit class, and I think it may have been because the teacher was starting to hate it all a bit, too.

During my Master's in English work, I gave in and took a class entirely on F. Scott Fitzgerald. That class convinced me that I love him.

I, too, can't wait to see the movie. My husband wants to see it in 3D. :)

ahh the movie looks so good

I remember not liking it very much when I read it as a junior in high school. I couldn't connect with or relate to any of the characters in the story.
Then, surprisingly, I found myself reading this book again (this time - willingly!) last year and I was amazed at what a different reading experience it was for me this time around. I really, really enjoyed it and was sad when I reached the ending, lamenting how short this book is. I now own a copy of this novel and plan on rereading every couple of yeats.
Funny how a person's reading tastes can change so much in just a few years.

I'm really looking forward to your re-read review. I read this earlier in the year for the first time and fell in love with it. Can't wait for the movie next month :)

I felt much the same way when I recently read and reviewed The Great Gatsby. Amazing how our perspective changes.

Can't wait to see your review!

3D? Seriously? I think it will make a great film, and it seems well cast, but surely it's not in 3D.

It's definitely in 3D, Cecily.

Hmm. I think I'll go old-school and see it in only two.

Same here. The only full length feature film I've watched in 3D was "Hugo" and I didn't really like the experience. In 3D everything is either up very close or the same distance further away, which is not at all like regular vision. I want to see "The Great Gatsby", if only because some of it was filmed in the park I walk in every Sunday, but Luhrmann is a hit and miss director as far as I'm concerned and there's every chance I won't like it very much.

Good review,good book,I wonder, good movie?Nataliya, made in Australia!

Great review and I like that you added photos from the movie! I plan to read it again. I remember the Robert Redford version of the movie too (loved it!) which shows how truly old I am! ;-)

Yes. Your review captures this book that I love so much.

I found my copy from high school; the pages are yellowed and I paid $1.50 for it!

Refreshing review. Nice to find a book you once favored in youth sings a deeper song now n your teetering elderly state. Nice way you captured what I thought of as a tragic love story when I was a child - turning into a great American tragedy.

I just got back from watching the movie in 3D. I loved it. The 3D elements worked. The things they did with visual text . . .

I need to read this, quickly, because I would like to see the movie in theaters. I never did read it in school, but that may well be a good thing. Fabulous review, as always!

This is still one of my favorite books. I watched the movie yesterday in 3D and thought it was great. The critics are really beating it up, but as the movie progressed I noticed that the crowd was entranced by the movie.

The studio should be paying you for such a splendid review. Granted, it was the book you were reviewing, not the movie, but you used their stills, at least.

Thanks everyone for all the praise! I have been late catching up on comments because of all the exhausting night shifts I have been working recently.

@Nan - Now you almost make me wish I had seen this movie in 3-D. I opted for the good old 2-D version because I did not want the headache of trying to balance the 3-D glasses on top of my regular ones.

@Steve - I will gladly take any money the studio would pay me ;) Those student loans I amassed studying medicine are not going to pay themselves...

@Jeffrey - yes, I have seen the not-too-enthusiastic reviews by the critics, but I thought DiCaprio pulled off playing Gatsby quite well (unexpectedly! I would never picture him as Gatsby, but he managed somehow). There were overdone and too-glitzy aspects in this movie - but they reflect the overdone glitzy atmosphere of Gatsby's parties (and, from what it seems, the Jazz Age) very well.

This is such a wonderful review, Nataliya. It makes me want to read this again and figure out what I missed the first time.

Great review, Nataliya!

But first and foremost, it is a story of disillusionment with dreams that prove to be shallow and unworthy of the dreamer....When I read it, it was the reason precisely why I didn't like it much.But now after going through your review, it occurs that I might have missed something!...

Thank you for a good review! I have planned to read this one for a long time, but somehow it has always fallen into the shadow of others. But now, I have to read it!

Thanks, Samadrita, Rakhi and Linda!

