The Great Gatsby

Contributed by Samantha, gr. 12 -- April 2018

I found The Great Gatsby to be a short yet compelling story. The book is at times difficult to read due to the language of the time, therefore making it hard to understand occasionally  and even requiring the use of a dictionary.

The brevity of the novel makes it a relatively quick read, and this book may appeal to those readers who can handle some challenging vocabulary and a thrilling romance adventure.

Contributed by Yasmine, gr. 12 -- June 2018

I found this book to be an interesting novel. While some of the story’s central themes are not unique, Fitzgerald’s writing is beautiful, with words fitting together better than jigsaw pieces. Readers will follow an investor named Nick, and his interaction with Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man whose main desire is the hand of a former lover. Gatsby plans a life that begins with lavish, excessive parties which eventually lead to his undoing.


In my opinion, what makes The Great Gatsby a classic is the universality of its message. While the 1920s setting serves as an elegant backdrop, Gatsby’s meaningless wealth and misplaced desire to “get” a woman as one "gets" objects touches upon themes of the nature of happiness, love, and the meaning of life.