As I mentioned on twitter, I challenged myself to read a classic book every month. I got my list from Penguin's list of 100 must-read classic books, and this is my first book of the year. I know I'm behind, okay? With that out of the way. I would also like to go on the record by saying I did read this book (in high school or middle school, I can't remember), and I did see the Robert Redford-version of this movie. But I don't remember the movie. And I had forgotten some things about the book. You can find what happens in this book lots of places. I recommend Thug Notes, which gives me life, or this fun illustration from shmoop. ⚠️ Don't click on either of those unless you want to know how this story ends, though.
You probably already know the story, but I'll summarize a little here. The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick Carraway, who has moved into a small house in the New York suburb of West Egg next door to a huge mansion that is owned by Jay Gatsby, a charismatic, enigmatic character no one seems to know much about. Gatsby throws elaborate parties every weekend that last days and spare no expense on food, opulence, and drinks.
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After some time, Nick meets Gatsby, who after becoming friends learns that Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan. lives across the bay in East Egg. He implores Nick to ask her to tea, where Gatsby lays eyes on Daisy for the first time in years. Turns out, Daisy and Gatsby were in love years ago, before she married Tom Buchanan and moved to East Egg. There's a lot going more going on here that I don't want to spoil for you if you haven't read it, but suffice it to say that everything Gatsby has done in his life, all of the wealth that he as amassed, has been so he could be with Daisy, who he loves more than breathing.
"You can't repeat the past."
"Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can!"
He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand.
"I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before," he said, nodding determinedly. "She'll see."
I loved Gatsby. How many of us wish we could have something we wanted and never go after it. Gatsby is ambitious but not for the sake of world domination. All he wants is Daisy and for her to be truly happy with him. I respected Nick. I liked their friendship, and as the story came to a conclusion, I was glad that Nick was there.
This is the quintessential old money vs. new money, the unattainable golden girl vs. sad reality, the finding out who your friends are when you're down story. It deals with racial and ethnic privilege, wealth snobbery, and friendship.
"There are only the pursued, the pursing, the busy and the tired."
It's a colossal letdown and absolutely magical all at once. If you're thinking about going on a classics book-reading journey, I definitely think The Great Gatsby is a good choice to be at the top of your list. All of these decades later, it's still relevant--in ways that surprised me. I guess that's why it's a called a classic. 🥂...more
I don't even have the words to express how meaningful this book is. A must read for everyone, truly.I don't even have the words to express how meaningful this book is. A must read for everyone, truly....more
Re-read this with the kids for school. Regardless of the terrible choices these characters make, it's definitely a classic and pretty much the ship thRe-read this with the kids for school. Regardless of the terrible choices these characters make, it's definitely a classic and pretty much the ship that launched a thousand ships. I guess they're the original OTP. #loveforever...more
This book was amazing, but that doesn't mean that I really liked it lol. I reread this with my kid, who had to read it for school. I don't love bugs; This book was amazing, but that doesn't mean that I really liked it lol. I reread this with my kid, who had to read it for school. I don't love bugs; in fact, I am terrified. Getting over that was hard for me, but after that, even I can see that this story is absolutely brilliant and should be a must-read for every student, young and old....more
I had a hard time rating this book, because it really was amazing, but that didn't mean that I really liked it.
Of course, the historical parallels makI had a hard time rating this book, because it really was amazing, but that didn't mean that I really liked it.
Of course, the historical parallels make this a must-read for practically everyone. I remember being in school and bursting out in tears when the horses...yeah. I don't want to talk about that. Reading this with my son has been a totally different experience. He's a boy, and he definitely thinks of things differently.
I will say that regardless of how much I "liked" this book, I can't argue with the fact that it's one that has and will stay with me for a long, long time. It's so easy to forget that rules that were once absolute are now bendable. Ideals that made total sense can be changed. And the next generation won't even know the difference. For the sheer brilliance of this story, I have to give it five stars. Even though it made me cry....more