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The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald, F. Scott (Francis Scott), 1896-1940. Book - 1925 Teen Fiction / Fitzgerald, F. Scott, Teen Book / Fiction / Classic / Fitzgerald, F. Scott, Fiction / Fitzgerald, F. Scott 1 On Shelf 1 request on 15 copies Community Rating: 4.2 out of 5

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Call Number: Teen Fiction / Fitzgerald, F. Scott, Teen Book / Fiction / Classic / Fitzgerald, F. Scott, Fiction / Fitzgerald, F. Scott
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

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Jay Gatsby had once loved beautiful, spoiled Daisy Buchanan, then lost her to a rich boy. Now, mysteriously wealthy, he is ready to risk everything to woo her back. Bathtub gin, flappers and house parties that last all week enliven Fitzgerald's classic tale, a startling portrait of Gatsby's search for meaning in his opulent world.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Gatsby, Great submitted by celesteh on April 26, 2010, 9:21am It has taken me awhile to get around to reading The Great Gatsby. Probably partly because it has never been assigned reading for me in any high school or college class, no one had ever brought up the book in a topic of conversation, and also, Andy Kaufman.

Andy Kaufman once did a stand-up special in which he attempted to read The Great Gatsby, much to the dismay of his audience. I saw this special when I was young and it had always left me with the impression that The Great Gatsby was an incredibly long novel. As the crowd boos Andy while he's trying to read, he responds, "Ladies and gentlemen, please! We still have a long way to go..." It's a very funny bit, pure genius, pure Andy. So Andy left me thinking that The Great Gatsby was a monster of a book, probably 600+ pages, and I never sought it out. It's not that I don't read long novels, but I had plenty to read on my own without jumping into a book that zero people had recommended in my lifetime.

Very recently a fellow co-worker blogged about the great American novel, suggesting The Great Gatsby. I was reminded again. Pulling it off the shelf at the library I noticed that the book is 180 pages all together, not long at all. Andy Kaufman tricked me! (Typical). But I now think that one of the great things about the novel is that such a story was written within 180 pages and it is perfect at that length, it does not need to be any longer.

I now understand the appeal, and why Gatsby has been so often studied and praised. It is so well written that probably every writer in the world should read it to take a cue from Fitzgerald. However, I feel that the best novels in the world should be thought provoking in a way that the reader examines some moral and philosophical issues - and The Great Gatsby did not provide this for me (hence the four, not five stars). Still, it is a story to get lost in, incredibly well written, and the perfect length. There's characters you will never forget, and the atmosphere Fitzgerald creates seems to take you right back in time. Have I also failed to mention it is often very funny, too? It is.

Come along old sport.

Amazing book - give it a chance submitted by pk on July 10, 2012, 9:48pm This is one of those books you are sometimes forced to read in school. But oh, boy is it worth it. Read it even if you aren't forced. As another reviewer said, it isn't that long at all.

Fitzgerald writes so beautifully you find yourself re-reading sentences just because you've never seen anyone express an idea so perfectly. His writing talent in this book is astounding. If you like excellent writing, this a book for you.

Fitzgerald pulls us into the world of each of his characters and paints them incredibly. We may not like these characters, but we certainly know them. The world of rich long islanders in the 20s and their questionable activities comes to life.

A worthwhile read, even if your teacher says you have to. If you read it in school and didn't like it, give it another chance.

Old Sport submitted by min on June 15, 2014, 8:00pm Wow! What a great novel.
It's slow in the beginning, but the romance really blossoms throughout the story. The ending (no spoilers) was pretty tragic.

What a great read! submitted by karinakangas on June 17, 2014, 7:12am I enjoyed this book very much. I always felt it was a book many people read and wondered why I was never assigned in school to read it! I finally made a summer reading list and I am so happy I included this book in my list. To me, it read so mysterious. I was intrigued by all the details...and finally we hear the truth about Jay Gatsby!
The book is not too long, and so you can get it read very quickly. I couldn't stop reading it.
You should also read up about the author, Fitzgerald is a very interesting person and after reading about him I was able to get some insight on how he came to create such interesting characters and write this story.

The Great Gatsby submitted by m steve on August 6, 2014, 11:45am The great American novel.

Pleasant Surprise submitted by Meginator on August 1, 2017, 6:12pm I know The Great Gatsby is a classic, and a perennial contender for The Great American Novel, but I was still (pleasantly) surprised by how good it is; it's one of those books that just *works*, for whatever reasons. The characters are compelling and their dramas are surprisingly understandable for modern readers, despite the fact that they embody and personify the Roaring Twenties so effectively. This novel really encapsulates a certain place in a certain era, and the writing and details are excellent and haunting. The Great Gatsby deserves its accolades and its place in the highest echelons of U.S. literature.

Not worth the hype submitted by zmclaugh on July 30, 2018, 4:25pm People love this book, but I'm not really sure why. I found the characters annoying and their problems uninteresting.

