Nick Carraway, an intrepid young man from the West, moves east after World War I. Expecting a quiet and comfortable life, he instead finds himself caught up in the fast-paced, dangerous world of highballers such as his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, her husband Tom, the haughty and beautiful Jordan Baker, and the most mysterious man of them all- Jay Gatsby. As lies and betrayal pile onto each other, Nick is left starkly in the middle of a massive cultural and class divide that will leave him forever changed.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did, but I really found it riveting- after the first few chapters, it was nearly impossible to put down. The book is rife with symbolism, which gives it incredible depth- and many of the symbols and themes discussed in it are still very relevant to our world today. It’s one of America’s most quintessential and classic novels, and for good reason- even though the novel will turn ninety-six next July, The Great Gatsby will forever offer us an invaluable window into times past and present.

-Vaidehi B.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.