Rating: 
Summary: Elegy for the jazz age
Review: Although published seventy-five years ago, Fitzgerald's masterpiece remains as fresh as the day it appeared. It could have been written yesterday. It is as perfect a novel as one is likely to find in American literature; not a word is wrong or out of place. The choice of a second person narrator gives the reader wider and greater appreciation of the characters and events. At the center of it all, of course, is Jay Gatsby, bootlegger, liar, party-giver, doomed romantic. His love for Daisy Buchanan, his "incorruptible dream", is the only genuine emotion felt by any of the characters (excepting narrator Nick Carroway, whose loyalty to Gatsby is touching), all of whose superficiality is buried beneath the glitter and gaiety of the Jazz Age, the endless parties, the extramarital affairs, the endless-flowing booze, the accumulation of wealth and things. This edition of the book features critical commentary and notes from Prof. Matthew Bruccoli, the world's foremost Fitzgerald scholar.
Rating:
Summary: Required Reading Turned Good
Review: A required book for my English class, _The Great Gatsby_ has become one of my favorite books. The symbolism is amazing--a green light, the watchful eyes of an eye doctor's ad, the owl-eyed man, driving, Gatsby's library... it is amazing how Fitzgerald pulls it all together. And on top of it all, Fitzgerald creates what is considered the perfect narrator in Nick Carraway (give or take a letter). All in all a great read!
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Summary: Hollywood Syndrome
Review: It's interesting to notice the one common thread in all of the negative reviews of Gatsby. They all criticize the "lack of action". It's indicative of the American need for a definite ending, either good has to win, or evil has to win, and the American reader must always be told exactly what is happening in clear omniscient narrative. It's the same with movies. American movies are so packed with effects and plot, there is hardly any room for the viewer to make his own assessment of the nature of the characters. Notice that foreign/Independent American films concentrate on the CHARACTERS, whereas Hollywood studio films concentrate on the PLOT (and usually a few explosions thrown in and some gratuitious sex too). The beauty of this book, as with Fitzgerald's other works, as with Faulkner's works, as with Hemingway's works, lies in the development of the characters... complexity to the point that each reader takes something slightly different from the book, as each reader has had different experiences.
Rating: 
Summary: Lord save me from this book!
Review: The Great Gatsby has been described in many ways, including a description to the effect of 'a book for the present generation, to be judged by the next generation, and assigned to the generations following'. Such a description is quite accurate, at least in one facet, because the aforementioned 'generations following' would probably never pick up the book, burn every available copy upon reading the first few paragraphs, or perhaps even consign the books to a worse fate: A lifetime in a history museum or research facility. From the first glimpse of The Great Gatsby to the last word, it did not spark any of the interest that a good book should. The Great Gatsby has been called a great literary work, a book that truly speaks to a person's soul. The book does, indeed, reach out to a person's soul; however, it instills an unaccountable sense of lethargy and self-pity, sometimes even causing subconsciously self-induced dyslexia. The very title may send many readers running to the comforting illusion of illiteracy, as one can find innumerable poorly written books in the world entitled "The Great (something-or-other)." Upon reading the title, a person's eyes naturally stray to the cover art--definitely another put-off. If one looks closely, naked female bodies in unnatural poses are visible in the pupils of the face's eyes. Pornography on a book's cover, however minuscule, does not bode well for the book's contents. Although the cover is somewhat artistically balanced, the combination of white and navy blue is simply not aesthetically pleasing, most probably conjuring memories of unpleasant family gatherings where plump aunts in blue-and-white striped shirts and horn-rimmed sunglasses pinched one's cheeks. First impressions are half the book, and The Great Gatsby seems to have considerable problems in this department. After being plagued by such a traumatizing cover, the reader is not prepared for anything even mildly confusing or philosophical. After dizzily flipping past the list of Fitzgerald's other books and the publishing information, the intimidating preface is to be faced. The preface begins with a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald: "I've found my life line--from now on this comes first. This is my immediate duty--without it I am nothing." This quote forces an already foggy-minded reader to attempt to guess what the ambiguous 'this' is referring to. Invariably, such an obstacle would make all but the most devoted reader with too much spare time 'cut to the chase,' so to speak, and read only what is absolutely required: The story. Sadly, the beleaguered reader is also faced with confusion in the story itself. For instance, the process of two characters simply walking indoors and actually beginning a conversation requires two full pages of flowery description. By the time the description has been read, one has to flip back two pages and be reminded what was going on. Confusion seems to be a main reason for not enjoying The Great Gatsby. Not only does The Great Gatsby befuddle the luckless reader, but it also expects him to understand badly explained thoughts. For instance, at the beginning of chapter two one is expected to figure out who Doctor T. J. Eckleburg is. "...their retinas are one yard high" does not make it clear to most people that the eyes are on a billboard sign, but rather forces one to read the passage many times, while quite possibly gleaning no further understanding of it. A third problem with The Great Gatsby is the atmosphere it puts the reader in. Activities, days, and even minor characters seem to blur, creating a harried state of mind. Bits of knowledge about the characters that could be used to create intrigue are simply cast out as if the most ordinary thing in the world is happening, especially when referring to married people having affairs. Some readers may find themselves often asking, "did something important just happen?" More emphasis on important events and on keeping minor events clear and separate in the reader's mind would definitely make The Great Gatsby more readable. The major downfall of The Great Gatsby was the lack of clarity. It may have succeeded in being mildly interesting if one could become involved in the plot rather than constantly breaking the story line to go in search of a lost meaning. Unfortunately, the book is more an interminable hunt for obscure meaning than a true story. Unless one is looking for a text that can be overanalyzed and misconstrued, he should leave The Great Gatsby alone.