I think the reread of this book after teen years helped me realize the tragedy of the story so much more than when I lacked any life experience.

Amazing review as always, Nataliya! :D

David wrote: "Amazing review as always, Nataliya! :D"

Thanks, David!

There is an article about the movie and Carey Mulligan in particular in this months Vogue. I happened to see it at my gym. She is so pretty and looks like a great Daisy!

Joy wrote: "There is an article about the movie and Carey Mulligan in particular in this months Vogue. I happened to see it at my gym. She is so pretty and looks like a great Daisy!"

I agree - she was perfect as Daisy. She managed to convey the combination of fragile beauty with ruthless carelessness that Daisy had. I thought she was well cast in this film.

Seeing this film adaptation, I finally felt like I understood Daisy's decisions in that hotel room. Mulligan was an excellent Daisy in my mind.

Your review makes the book and movie sound very similar unlike some books and movies.

Kara wrote: "Your review makes the book and movie sound very similar unlike some books and movies."

The movie was indeed pretty similar to the book in content and in tone - I guess, given that so many people have read this book for school, there was little point in changing the storyline.

Glad to hear the movie is pretty much like the book. I hated how they changed Silver Linings Playbook when they made the movie (I was not prepared at all - I expected to love the movie too).

Joy wrote: "Glad to hear the movie is pretty much like the book. I hated how they changed Silver Linings Playbook when they made the movie (I was not prepared at all - I expected to love the movie too)."

I am about to watch 'Silver Linings Playbook' film, actually. Was it not good? or was it just not as good as the book? (I haven't read that one - yet.)

No, the movie is good and you will probably like it if you haven't read the book first. They changed some key things I loved about the book. I recommend you read the book first.

I can't wait to watch the movie ASAP after I read it!!

Skylar wrote: "I can't wait to watch the movie ASAP after I read it!!"

I hope you'll like both the book and the film, Skylar!

Unfortunately, this is one book which fell flat for me after all the hype when I read it in my early twenties - maybe since I could not sympathise with Gatsby. I used to hate tragic heroes at that point of time (The Count of Monte Cristo, and his ruthless methods of extracting vengeance, was more my style). I wonder what would be my reaction if I read it now.

Nandakishore wrote: "Unfortunately, this is one book which fell flat for me after all the hype when I read it in my early twenties - maybe since I could not sympathise with Gatsby. I used to hate tragic heroes at that..."

I think you'd like it more now. There's something enchanting about Gatsby's ability to dream huge, regardless of the realities of the world around him. It's like he, a creature of the corrupt world, is able to hold on to a shred of innocence that the rest of this universe has long since abandoned. He's single-minded, yes - not unlike Edmond Dantes - but he focuses that singlemindedness on his mistaken ideals.

Great review.

Haifa wrote: "Great review."

Thanks!

Did you watch Silver Linings Playbook?

Joy wrote: "Did you watch Silver Linings Playbook?"

No, I ended up deciding to read the book first, so I need to get my hands on it first.

Nataliya wrote: "Joy wrote: "Did you watch Silver Linings Playbook?"

No, I ended up deciding to read the book first, so I need to get my hands on it first."

Good idea, the book is much better than the movie. Not that the movie is bad it's just that they changed things that shouldn't have been changed in my opinion. Hope you like the book!

Great review (:
This story made me so sad.

Viktorija wrote: "Great review (:
This story made me so sad."

Thanks, Viktorija! It is a sad story indeed, that of wasted talent and ambition and the futile pursuit of an unworthy dream. And yet it is so good.

Love this book. And love your descriptive 5 star rating.

Wonderful review!

Wonderful review...

Love your review ! Silver Lining Playbook is good Unfortunately I happened to watch the movie first which i liked.(Lawrence &Cooper did a good job)So when I read the book I kept waiting for situations and events to happen , before I realized what had been done !!! The book was less dramatic , more real -life like ....I loved it !

Love this review!

Catherine wrote: "Love this review!"

Thanks!