The Great Gatsby

I really didn't expect to enjoy this story as much as I did. Is it perfect? By no means. However, I think there are many elements in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby that warrant closer examination and analysis.

The story is told through Nick Carraway, a 29-year-old from the midwest that has just settled into Long Island, New York City. Over the course of six months or so, Nick becomes increasingly aware of his extremely wealthy neighbor, Jay Gatsby, who regularly hosts parties at his abode. Nick is invited to one of these parties, and subsequently meets Gatsby, himself. At this point, the novel takes off.

One of my favorite aspects of Gatsby was the prose. Fitzgerald masterfully paints a picture of the affluent lives of the New York City gentry class during the roaring twenties. The dialogue is enthralling. The scenes at Gatsby's property seemed almost other-worldly. The revelry, carelessness and arrogance were fascinating.

I read a few of the reviews of this book, and I wasn't aware of how much hate it had generated. I will concede that almost every character of the story (chiefly the story's namesake) is despicable and unsympathetic. Additionally, there are portions of the text that drag a little.

Nonetheless, I had an awesome time reading through this novel. There's much more that I could write, but I wouldn't want to spoil anything.