Rating: 
Summary: Work of art
Review: I really liked this. It's short and simple, beautifully descriptive and carries within it the weight of great devotion and tragedy. It's a book one would call a work of art. I would read this for a taste of the fabulous lifestyle of the rich, decadent and charming in New York at the height of the Roaring 20s. Also, for Gatsby's utter devotion to a lost dream, the depth and the consequence of such a devotion. If anything, I felt the characters of Nick Carraway (narrator) and Jordan Baker weren't built up enough. Fitzgerald's method of description wasn't too much to my taste either. It was rather amusing when at one point, within the same conversation, he uses "inquired Jordan humorously ... said Jordan helpfully ... snorted Tom contemptuously ... demanded Jordan crossly".
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Summary: This book is beautiful
Review: I don't know what originally killed my interest in The Great Gatsby, maybe the name, maybe the fact that it's commonly forced on high schoolers, but when I finally decided to read it--in a generally cynical attempt to educate myself by reading a so-called classic--I was stunned. The Great Gatsby rocks. "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues..."
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Summary: Quintessential American Novel
Review: Best novel ever written. Should be read annually. Hyperbole, not at all...
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing, spectacular...everyone should read this book!
Review: Yes, this is a classic, but not everyone was required to read it in school. I wish I had been, since I would have discovered a wonderful, heart-wrenching, beautifully written novel much sooner than now, when I am in my late twenties. This book made me feel so much emotion, and every word Fitzgerald uses is brilliantly perfect. The story is very compelling as well, and it drew me in so much that I did not put it down on the second day I read it (the beginning drags just a tiny bit--keep reading! ) for a full eight hours until I finished it. If you have never read it thus far, DO...for the women, it has a touching, tear-jerking love story, and for men, all the violence and egotism you've come to expect from a good read. EVERYONE should read this excellent piece of literature.
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Summary: A Bittersweet Love Story That Gets Sweeter With Time
Review: I have read this book every summer since I first read it as part of a high school reading list. It is one of my favorite books in that it takes the reader back to a very romantic, colorful time in history. It profiles the life of a tragic, wreckless dreamer who re-invents himself to capture the heart of a his first love. I think what brings me back to this book time and time again is the poetic quality of the writing. Each reading brings seems to bring out new ideas and facets to this story. It is beautifully written. One thing worth noticing is the use of colors that Fitzgerald employs throughout the story. The book also captures a slice of life in the 1920s - a period of time which often seems akin to the present in its massive explosion of wealth. I think the fact that the story takes place in the summer also ads to my enjoyment of this book. When I sit on the beach reading it,I can picture myself on the north shore of Long Island at one of Gatsby's parties, with jazz music in the air, and his beautiful house ablaze with a festive glow....
Rating:
Summary: Its alright
Review: From what I understand, this book is considered by those in the know to be among the very greatest of American novels, and the most important American novel of the 20th Century. I don't really think it deserves such high praise. Although it is a penetrating look at 20's life- in all its excess- the book falls short on plot and substance. Sure there are greater meanings (don't forget that green light) but reading it is not the pleasure it could be for me. Perhaps I feel this way because I find that much of the writing, especially the dialogue, is still very much ingrained in 1920's culture. Thus, I find it hard to see how it is so timeless in the minds of so many people. So, I personally would give 3 stars but its "greatness" has got to be 5. I will settle with 4.
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