The Great Gatsby
This book was in the category: A Book On The Modern Library's 100 Best Novel List
This is the story of a rich man named Jay Gatsby who is trying to reach the love of his life - Daisy. The story is told by Nick - Gatsby's neighbor - who becomes his closest friend and confidant. Gatsby approaches Nick to have Daisy come his way so that he can reconnect with her. Gatsby is much wealthier than he was when he last saw Daisy, so he hopes this will attract her attention. Daisy is used to a life of privilege and she is now married to Tom to continue this way of life. Tom is not a faithful husband, and so Gatsby hopes this will lure her away from Tom.
In the end - the love triangle spirals out of control and has a tragic end. But I won't share with you what happens because you should read for yourself to find out.
I liked this book okay. I am not a huge fan of books from this period (gasp), but it wasn't terrible by any stretch of the means. I found Gatsby and Daisy shallow, and couldn't really muster up pity for either one of them in the end. Daisy especially seemed like a total flake and I found myself making faces and shaking my head on some of her lines in the book.
It isn't a long book, so I am glad I took the time to read it. Now I have. But I don't think this would be one I will be reading again.
Stars: 3
I loved this book. I think I read it in college, though, so I was in an environment where we picked apart every bit of it and found all kinds of symbolism and meanings. It is such a tragic story that didn't need to be that way. I thought the recent movie with Leo DiCaprio was a good rendition of it, too.
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