The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. 1996. 172p. ISBN  0-684-83042-6. Available both at FIC FIT on the library shelves and as an audiobook on Overdrive.

Having fought in the Great War, Nick Carraway moves away from the Midwest to New York City to work as a bonds salesman. He rents a small house on Long Island, in the village of West Egg. Next to his humble abode is Jay Gatsby’s enormous house located on acres of prime real-estate facing the bay. Gatsby is known to throw lavish parties on Saturday that are attended by the who’s who of New York society.

In his first month on the East Coast, Nick has dinner with his cousin, directly across the bay from Gatsby. The beautiful Daisy Buchanan is married to Tom, who is having an affair with another married woman, Myrtle. Tom is also rich, but unlike Gatsby he appears unsophisticated. At the Buchanans, Nick meets Jordan Baker, an amateur golfer, and the two begin a relationship.

Finally invited over to Gatsby’s for one of his Saturday parties, Nick finally make the acquaintance of the elusive Gatsby, who reveals he fought in the same division as Nick during the War. Soon, Gatsby reveals that he has a more pressing interest in Nick. Gatsby and Daisy used to date five years ago, at a time when Gatsby knew he would come into money but didn’t have any, and Daisy whose family was already wealthy. When he wasn’t able to return immediately at the end of the War, Daisy got married to Tom. Now Gatsby hopes that Nick can help him rekindle his relationship with Daisy.

In this tale of lies and deceit, the recklessness of people in their late twenties and early thirties is explored until tragedy strikes, causing pain and suffering and destroying lives. A quintessential American novel, The Great Gatsby endures for its look on the decadence of the rich and for the struggle to construct a new identity.