I have signed up for the Back to the Classics Challenge 2020, hosted by Karen from Books and Chocolate blog.
https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogspot.com/2020/01/back-to-classics-challenge-2020.html.
The Great Gatsby is my fourth book for this challenge.
What Amazon says
This carefully crafted ebook: “The Great Gatsby – The Original 1925 Edition” is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The Great Gatsby is a novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald and first published in 1925. It follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922. The story primarily concerns the young and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his quixotic passion for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Considered to be Fitzgerald’s magnum opus, The Great Gatsby explores themes of decadence, idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and excess, creating a portrait of the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties that has been described as a cautionary tale regarding the American Dream. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940) was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigmatic writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century
My review
The Great Gatsby is a novel that questions the reality of the American dream. I am not American, but my understanding of the American dream is that anybody, regardless of their background or social standing can achieve financial success and upward social mobility through hard work in a society that has few barriers to entry. The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, questions the reality of this believe and the fact that the wealthy classes are snooty and unaccepting of difference is one of the themes of this book. One of the other major themes is that the rich don’t take any responsibility for their actions and don’t feel any remorse or concern when their actions result in negative consequences for others.
The story is narrated by Nick Carroway, a Yale University graduate from the Midwest, a World War I veteran, and, at the start of the plot, a newly arrived resident of West Egg. Nick moves into the bungalow next door to a mysterious and young millionaire called Jay Gatsby. Gatsby lives in a huge estate on Long Island and throws large and decadent parties for multitudes of young and wealthy people looking for a good time.
Nick doesn’t know anyone in the area and so he visits the family of his second cousin once removed, Daisy Buchanan, and her millionaire husband, Tom. During his initial visit he meets a close friend of Daisy’s, Jordan Baker, who is an amateur golfer and who becomes his girlfriend. All three of them live a life of idle decadence which revolves around extra marital affairs, drinking, parties and pursuing all sorts of entertainment.
Early in the book, it becomes known that Tom is having an affair with the lively and exciting wife of the man who owns the local service station.
Despite his wealth and good looks, Jay Gatsby operates on the peripheral of society and has not become one of the boys. The numerous attendees of his house parties are just there for the free food and drink and have not interest in, or respect for, Gatsby, who is the subject of their gossip and speculation. It becomes apparent as the story unfolds that Gatsby is regarded with suspicion because of his unknow background which is believed to be unsavoury and his wealth attained through shady business connections. Bootlegging is alluded to later in the story.
Nick becomes friendly with Gatsby, at Gatsby’s initiation, and it gradually becomes known that Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy, with whom he had a short relationship prior to his leaving for Europe during WWI. Gatsby wishes to use Nick’s relationship with Jordan to arrange a meeting with Daisy.
Gatsby is an interesting character who, while initially coming across as aloof and distant, and then as being vulgar and having unorthodox and dishonest business practices, has a decent side and takes care of his aging father. He is a focused man who achieved financial success through sheer determination, hard work and an ability to turn a blind eye to questionable practices on his path to the wealth he believes is necessary to win Daisy’s affections.
This book is slow moving in the beginning but has a punchy and surprising end.
roberta-writes.com 
Love this book and the movie with Robert Redford is one of my all time faves! It is on my 100 Essential Novels scratch off poster that I got for Christmas so I’m going to be reading it again. Great review.
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Yes, a classic that deserves to be read more than watched. There is texture, depth of character and more layers than a film can manage to convey – although the film versions are good as well!
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I agree that movie adaptations, while good, can’t convey the nuance and depth of character of the book.
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That’s a worthy memory. I should read that sometime. I loved the movie.
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One of my favourite books! I just love it. Proof that money does not buy happiness. The story certainly captures the decadence of the times through superb imagery. A book worth reading more than once.
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I’ve also read the book multiple times. I studied it in school for theme and social context, then again in a craft of fiction class.
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I haven’t seen the film, because I have always wanted to read the book. Had to many friends tell me it is such a good book. Will have to definitely give it a try.
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I love the movie, Robbie. This book is considered as great writing so I bought the book. I should read it soon!
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I like this review, Robbie. I’ve read Gatsby a couple times, once in school, where we studied all the parts. I agree that it is slow in the beginning, but it does have some “punch,” as you say at the finish! If you haven’t seen the original movie, I’d recommend it. It has a lot of visual appeal. I also watched the more modern version with Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s a bit strange, but the dialogue is true to the first movie.
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I haven’t read this since high school. Rereading those books is a good challenge. (K)
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This is on my list to read this year. Most Americans read this in high school, but I didn’t because our school was special and snooty. We read Richard Wright’s “Native Son” instead, and that book was definitely fantastic (but much longer). It seems interesting, so maybe I’ll enjoy it!
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Oooh, another fab book for my list, H. Thank you. I didn’t read this in school either, but it is a very good book and a fascinating message.
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Classic novel and film! ❤
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nice review of a classic book!
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Thank you, Jim, I enjoyed it
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I love this book. Fitzgerald writes beautifully and it is a rather short book for all its content. Great review, Robbie.
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Thank you, Olga, you are correct on both counts. I hope you are well.
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Watched the movie, but have never read the book. One of these days.
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I have never seen the movie, Mark. I am not much of a TV or movie person. The movie is great.
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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Thanks Ed
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To me Gatsby was such a sad character. Nick is the one I could relate to. I thought it was brilliant of Fitzgerald to use a narrator.
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I also found Gatsby to be terribly sad. I thought this story was a real tragedy.
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The Great Gatsby has one of the best last lines in all of literature.
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It is a great book, Liz. A lot of food for thought especially right now. How little things have changed up until March 2020.
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Sadly, yes.
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