The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald, you have ruined me.
Fitzgerald can set a scene so perfectly, flawlessly. He paints a world of magic and introduces one of the greatest characters of all time, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is the embodiment of hope, and no one can dissuade him from his dreams. Have you ever had a dream that carried you to heights you could never have reached otherwise? When Gatsby reunites with Daisy Buchanan, he fills the space to the brim with flowers, creating a living dream. Daisy is the breath in Gatsby’s lungs, his very reason for living. How is anyone supposed to compete with that?
Written in 1925, The Great Gatsby has stood the test of time. It always transports me into a magical time and place, where hope is almost tangible. Dreams can become reality. Anything is possible. Gatsby is the icon for nostalgia. From the very first chapter, the reader understands that the characters are extraordinary, unique.
Although The Great Gatsby is relatively short, taking just under about five hours to read, it carries a big punch. The characters are well-developed, three-dimensional and imperfect. Many of the characters have well-developed, interesting backstories, and Daisy Buchanan is one of the best villains of all time. The action is non-stop, and the reader is left wondering how everything will work out in the end. Buckle up!
This book is wildly addictive, so intricate yet perfectly woven together, a brilliant literary masterpiece. I have to keep going back to reconnect with Jay Gatsby, a naïve but beautiful person. He is charming, hopeful, perfectly imperfect, a relentless dreamer.