Rating: 
Summary: Simply brilliant
Review: The Great Gatsby is one of the greatest American novels ever written. Much has been said of it supposedly chronicling the "Jazz Age", but I think the themes are much deeper, penetrating the heart of what it means to be an American. The prose is near flawless, and the character of Gatsby is equally enigmatic and familiar. The idea that America is a place where one can continually reinvent oneself and spin a life out of dreams is as prevalent today (maybe more prevalent) as it was in the 1920's. Gatsby's seduction by this myth and its tragic consequences shows Fitzgerald's complete understanding of the limits and and even dangers of such a romanticism. The themes aside, his command of words, paragraphs and structure is something that all writers aspire to.
Rating: 
Summary: Very worthwhile
Review: It took me a long time in getting around to reading this. My resistance may have been related to not truly appreciating the Redford film. However the original is a gem. Very gripping plot that develops quickly and reaches it's climax with tremendous drama and great style. I loved this book much more than I expected to.
Rating:
Summary: Decent but full of flaws
Review: There is some excellent writing throughout this book. It's biggest problem is the lack depth to the characters and the relationship between them, particularly Daisy, Gatsby and the relationship between Jordan Baker and Nick, the narrator. In the last thirty five pages or so, the writing seems to take a turn for the worse. The end is just too incredible. Fitzgerald becomes maudlin and sometimes unintelligible. This book is more than anything evidence of the truly great things that Fitzgerald might have ascended to had he not been overcome by his horrendous alcolhism.
Rating: 
Summary: Severely Overrated
Review: The Great American Novel, some say. Difficult to understand because it was written in the language of the times, say others. It is neither. I borrowed this book because it was supposed to be a classic. Instead I found it was lacking in sympathetic characters, focus, meaning (aside from the very obvious, played-to-death 'everything is superficial' theme), and thoroughly unabsorbing. From the moment it started out, it rang false. It begins with the narrator (Nick Carraway; even his >name< is mediocre) giving the reader a lot of pointless information. Do we need to know that he looks like a painting of his great-uncle? He goes over in very abstract terms, what he got out of the experience that this book is about, which would have been infinitely more meaningful toward the end. I'm sorry that I have not read any of Fitgerald's other works - I hear "Tender is the Night" is supposedly better - but that leaves my opinion unclouded by prejudice. This book is amateurish, meek, and clumsy. Where is the elegant prose that other reviews go on about? The most I can say about this book is that it ends correctly, though somewhat predictably. For marginally better books on the same era, try PG Wodehouse's Jeeves or Blandings Castle series. They may not be quite as serious, but that can be a good thing.
Rating:
Summary: This is the Great American Novel!
Review: This is my all-time FAVORITE book. I was required to read it for my English class in high school. I had seen the movie with Robert Redford, and I thought it was okay. But after finding the way Fitzgerald portrays symbolism and foreshadowing, is just amazing. Also, he spends time on the little things about each character, making his writing exquisite. I read the Fitzgerald was a drunk while he was writing this, but he sure was smart! My English teacher pointed out some amazing things that I would never be able to think of in my whole life! This book is truely amazing, I highly reccomend it for anyone. It isn't a long book, and it is for anyone interested. You will be very happy after you read, and you'll know why people consider it to be the Great American Novel of the century.
Rating:
Summary: Great book in the hands of a moron
Review: The Kilianski blurb from December 2000 is extraordinary -- his admittedly "Marxist" perspective denies the novel eligibility as a great American novel because of the "Socio-economic" [sic] status of its characters. Conversely, this must mean that "The Grapes of Wrath" is second only to Shakespeare. How sad. (He sounds like the Village Voice when it berated the movie "Arthur" for being a comedy about rich people.) The trouble with narrow schools of criticism is that they cease to be about the text and focus instead on their own dogmatic (or phlegmatic) view of the world. I suggest you just read the novel and make up your own mind. Bathe in Fitzgerald's descriptions (especially Nick's first sight of Daisy in the wind-blown room), the gradual unveiling of the truth about Gatsby, and the suspense and heartbreak of the last few chapters. (And avoid the Redford adaptation.)
