REVIEW: The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Book: The Great Gatsby

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald

My rating: 4/5.

Premise: Set in Jazz Age New York, the novel tells the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy young woman whom he loved in his youth.

I really enjoyed this book. It follows Nick Carraway, who moved to New York in order to make his way in life. Next door to him lives Jay Gatsby, who throws such lavish parties. The book propelled me into 1920s New York - the glitz and glamour, hints of life working in stocks and bonds, the quaint habits mixed with carefree attitudes. There is a constant theme of vanity and appearances, with some characters hiding domestic struggles in order to save face, whilst others thrive on gossip and scandal. All the while, we are never sure of the main characters: their motives, their background, what was truth and what was lie. A very interesting read!