Allreaders.com

The Great Gatsby Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Great Gatsby


Jay Gatsby is a rich man living on Long Island in 1922. He is in love with a lady named Daisy who is inconveniently married to another man named Tom. He spends most of the book throwing parties and chasing after her. She has an affair with him but then goes back to Tom. Gatsby then manages to get shot in his own swimming pool. This is a classic story of two themes, the first, unrequited love. Gatsby has strong feelings for Daisy but never, no matter how much money he spends, can he "buy" the love of another individual. The second theme is about the empty life of the rich. They have so much money and have lavish parties at fancy homes, and yet it is revealed that they don't seem to have much in the way of emotional connections in their lives, and the rich are revealed to be cruel, callous people. The irony revealed is that the rich have everything, and yet they also have nothing.
Click here to see the rest of this review...

The review of this Book prepared by Steve a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

    Nick Carraway, a bond man of average income, narrates this story of his brief time living next door to the wealthy Jay Gatsby in the early 1920's. Gatsby's wild and lavish parties, complete with glittering lights, orchestras, champagne and enormous buffets, never fail to draw socialites to his mansion and garden in droves. But it is not for the crowds that he throws these parties: It is to impress the one woman he has loved and obsessed upon for years, and for whom he has worked to rise from rags to riches. Her name is Daisy, and although she once long ago had a brief fling with Gatsby, she is now married and has a child. Nevertheless, he has not given up on her.
    Nick is related to Daisy, and so is placed in the centre of things between them. He watches with a kind of horrified fascination as the frivolous Daisy, always a spoiled and shallow rich girl, toys with the people around her, and as Gatsby tries to claim his place between her and her husband.
The review of this Book prepared by vjm




Jay Gatsby the protagonist of The Great Gatsby, who was once the impoverished James Gatz, transforms into the flamboyant and fabulously wealthy owner of an upstate mansion in the West Egg.
The reason that Gatsby earns wealth is not for not be rich or own flashy cars, it is in order to win back his childhood sweetheart Daisy, whos voice is "full of money." Daisy is misinterprated as being innocent and pure and the narrator of the novel Nick, although he admires Gatsbys "extraordinary gift for hope" and "romantic readiness", he can too see behind Daisys false facade.
Gatsby tries to win Daisy back from her husband the "bullish" Tom Buchanan with his wealth and power. But after a tragic accident and turntable of events, things dont trun out as he had hoped.

The review of this Book prepared by Lisa Boyle




Gatsby and Nick Carraway live in East and West Egg on Long Island. They become friends. Near Gatsby and Carraway lives Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is Nick's cousin. Throughout the story, you begin to find out the Gatsby and Daisy once had a romantic relationship. Daisy's husband Tom is having an affiar with a woman named Myrtle Wilson who is married to a gas station owner. Nick begins a relationship with Jordan Baker who is a professional golf player. Gatsby asks Jordan and Nick to help get him and Daisy to see each other. Eventually they do meet and begin a romantic relationship. All five of them go into the city one day. On the way home, Daisy and Gatsby are together while Daisy is driving. Daisy hits Myrtle Wilson, her husband's lover. She died immediately.
The review of this Book prepared by Kelsey Faber




The Great Gatsby is a book about romance and the struggle to attain it. The main character Nick Carraway recollects on the romantic tribulations of Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a wealthy, white man in New York City who pines for his lost love Daisy. However, Daisy is married to another man. The book centers around this love triangle and the materialistic society that wants to bask in Gatsby's fortune.
The review of this Book prepared by David M. Weiss




The Great Gatsby is a novel that centralizes around the themes of love (lost love and the attempt to regain it) and time (lost time, and the attempt to regain it as well). It is one of the greatest works centered in the Roaring Twenties, and capitalizes on the creation of a new generation that becomes ultimately lsot in itself. It is a wonderful work which displays the penalties of greed, lust, and wealth, as well as gives a beautifully accurate depiction of society during a particular era.
The review of this Book prepared by Khara H.



Chapter Analysis of The Great Gatsby

Click on a plot link to find similar books!

Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   depressed Time/era of story    -   1900-1920's Romance/Romance Problems    -   Yes Kind of romance:    -   rekindling lost love/marriage Other aspects:    -   story of "the rich" Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Ethnic/regional/gender life    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White (American)

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   4 () United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Northeast City?    -   Yes City:    -   New York Misc setting    -   fancy mansion

Books with storylines, themes & endings like The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
2 Ways to Search!
Or



Our Chief Librarian