I’ve never read this before, or watched any film adaptations, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Often, with books that are 100 years old, I struggle with the differing style and language, but that wasn’t the case with this book. I absolutely loved it! What a book! I get the big deal now.

By the end of the book, I was incredibly moved. I felt so sad for Jay, that he had spent five years hopelessly in love with Daisy, while she had moved on to Tom Buchanan. He was crushed when she rejected him. Like a man who had lost everything. All the money in the world couldn’t get him the only thing he really wanted: Daisy.

I loved how astutely Fitzgerald reflected the excesses of the rich. Jordan Baker, professional golfer, and Daisy, her friend, are so affluent that they are bored of everything on offer to them. I didn’t like Daisy, the spoiled little rich girl. She always got what she wanted, and she knew how to work people. Did she know what she was doing? Oh, I think so.

This book gives a good glimpse at The Jazz Age, with Jay’s huge parties. Champagne by the boatload, oysters, music and entertainers and, always, a dip in the pool near the end.

I thought the end was incredibly sad. Poor Mr Wilson, manipulated by Tom Buchanan, driven mad by grief, shot and killed both Jay, then himself. And, to make it even sadder, Nick is the only person apart from Jay’s father who gathers at Jay’s house for the funeral procession. The switch from having everything to having nothing, from having hundreds of ‘friends’ to having none, from being someone looked up to and then having nothing is stark. Incredibly moving. The fickleness of people at its worst.

What a fantastic book!

Everyone. The writing is so delicious. So intricate, while being vague at the same time. At least, vague in its concreteness.

Fitzgerald's writing. He has so much style, so much talent. I loved it. I also adored Gatsby. Yes, he was a person who had (maybe) killed a man and was not by any means all good. But he loved Daisy. Or, rather, the idea of Daisy. He was so tragic. I fell in love with him.

Tom Buchanan. Nasty, nasty character. I also couldn't stand Daisy.

Watch the movie.

Sad, mostly. But also in awe of Fitzgerald's writing.

F. Scott Fitzgerald. I intend to find his other works and read those.

It's simply beautiful. It reaches inside you and twists and wrenches your heart. It is a masterpiece.

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Created Apr 10, 2025 at 5:39am • Submit your own review...