“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is a sad story about how far a man is willing to go only to be accepted by his loved one, to live again a long lost dream. “The Great Gatsby” is one of the most famous classics, which became appreciated only during The Second World War, when the soldiers were given copies of the book for entertainment and support. Gatsby himself had been a soldier, so I think the story gave them hope and made them believe in a great life which would expect them after war.

Title: “The Great Gatsby”

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald (read here about F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Genre: Classic literature

Number of pages: 208

Recommended age: +15

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐

Sneak Peek

 The book tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a man with moral values. He got the house of everyone’s dreams and every possibility money and life could bring to someone. In theory, he had a dream life, but none of the people who attended his great parties knew what he had been going through to have that life.

       Gatsby changed his name, leaving behind the poor life he had and started all over. A rich old man, who loved sailing, inspired him and took him under his wing, so Gatsby „stole” his expression and made it famous: „old sport”.

       He chose to chase a long cherished-dream: Daisy, the girl he once loved and from whom the war took him away. Their love story is complicated, of a twin flame nature. He designed his whole life according to her taste and preferences. But the dream was long gone, the love was long extinguished. His payment in front of the destiny was his guilt, his sufferance and time. Time doesn’t forget or forgive anyone.

       That’s the kind of love they had: the one that burns in flames and works as a magnet, in which the time doesn’t matter and everyone else around is just an annoying noise in the background. It’s a love that consumes you for the sake of someone, but makes you bloom in its presence

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

“The Great Gatsby”, F. Scott Fitzgerald

The action

There are many descriptions, the narration is subjective from the point of view of a Western citizen, Nick Carraway, a thing that is great for highlighting the differences between the American West and East of the 20s. It is a book that successfully describes those times, the Eastern citizens’ parties & acquaintances, the importance of the financial power & influence in society. “The Great Gatsby” teaches you that a few close people, who are loyal and don’t care about your money, your big house or how they can seize you, are better than a full house of them.

       This book has everything: great parties, influent characters, secret relationships, unknown past and death, so I needed to highlight some quotes that I found really inspirational and deep. Nowadays, I think our inside depth, self-equilibrium, honesty & authenticity are the most important qualities which we can possess.  “The Great Gatsby” is a complete and complex book, sending a clear and undeniable message.

       I loved how the story is very diverse, but somehow it keeps coming back to Gatsby and Daisy. Their love was the center of Gatsby’s whole Universe. The two of them were the most discrete characters I’ve read about.

“The Great Gatsby”

 Gatsby was a truly great man, as the narrator tells him at the end of the book. It was like he felt the ending coming with fast steps. Nick and Gatsby’s friendship was odd, but somehow familiar. Nick tells at some point that he made Gatsby only one compliment as long as they’ve known each other. (“They’re a rotten crowd,” I shouted across the lawn. “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.”).

The title of the book captures Gatsby essence. He wasn’t the type of man who could be described in only one word, because he was so much more. Gatsby was the best friend, the best lover, the most dedicated and also naïve man. He was a dream chaser, a man who believed in a perfect love and fought for it even when there was nothing to fight for anymore.

“𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝.”

“The Great Gatsby”, F. Scott Fitzgerald

The characters

   The narrator simply knows what he is doing, he surprises every character’s tiny moment of intimacy and reveals every emotion and hidden intention. The characters have their own secrets, their own feelings and everything seems surreal. Gatsby is so, so rich, but he is so, so humble, understanding & deep. He had a dream and lived all his life chasing it. We can find our inspiration in these characters’ beliefs and actions.

       Nevertheless, Daisy proves everyone how selfish she is, running away when it was to accept the consequences of her actions. She showed no problem in running away. She had been happy to live again an old love story, even if it meant cheating her husband. But …. was it love what empowered her actions?

       I appreciated even Daisy’s horrible, selfish and immoral personality, because it was that well described to make you judge her, and also understand her. That’s what a good book does: creates problems in your mind and makes you see far and wide.

“𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐀𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲”

“The Great Gatsby”, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Comparison to the movie

 The movie is exceptional! It follows the plot line and the replies from the book. The vision is genial and it was amazing to watch one of my favorite books comes to life. Lights, starry nights, crowds, drinks, laughter and immortal nights. They knew in that moment that their love and their souls would never fully die.

       Even so, I recommend you reading the book firstly, because nothing is better than seeing this great story with your own mind eyes.

If you liked this post, hit the heart button and subscribe 😉

Read here more book reviews

Please leave this field empty

Oh hi there 👋
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

Email Address *

We don’t spam! Read our Privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.