Henry Avila's Reviews > The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jay Gatsby, is a mysterious young man, who gives extravagant parties on Long Island, New York, outside his palatial mansion , in the warm, lazy, summer nights. That he doesn't know the people he invites, not to mention the numerous gatecrashers, might make it a little strange, but this being the roaring 20's, anything goes, rumors abound about Gatsby, bootlegger ? Who cares, as long as the free liquor flows, the great food served, and the beautiful music, continues playing. Finally attending one of his own gatherings, we discover that he's after Daisy, a lost love, she's married, which complicates the delicate situation. Nick, Daisy's cousin, arrives in town and through him, reunites Gatsby with his former girlfriend, she enjoys luxury, which is why Daisy married rich Tom and not poor Jay. A catastrophic car accident kills Tom's girlfriend, yes, he's a creep but a wealthy one, it's vague who's responsible, but her husband thinks he knows. Death in a swimming pool, ends this tragedy and symbolizes the Jazz Age ... Thoughts: Gatsby was a tortured, lonely man, even shy, who tried to become a member of the establishment. He, with all his riches, needed to enter it, to become part of it, to feel alive but could never remove the dirt and his lowly, and embarrassing origins. They (the upper class), used him and laughed at the stranger behind his back, and the illusions about Daisy , a woman who never really existed, except in his distorted mind. The truth shocked Gatsby, the pretend gentleman but he could never let go of the mirage, if he did, there would be nothing left of his soul.
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| 04/03/2016 | marked as: | read | ||
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rated it 5 stars
May 16, 2013 02:55AM
tried to become a member of the establishment. I love this sentence.
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As I was reading this one for the first time, I kept wondering what was so great about it. When I finished though, yes, I loved it.
I have read it a long time ago in school (obliged literature), but I didn't like it then. I now put it on my list "books to read again". Perhaps some 12 years later I might change my mind about it. Thank you for your review.
Renate wrote: "I have read it a long time ago in school (obliged literature), but I didn't like it then. I now put it on my list "books to read again". Perhaps some 12 years later I might change my mind about it...."Renate,It's a classic.With an unhappy ending..
Nice review Henry, we see this Gatsby, Tom and Daisy everywhere, in all parts of the world. Coincidence is that I just saw the movie on big screen, What magic!
Sonia wrote: "Nice review Henry, we see this Gatsby, Tom and Daisy everywhere, in all parts of the world. Coincidence is that I just saw the movie on big screen, What magic!"
Thanks Sonia.!Have not seen the movie yet but will soon.Looks good and it's the 4th film version of the novel!1st was in 1926....
Hi - just finished reading this book - and I don't understand. If Gatsby was so popular, why didn't anyone attend his funeral? I guess all those "friends" were just using him all along. And what happened to Daisy??? The book left me with such an unsatisfying feeling...
Gatsby had no real friends.They,the freeloaders, took the free stuff.From a stranger.Daisy, returns to her husband.Resumed their shallow, but comfortable lives,Janine.
Thanks Henry. After your comments, and reading some of the other reviews, I think I'm gaining some insight. I appreciate it!
This is my most favorite book. Very nice review. I don't remember how many times I've read this book Henry. Fitzgerald eloquent and colorful words makes the book really very captivating. I love this book to my heart. The next most favorite book is The Curious case of Benjamin Button. That book is very touching and emotional.
You've no idea how much I hate the character of Daisy, even after happening so much, she never returns back to Jay. She is the perfect epitome of a rich typical trophy wife of Tom Buchanan.
Henry Avila wrote: Yes she was shallow and greedy, her husband Tom a jerk.They deserved each other. LOL, a perfect match made in Heaven, Henry! ;)
Henry Avila wrote: That's why they kept moving from city to city. And surprisingly never kept their daughter with them!
Henry Avila wrote: Too selfish both, they had nannies.Poor kid,unloved. No wonder Daisy calls her daughter a beautiful fool!
Henry Avila wrote: Loved the film, though, so over the top,Aditi! Just like the book, the movie too is very colorful, and Leo has justified the character of Jay completely, Old Sport!
Garima,I appreciate your words, yes, after lifting himself so high .All that struggle to come to this...
Aditi wrote: "You've no idea how much I hate the character of Daisy, even after happening so much, she never returns back to Jay. She is the perfect epitome of a rich typical trophy wife of Tom Buchanan."Not as repugnant as Brenda Last in Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust, though.
This review perfectly expresses how I think of The Great Gatsby! Fitzgerald successfully depicted a materialistic society that concerns only with the facade of itself, not to mention the beautiful prose and the thousand symbolism he sprinkled across the pages!
It is a classic, but when first published during the 1920's, flopped,naturally, people were having too much fun, to criticize their excesses, Cassandra ...
Oh yes. I've read somewhere that The Great Gatsby initial publish was terrible. It didn't sell much. Sad about how society tends to lean towards the ignorant side.
Cassandra wrote: "Oh yes. I've read somewhere that The Great Gatsby initial publish was terrible. It didn't sell much. Sad about how society tends to lean towards the ignorant side." People are not always right.
CECILY, I thank you! This is a very important novel, because it reveals the human condition, the good and the bad...
Glad that I had this review on my feed this morning, Henry. The last paragraph is excellent, so I share Cecily's opinion above.
I appreciated the book after watching its movie adaptation starred in by Lionardo DiCaprio. The book was a bit dry for me.
Dolors wrote: "Glad that I had this review on my feed this morning, Henry. The last paragraph is excellent, so I share Cecily's opinion above."Dolors , as always thanks, the book though short, is high in my estimations.





