THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald 🇺🇸 BOOK REVIEW [CC]

My *SPOILER FREE* review of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great American novel?

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BOOKS:

Hey guys! My name's Juan and I make videos about books (mostly, literary fiction).

[DebMcDonald]

Great job! I love this book. I used to live in the city where Fitzgerald’s wife Zelda was born and their daughter would pass through now and again. Tragic lives for all. We read it in my work book group and none of us had read it in 20+ years, but we all agreed it stood the test of time. It is not a love story as you said but a story of yearning and obsession. The ending gives me chills every time. The last paragraph is perfect in my humble opinion. Deb

[P.EnglishLiterature]

I just get a copy of The Great Gatsby, I look forward to reading it. Will be mentioning it in my Book haul. Thanks for recommending it.

[kirsten]

Great review, thank you! I've read it a couple of times and I love it. It's a good example of my not having to have "likable" characters in order to love a book. That's not easy to pull off but Fitzgerald manages it exquisitely.

[ramanipereira]

This is one of my favourite novels. Your review was superb.

[mame-musing]

This is an excellent synopsis and spoiler free review. I agree, knowing a bit of the U.S. social and economic history at the time can definitely add a deeper layer to the reading experience. You may enjoy reading “And So We Read On” by Maureen Corrigan, a literature professor at Georgetown University. In this well-researched and fascinating book she describes how the “The Great Gatsby” became such an iconic work in American literature. Hint: WWII rescued it from being an out of print Jazz age novel.

[CristianSAluas]

Am I shallow reader for just enjoying the book for its compelling plot and its exquisite writing?

[HardcoverHearts]

Fantastic review, Juan! Hands down, this is my favorite classic. Not only is the plot and theme of the book so rich, the writing is exceptional. It’s lush and evocatively written. In my reading, I think Daisy represented the elite status, which includes insane wealth. The reason I say that is that Gatsby does have wealth but he lacks access to those rarified places that the elite hold for themselves. He has convinced himself that she is the key to that final door that keeps him apart from that world. She is the ultimate trophy wife for someone like Gatsby, who is always looked at askance because of he lacks the bonafides that all those in that circle have. That’s always been my reading of it, at least. 🙂

[brianmark]

Great review. I think this book is one of the greatest books page for page. The book is 182 pages and packs so much in. I seen both moves and seen it done as a play and all work. The earlier Robert Redford version is much better than the later version.

[ameliareads]

This was a great in depth review, thanks Juan! I really love The Great Gatsby, mainly because it is such a dark story under the surface of glamour and money. Also it has such a melancholic undertone all through the book and I am a sucker for books like that. You described Daisy so very well, that was exactly how I felt about her. I really didn't care about her.
I still have to read something else by F.Scott Fitzgerald, I have Tender is the Night on my shelf and I definitely have to pick it up.

[messifpv]

Why so many booktubers are making spoiler free reviews? It would be much more interesting to include everything the book has to offer and see what comes out. I feel like many of us want to see what others thoughts are after finishing the book but maybe I-m wrong. A solution would be to split up the review in 2 parts. Anyway, keep up with the great work!

[BernasBookishAdventures]

A great review again 👏🏻 I wanted to read this book but because I did not like Daisy so much, I was hesitant to read it. After this review, I am relieved 😉

[tortoisedreams]

You captured Gatsby perfectly. You touched on it, but a concept here is the difference between social mobility & financial mobility in the US -- Gatsby has achieved the second but not the first. The love story (which I think is more important than you do) embodies that difference -- Daisy has both, Gatsby only has financial success, which in the end is insufficient. But I'm just being difficult. The '74 film is good, both leads are beautiful, but it's kind of cold & unemotional. Well worth seeing, though. Thank you for this excellent & thorough (in 16 minutes!) review. This is what Booktube should be.

[ArgyleDinosaur]

You know, I tried to read the book in high school, but wasn't getting into it. I have seen the movie with Tobey Maguire and Leo DiCapprio and that is my jam. That is a cinematic masterpiece and it makes me want to read the book. Kinda like the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice made me want to read the book. And the adaptation of Les Mis made me want to read it. I'm sensing a pattern. Haha

[SpenelliSpeaks]

This is one of my favorite books! Thank you for sharing - such a great review! Keep it up! I love this content!! ::))
P.S. I've never enjoyed any of the movies ... Can't stand Daisy.

[BookishTexan]

Great review! I have never seen an adaptation of Gatsby that I have truly liked. I don't like the Robert Redford version. I think Daisy is a symbol of what Americans associate with success -- money, beauty, leisure, glamour, etc. She is a flawed idol and I think she is definitely Fitzgerald's rather cynical embodiment of the American Dream.

[DimitrisRebelYell]

What a great review! I haven't read it nor watched any of the movies but I plan to.

Have you read Uwe Johnson's "Anniversaries" (1970), newly translated from the German, a 1.660 pages long, 2-volume set?... Literary fiction I think. I need some encouragement to go buy it! :)

[vifrollo]

I havent even bothered to watch Leo as Great Gatsby. Only Robert Redford is GB. And only Mia Farrow can be Daisy. They are perfect. Loved the book, loved the movie, loved your review.

[seriela]

I just KNEW saving this video to my Watch Later would be worth it. I hated this book when I first read it as a teenager - yuck! Of course, now that I've listened to you, I want to give it another chance. And what a gorgeous edition.

[questioneverything]

Like the Kennedy's and the Mob they made a fortune bootlegging.