Review: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

Goodreads Overview:

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. First published in 1925, this quintessential novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted “gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,” it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.

Review:

This was one of my favorite books that I read in high school, so I was happy to reread it with my son when it was assigned for his sophomore English class. It had been almost 30 years since I read the book and it is amazing how much I had forgotten. In addition, he had to study the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald. I did not remember how closely his writing mirrored his own life experiences, so this was just as educational for me as it was for him.

The narrator of the story is Nick Carraway. He rented a small house on "West Egg" next-door to Jay Gatsby. Daisy and her husband Tom live on East Egg where all of the families with old money live. You can see their house and the green light at the end of their dock from Gatsby's house, which is a significant symbol throughout the novel. The proximity to Daisy is the only reason he purchased the mansion. Ever since he was a poor soldier in the army and fell in love with Daisy, it was his dream to earn enough money to marry Daisy and provide the type of lifestyle she was used to. He throws lavish parties with the hope that Daisy will eventually show up and they can reconnect, but she never does.

When Gatsby discovers that his neighbor Nick is Daisy's cousin, he is able to set his plan in motion. This novel depicts the party lifestyle of the roaring 20s and shows how bootlegging, drinking, jazz and the pursuit of the American Dream played an important role in this era. While Gatsby certainly wasn't a saint in terms of how he earned his wealth, he was a likable man that Nick came to respect. 

Once we finished reading the book, Preston and I watched the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio. This was the first time I had watched this version of the movie and I loved it. DiCaprio was an excellent Gatsby and they stuck very closely to the original storyline. 

This is a book that I believe everyone should read at some point in their lives. It is an excellent story and I appreciated it even more the second time around.