Rating: 
Summary: Definitely not the Great American Novel
Review: I have heard it said that The Great Gatsby is the best novel ever written by an American author. I find this assertion to be absolutely preposterous. I don't even think that The Great Gatsby is Fitzgerald's best work.The book, though masterfully crafted as are all of Fitzgerald's stories, fails to make a personal connection with me in any way. I have no sympathy for Jay Gatsby and in my opinion all the characters in this book are arrogant, rich stuck up snobs, who have nothing better to do than be caught up in the cruel pettiness of their own lives. Perhaps I am giving my review of this book too much of a Marxist slant, it is possible that someone else may become more emotionally involved in this novel than I did. Obviosuly, the book has had a popularity and a staying power that I just simply cannot explain, but before reading The Great Gatsby I urge everyone to think about the Socio-economic standing of Fitzgerald's characters before labelling this the Great American Novel.
Rating:
Summary: A book that lived up to all of my expectations
Review: I have always looked forward to reading the classic book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When I finally had time to read it, I wasn't disappointed. The Great Gatsby, written in 1925, is a fictional tale that takes place during the American Jazz Age. The story is set in the eastern U.S. and follows the journey of a young man named Nick. The book trails Nick from his home in the West to his new life in West Egg, New York. Nick becomes involved in the social scene is West Egg, which is mainly centered on the weekly extravagant parties thrown by the incredibly wealthy and strangely mysterious Jay Gatsby. As the book progresses, Gatsby's past is slowly unraveled. Nick witnesses Gatsby's gradual admittance of his significant secret. He discovers that Gatsby is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, a beautiful socialite, trapped in a miserable marriage to an unfaithful husband. Though Nick does not want to be involved in any way with the illicit love affair between Daisy and Gatsby, he is gradually takes a larger part in Gatsby and Daisy's dangerous romance. When Jay and Daisy decide to declare their love to one another, it leaves Gatsby in an unforgettable and risky situation that changes the lives of all involved. The Great Gatsby was one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. It included a beautiful love story, danger, suspense, tales of true devotion and friendship, and a wonderful, thought-provoking commentary on the society in post-World War I America, a time of excess and confusion. I have learned several lessons from the novel, whether they are about loyalty or remaining true to oneself. I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of thirteen because of some parts of the novel that might be difficult to grasp. The Great Gatsby is a truly wonderful book, and sure to be enjoyed by many for many years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Literary Greatness
Review: This novel is more than just a novel--it is the English language used in the greatest essence of perfection. Fitzgerald has written out prose that intertwine so many elements, the heirarchy of American society, love, aspiration to the American Dream, the sign of the times in the Roaring Twenties, friendship, paradise, and paradise lost, yet it is all woven together so clearly, so vividly, so beautifully... Fitzgerald's prose is lyrical, sharp and intense. It is the height of the use of the English language. The devices used to keep the reader interested are borrowed, yet brought to a level of perfection, a level that the originators of these devices could never fathom. Comparing Fitzgerald's work to the work of more modern novelists, I see what the latter aspire to. I was supposed to read this in high school but neglected to. I wish this was the novel to have sparked my interest in the art of prose. In the Esquire article "Monologue to the Maestro: A High Seas Letter" by Ernest Hemingway, Hemingway talks about what makes a great writer. He says that reading the classics is something a writer should do "...so he knows what he has to beat." He goes on to list classics that he feels are essential for a writer to read. In a modern times, "Gatsby" is a novel a writer should read "so he knows what he has to beat." The Great Gatsby is not only a benchmark for writers, but a novel for anyone to read for its beautiful use of the English language, gripping story, and story structure. As I wish I could read Russian to fully understand the essence of classics like "The Brothers Karamazov", I can imagine serious readers who cannot read English feeling the same way about a book like "The Great Gatsby." I recommend this book to anyone who is into fine art, for this is fine art of storytelling and the English language of the twentieth century. Furthermore, I suggest,in order for this novel to be fully enjoyed, that it be read in one sitting.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughts on the Great Gatsby
Review: The novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald ranged between the two extremes of liking the book then hating its ending. The characters of the book were excellently described, from Tom Buchanan's enormous size and temper to Jay Gatsby's strife for prestige to wealth. The story line was well written, except for the disappointing ending. My favorite parts were of the great parties Gatsby threw and of the confrontation between Gatsby, Nick, Tom, Jordan, and Daisy in the hotel room; this is where I was totally tuned in as a reader. These incidents portrayed the intriguing, lavish lifestyle that Gatsby enjoyed and the turmoil of the lovers' quarrel. The thing in this book that just irked me was how fickle some of the characters turned out to be, and how easily swayed by their emotions. This really upset me, but what also bothered me was how Nick appeared spineless in the face of defending his friend. Yet, these two dislikes do not add up to my hatred for the ending. It left me disappointed in all of the characters and mad at the senselessness. Even though, it was a good book overall.
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