Customer Reviews: Read 1119 more reviews...
 Makes good writing seem easy January 1, 2009
Another book from AP English that surprised me. Fitzgerald makes good writing seem easy. This work both critiqued and defined the American '20s.
 my review? December 31, 2008
I really enjoyed reading Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby in class. I'd always heard of it but never actually read it so I'm glad we had to read it in english. The thing I enjoy most in a book is it's description, I like feeling like I'm actually there in the room with a character, and in Gatsby I was able to do just that. I love how detailed he is in describing the different locations they travel to and the people they meet.
I liked how it exposed the corruption and manipulation that comes with the power of money. Well not to say that all people with large amounts of money are corrupt, because Fitzgeralds clearly showed that even Myrtle who was poor and lived in a shabby home can be just the same as the rich and spoiled. It just goes to show that money can make anybody do crazy and dumb things. Like Tom and Daisy for example, they're infinity for excitement lead to the death of three people and yet they were able to back away clean of any remorse because of there status in society. Also there is George who was the most innocent of them all but because of Tom and Daisy's carelessness was driven to become a "madman".
Now I Love This Book (But I Didn't Always) December 19, 2008
When I was "forced" to read this book in high school, I didn't enjoy it much. I thought it was all one big soap opera, and I found the characters rather shallow and unappealing.
Boy was I wrong! I recently re-read this book again, and I loved it. The characters are so incredibly appealing. Their emotions and interactions are vivid, intense, real and captivating. I fail to understand why, when I was younger, I wasn't swept off my feet by Fitzgerald's wonderful language, which captures his characters with such clarity and lyrical grace. This book is alive. It's such a joy to read a living book.
When I was younger, I didn't "get" this book, but now I do. I think, in part, when I was younger, I couldn't relate to the characters. I suspect I found their emotions rather soap-opera-esq and bland because I didn't adequately understand them. The closest emotions I had seen or understood appeared in soap operas and lousy, lovey-dovey movies.
But, in fact, Fitzgerald's characters are so much more fascinating and real than that. His language - the details of his descriptions - make that clear. Now, I can absolutely relate to Nick, Gatsby et al. While I haven't had their experiences, I can empathize or, at least, sympathize.
A wonderful book.
Inspirational Literature December 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is perhaps one of the most inspiration works of poetry to ever be created in the English Language. Nothing has inspired me more than the text Fitzgerald has laid down to tell the story of Nick, a well-to-do man from the Midwest and his new-found friend Jay Gatsby. The paragraphs Fitzgerald writes, describing the sites and sounds of the roaring twenties is what made this book a classic.
Everyone should have a copy of this book in their library.
Easily one of the best books I've read December 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I found a copy of this book in a very small, very messy book store in my area and decided to give it read. Fitzgerald from the start is extremely descriptive yet brief and poetic. What I find so very impressive about this book is it's ability to make you understand the depths of both the 1920's and the place this story has in it; yet the story and themes are not just easy to relate to, they are fresh even after 90 years. I am an actor and while reading the last 4-5 pages I found myself reading aloud from the book because the conclusion and final thoughts of the character telling the story are written in a profound way; one that makes me feel they should be spoken so that the meaning won't be lost.
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