A review by whippycleric
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I didn't really know what to expect for this book, having not had to read it at school and only seen the film trailer I thankfully avoided any spoilers! The prose is beautifully written, and the pacing is more or less perfect. It makes for a great novella which can be read in just a couple of sittings. The characters can leave a little to be desired though, Gatsby is an intriguing character, though can come across a little pathetic at times. The narrator, and to an extent Jordan, are the only vaguely normal / relatable people. Tom is abhorrent, and Daisy is quite a flat, unlikable character, for the role she is playing here. 

It was a nice read and the prose was great, the twists were actually surprising, and I feel bad so many people have spoilers before reading this, as if I had known the plot in advance I would have enjoyed this much less. I’m between 3.5 and 4 for this one, for now I’ll go with a 3.5 but it deserves a 2nd reading later and might move then.