The Great Gatsby

Spoiler Alert: Be wary the pursuit of love -- it has claimed the lives of many

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Clearly a classic with good reason, The Great Gatsby is a deeply nuanced, insightful and disillusioned look at life, love, and capitalism. Set in the Roaring 1920s, in a post-World War I New York, readers are likely to be drawn in by the shiny lights of the setting -- however looks can be deceiving. Eventually revealing that even the richest among us are perhaps the most lonely of all, the novel shares a painful but necessary message about the downfalls of high society and the extreme measures one will go to elude loneliness. When Nick Carraway arrives in the fictional "West Egg" in Long Island, he is a simple man from a wealthy family. Although he is expected to go into the family business, he has a simple, humble dream: he wishes to be a writer. His opportunity presents itself, perhaps in the adventures that soon find him, as this story is in fact his account of his time spent with the Great Jay Gatsby. Upon meeting Mr. Gatsby, Nick is immediately astounded. To his surprise, Gatsby takes Nick under his wing, spending time with him and showing him around the city. Nick cannot believe his luck in befriending such a colorful character. For someone with so much exorbitant wealth and riches however, Gatsby seems to always be on edge. There always seems to be something he leaves unsaid. A mysterious and hidden man, Nick can't quite seem to peg his character. When he and Gatsby soon cross paths with his cousin Daisy, the secrets quickly begin to unravel. A truly beautiful tale about love, loss, and a life of dedication and faith, this story was among one of the most easy to read classics. The messages conveyed seemed to have prove the test of time -- as ultimately, everyone has their one true love -- their one true light at the end of the dock. In finding that they are certain things in life worth fighting for, even in spite of convoluted intentions and a false and shallow society, the novel manages to be ultimately, subtly optimistic. In a time of much disillusionment, which can seemingly be found in every era, the story seems to highlight the true importance of love. I also found it to be an incredibly effective cautionary tale, not only warning readers not to get caught up in the appearance of things, but also warning them to not fall in love with the idea of people. It can be a dangerous game when one places all hopes, all dreams, and all religion in another -- especially once they come to find that inevitably, everyone will fall short of the vision they have created. Beautifully written and complete with complex, flawed, and compelling characters, this was certainly a memorable one. Whether one is on the search for money or fame, for prestige or power, there will always always be something bigger -- always a guiding light that makes even the darkest of times worth living.

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Favorite Quotes: “I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” ~~ “And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” ~~ “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” ~~ “Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.” ~~ “There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired.” ~~ “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”