A little confusing submitted by elepling on August 3, 2018, 7:11pm At times I had to pause to figure out what was going on, style of writing makes it hard to follow

Grain of Salt submitted by rebecca.perreault on August 8, 2018, 4:41pm The first time I read Gatsby I was forced to, and it was horrible.
The second time I read Gatsby I felt emotion and drained by the flaws of the characters.
The difference was the time in between where I read literary analysis of the story, and found an appreciation for the statements Fitzgerald is trying to convey through this story. As it's a short read, I would recommend trying the book again if it wasn't for you and to be patient with Fitzgerald as he fleshes out his story. Though the story is a short stack, take time to appreciate it as every word is intentional.

Classic submitted by jensinden on June 23, 2019, 2:14pm First read it my freshman year of high school. I’m a sucker for nostalgia so it remains my favorite book. Could read it every day.

BOI submitted by Raven382 on June 24, 2019, 8:39pm GREAT BOI!!!!

Classic submitted by c_zhang on June 27, 2019, 10:23pm A bit overrated, but still a decent read.

Good book submitted by jasonc1177 on July 31, 2019, 7:44pm I loved this book, and I'm glad that it addressed certain topics.

The Great Gatsby submitted by lstorc on August 26, 2019, 1:01pm The Great Gatsby is a story about a bunch of pathetic, attention seeking narcissists.

I was surprised to find this one in Teen Fiction at Westgate. submitted by lisa on August 31, 2019, 7:11pm Of course, I did first read it when I was a teenager, like a lot of people. But I don't think of it as a teen novel, but a long shot. And I'm very glad to be reading it again as an adult. It reads a lot differently. Give it a shot if you haven't read it in 40 years!

Debauched Downside of the American Dream submitted by sVfGI7Glt2pz7GZgVB90 on June 19, 2020, 4:53pm A splendid narrative of secret visions and flashy revelry, of abrupt violence and steady envy, shimmers with a allure that's so recognizable in this classic.

A classic for a reason submitted by AGAPHD on July 5, 2020, 8:00pm The writing is stunning.

Captures an era submitted by Princess Cimorene on July 24, 2020, 1:27am I generally prefer happier/more hopeful stories, but F. Scott Fitzgerald writes so beautifully and tragically. The story really does transport you to the decadence and poverty of the 1920s, and the use of colors and images throughout the text is really strong. The visuals linger in my mind.

Classic submitted by alemmon100 on August 8, 2021, 9:52am Great, quick read. Amazing writing.

Roaring 20s submitted by carcat15 on June 15, 2022, 10:48am The Great Gatsby makes you feel like you are attending lavish parties in the 1920s, with descriptive and moving writing. There are great visuals throughout the book. Although difficult to genuinely like any of the characters, the exhaustion you feel by their actions makes the book as good as it is. It is a little slow at the beginning, but once you get through the first couple of chapters it is a quick read.

A short but thoughtful read submitted by amandasaurus on June 19, 2022, 6:54pm This is a good one if you want to read something short that will give you some “well read” cred. The writing is really lovely, the ending is just tragic, but it’s a good thought provoking read of the futility of materialism.

true classic submitted by zaraz on August 5, 2022, 3:56pm one of my favorite reads ever since I read it in high school. it's a classic for a reason!

A High School Classic submitted by journeyhawthorne on August 7, 2022, 11:17am This is one of the few books we had to read in high school for our classics course that I actually liked. Short, but not lacking description, and easy enough to read for most students (unlike Shakespeare), The Great Gatsby will continue to catch the attention of readers for a long time.

One of the Best Books Ever Written submitted by MikkiMoscara on June 9, 2023, 11:07am The writing is so elegant, it keeps you reading. The story is intriguing. As a writer, I often read this book for inspiration. I heard Hunter S. Thompson did the same thing. I recommended it to my daughter and she loved it as well. It's a quick read, a tragedy, but alluring.

It's an American Classic for a reason submitted by mikevial on June 13, 2023, 7:41pm I'm not an avid fan of Fitzgerald, but this is one of those classics that opens doors to understanding a time of America, more than just the Lost Generation and Roaring 20s, but the human psyche. We have been through our own pandemic, our own shifts in economic instability, etc; this books still resonates.

Young and older readers, push onward beyond those first two pages. Fitzgerald's style is verbose, maybe because he measured himself against the greats! (Was he trying too hard to sound like a writer? The ideas are sound.) Let's repeat: "Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope" (1). Once you get in the car with the characters, you'll be along for the ride.

Favorite Classic submitted by vclinton on July 21, 2023, 9:35pm This book had a haunting feeling to it that makes even the slow parts oddly fascinating. Even as an adult, I can pull the atmosphere of the book to mind, this lazy, insidious feel...

Interesting submitted by brooksza on August 14, 2023, 12:33pm I appreciate how the story comes together at the end. There were some parts that felt slow, which is odd for such a short book.

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PUBLISHED
New York : Scribner, [1953], c1925.
Year Published: 1925
Description: 180 p. ; 18 cm.
Language: English
Format: Book

READING LEVEL
Lexile: 1070

ISBN/STANDARD NUMBER
0743273567
9780743273565 (pbk.)

SUBJECTS
Traffic accidents -- Fiction.
First loves -- Fiction.
Rich people -- Fiction.
Mistresses -- Fiction.
Revenge -- Fiction.
Long Island (N.Y.) -- Fiction.
Psychological fiction.