Rating: Summary: A very good book! Review: I was forced to read this book in my high school English class. I ended up actually enjoying this book. I thought it was a good story, engaging and a wonderful depiction of the 1920s. I found myself not so into the plot but into the style of writing, and the wonderful backdrop of the roaring 20s, a time of partying and prosperous times for the upper class. I found this book to be very dark, touching on the pain that money can bring.
Rating: Summary: A book of changing hearts Review: "The Great Gatsby" was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is told from Nick Carraways point of view. Nick lived on Long Island Sound, but he lived in West Egg on the very tip of the egg, only fifty yards from the Sound. Nick knew only what he would see or was told about Gatsby. The book is about the changing of hearts for people that have so much money all they need is someone to love. Money isn't everything because love can over take money. Gatsby would give up everything for a true love such as Daisy. "The Great Gatsby" is a good novel full of surprises that will make you think twice about money and love.F. Scott Fitzgerald writes from Nick Carraway's point of view. Nick is the narrator and through Nick we find out about all the other characters and how they become the way they were. Nick would figure out the other characters and learn about them when spending the day with them. That way you were able to find out where each character came from. All the other characters had different views than Nick which made him nice to have around for a day because he would look at issues from a different viewpoint helping them out.
Rating: Summary: i thouroghly enjoyed this book. Review: while reading the great gatsby over this past summer i did not realize the signifigance of the underlying meaning. after i read it a second time i began to understand the actual beauty of fitzgerald's masterpiece. if you ever want a book to sit and contemplate for a while then i suggest this one.
Rating: Summary: The Gatsby in all of us Review: The Great Gatsby crosses time as it depicts the careless indulgence that is embedded in our culture. There is a Tom, Daisy and a Gatsby in all our lives. Fitzgerald immortalizes America through his novel. We feel the struggle for independence, love, respect and acceptance that people of all cultures come to achieve in this country. We learn that we, those born and raised in this country must aslo struggle for these. Most importantly, though Fitzgerald brings us Gatsby. Through Nick's eyes our own soul begins to search, and we find that within each and every one of us there is a little of the vulnerable, mythical Gatsby.
Rating: Summary: Great book...I have read it twice! Review: The Great Gatsby is a wonderfully written book that keeps the reader attentive at all times. This is actually the second time that I have read the book and I was still caught up in the story just like if it had been my first time reading it! I certainly recommend it the book to everyone.
Rating: Summary: The Philosopher's Stone for Literature Review: Anyone who can't recognize the lyrical beauty of this work; the power in the scenes: the miracle and mystery of its imagery and structure, should go back to repeating stock quotes or scrimping for your next bauble--because you are totally bereft of any literary sensibility WHATSOEVER. (Nothing personal) T.S. Eliot read it THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES upon his receipt of the book, and pronounced it as the " First real advance in American letters". Such would be an advisable regimen for anyone even vaguely suspicious of a career as an author. Any rating below five stars, should be considered the isolated ramblings of a ner-do-well, or some other type of intellectual drifter.
Rating: Summary: Good Book to learn about the twenties! Review: This book was interesting. The context was hard to understand at first, but we grew accustomed to it as we progressed. The beginning was slow but it soon picked up pace and was exciting. The story is almost like a soap opera. Fitzgerald uses large words to portray his thoughts and to give the book more detail. Overall great book.
Rating: Summary: I think this would be a great book if I read it once more. Review: I think this is a good book but yet, a little confusing and hard to understand. I sort of understood it but I didn't for the most part. But I think this would have been a grrrreat book only if I had understood it better.
Rating: Summary: I really liked this book. Review: When I started reading this book I didn't really know what to expect. But as I got further along I got more interested and was soon caught up in this great story. Gatsby resembles a typical American in search of fame and wealth. His love for Daisy motivates him to go in search of these two things. But once he achieves them it is too late, for Daisy is already married. He died a tragic death betrayed by all those whom he considered to be his friends.
Rating: Summary: Face it -- this IS one of the best books ever written Review: Looking over the other responses, I have to include my own two cents and agree with the reviewer who said that anyone who gave this book less than 4 stars is completely oblivious. I first read this book about 15 years ago - when I was 14 and had to read it for my junior high English class. At that time, I too didn't "get" the book, thought it was boring, and couldn't see what all the hype was about. Then I re-read it a few years ago. I was simply amazed at how well-crafted, insightful, and yet SUBTLE the book is. The reviewer who remarked that GG's structure is flawed is especially misguided and probably didn't pay enough attention while reading. In fact, the structure of this book is pretty close to being perfect. The reviewer thought the narration of the events through the point of view of the neighbor is a "crutch" and a worn-out device. Not so! The WHOLE POINT of the novel is NOT, in fact, Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy, as everyone seems to think, but the question: who IS Jay Gatsby? Not only literally, i.e., what is his identity, but also figuratively, who IS he as a person. The story is remarkable in that we never see Gatsby directly; instead, his character is filtered through the views of the people around him. Therefore, the narration of the neighbor fits in perfectly with the overarching theme of the novel: he is left to sort out his impressions of Gatsby much in the same way that the reader is. If the story were told from Gatsby's point of view, we would get too close, know too much about him, and the entire effect would be ruined. As it stands, however, the novel becomes a comment on identity: who we really are, and how other people perceive or misperceive us. (I won't spoil the ending for those who haven't read the book yet, but once you do read it, make this connection and you'll see how perfect the structure is.) That other reviewer also made the comment that a great work of art should cause us to think, question ourselves, etc., etc. GG does exactly this, but as I pointed out, Fitzgerald's technique is very subtle - with the result that some of the nuances may be lost on inattentive readers. To those who gave the novel less than four stars: read it again, and this time pay attention and look beyond the surface!
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