The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Cover for Scribner film tie-in edition 

(released 23rd April 2013)

Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons/ Scribner's
Release Date: 10th April 1925 (first published)
Genre: Romance, Crime, Classics

Summary:
Who is Jay Gatsby? Is he royalty, a spy or a successful businessman? No one knows. All they know is that he throws the best parties.

Despite surrounding himself the hundreds of the wealthiest socialites in New York; Gatsby is lonely and longs for something that money cannot buy. However, after befriending the newcomer in West Egg, Nick Carraway, he finally reveals his deepest secrets and breaks the façade he has so carefully constructed.

But can love can withstand the test of time, or be subject to cruel and tragic fate?

Review:
Last year, I decided to read The Great Gatsby after seeing the 2013 adaptation in my local cinema...

What a mistake.

It is a great film and Leonardo DiCaprio is such a good Gatsby but... please, please, please read the book first! All I could imagine whilst reading the book was Luhrmann's interpretations of the setting, characters and era. I would have much preferred to make my own interpretations (and then, undoubtedly moan about how wrong the film is!!).

However, from reading the book itself; it is not hard to see why it is considered the Great American Novel and a classic read. The writing style, if odd at times, was one of my favourite aspects as it really makes it stand out and detach itself from the boring, wording stereotype associated with classic texts.

Similarly, I love the way Fitzgerald has used dialogue. In particular, I liked the way he has characterised Gatsby through his dialogue. I feel his phrase, "Old Sport" perfectly demonstrates his aloofness social standing even if, at times, it was quite annoying! This alone makes you want to hate Gatsby, but he is so lovable! Nonetheless, it is a really catchy phrase and helps hide who he actually is!

In my opinion the plot itself is not that complex. That is not to say that the storyline is boring, far from it, as it is full of twists and sudden realisations that will keep you on your toes. That said, when reading you should make sure you pay attention to the smallest of details, no matter how insignificant you think they may be, as they are key to the storyline and plot...

However, some of the characters, like Daisy, did get on my nerves. Especially when she said stuff like this when describing her daughter;

"I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

That line just gets me and I am not sure why. Maybe it is just more relatable to women at the time, when they had a different social standing in society, but I nonetheless I found her annoying, naive and, especially at the end, horrible.

Rating: 9/10. Read the book first or it will be ruined!

You can buy The Great Gatsby from Amazon here.