The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (2004, Paperback, Reissue)

The Great Gatsby is a novel by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. First published on April 10, 1925, it is set on Long Island's North Shore and in New York City during the summer of 1922 and is a critique of the American Dream.
The novel chronicles an era that Fitzgerald himself dubbed the "Jazz Age". Following the shock and chaos of World War I, American society enjoyed unprecedented levels of prosperity during the "roaring" 1920s as the economy soared. At the same time, Prohibition, the ban on the sale and manufacture of alcohol as mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment, made millionaires out of bootleggers and led to an increase in organized crime, for example the Jewish mafia. Although Fitzgerald, like Nick Carraway in his novel, idolized the riches and glamor of the age, he was uncomfortable with the unrestrained materialism and the lack of morality that went with it, a kind of decadence.
Although it was adapted into both a Broadway play and a Hollywood film within a year of publication, it was not popular upon initial printing, selling fewer than 25,000 copies during the remaining fifteen years of Fitzgerald's life. It was largely forgotten during the Great Depression and World War II. After its republishing in 1945 and 1953, it quickly found a wide readership and is today widely regarded as a paragon of the Great American Novel, and a literary classic. The Great Gatsby has become a standard text in high school and university courses on American literature in countries around the world, and is ranked second in the Modern Library's list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century. On a rating of 1 - 10, 10 being an excellent buy I would certainly give this book a perfect 10! Definatly watch the movie!

An amazing book. The Great Gatsby deals with many social issues in the 1920s. It is suspenseful and interesting. The characters provide an intriguing story that will keep you reading. The ending is quite a surprise to a first-time reader, and truly makes the book great.

I bought this book because I needed for a school project. To my surprised I enjoyed reading this facinating story. I liked this book because it teaches readers about how people used to live in the 1920's. Many problems occured with love and marrage between different classes. F.Scott Fitzgerald writes his story in a flashback form. Mr.Gatsby was wealthy, alive, and very in love with his old flame Daisey. However,she is married and has a child. There are some parts that are tragic. I recommended this book because it is enjoyable to read and learn more about F. Scott Fitzgerald. Now I love the history and the style of that magnificant era.
Magali9925

The Great Gatsby is one of the two best novels I've read. It's a similar style to "The Sun Also Rises," by Hemingway. The book is a first person narrative from the voice of the only "normal" character, and his timeless, profound insight into human frailties.

The book is known as an American Classic! I was astounded at Fitzgerald's ability to word lofty concepts beautifully and intuitively understandable to the rational mind.

Yet, the second-person characters ingeniously crafted flaws bite through the reader's faith in the intrinsic goodness of humanity, to reveal human motivations that incite moral conscience, to teach each one of us the harm we all are capable of perpetrating if pushed to far.

But it's done in the nicest possible way. The overall moral is sublime and ultimately practical. The book gave me a sense of hope. It's a fantastic read!

i read this book back in high school didint relize i would remenber at the time what a great classic it is.i bought the movie a few weeks ago but the book is way better than this i think every kid should read this book.