The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald, published by Charles Scribner and Sons, £2.44
What is the book about?
The Great Gatsby is set in New York in the early 1920s and is narrated by Nick Carraway. Following the antics and internal drama of Nick’s more wealthy friends including Jay Gatsby and The Buchanans it delves deep into people and the relationships that they form with each other. It also takes a carefully and well-observed critical view of the classic idea of the elusive American Dream and what that really means.
Who is it aimed at?
I could only guess that the original intention of this book was to be marketable to many ages, mainly those who are a little bit older due to the sometimes complex or adult themes running through it. It is, however, one that I would recommend to anyone old enough to understand its wonders.
What was your favourite part?
It’s almost impossible to come up with a favourite part of this book as it has, from my first time reading it, made such a great impact on me, but I would have to say the narration. Nick Carraway is a character that both works perfectly for storytelling but also settles himself into the story and the heart of the reader rather smoothly.
What was your least favourite part?
With The Great Gatsby I felt there were some characters that didn’t get nearly as much attention, as though they were introduced to me intriguingly and then faded to the background.
Which character would you most like to meet?
This one is an incredibly easy question to answer as I knew from the first introduction that I would love to meet Gatsby. There is a certain glamour and mystery to his life that is essentially what really pulls the reader in.
Why should someone buy this book?
When reading it I felt as though I had stumbled across some form of magic, like a secret between me and Nick Carraway so wonderful that it should never be kept.
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