It takes a great writer and a great book to make it onto USNews magazine's Top 100 Books of All Time. Holding a close second to James Joyce's Ulysses is F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This novel features almost every raw human emotion imaginable: happiness, depression, anger, love, and jealousy. Fitzgerald's creation is also very appealing to readers because it may or may not reflect things they may have experienced or will experience in the future. It is a glimpse into America's past and a portrait of the American dream. This book is said to be Fitzgerald's greatest book because it plays on two important themes: a promise of new beginnings and class differences.

This novel takes place in the "Roaring Twenties," as Nick Carraway calls it. Carraway himself is a young and affluent Midwesterner who believes he will find his niche in New York. He moves into a giant swinging bachelor pad in West Egg right on the water. The mysterious Mr. Gatsby, whom Nick has not met, throws wild parties at his mansion. Nick also has acquaintances in East Egg, a more posh borough. His cousin Daisy and her husband Tom live there, along with Tom's secret lover, Myrtle Wilson. Nick, Tom, and Daisy

go to Myrtle's love-nest apartment. It is here that Nick realizes the dullness and discourtesy of so-called "high society." Sometime later, he is invited to one of Gatsby's parties, and they become close friends. Although there are many rumors about him, Nick finds out that Gatsby was an American soldier who fought in World War I and earned awards for his (and his company's) valor in combat. He later moved into his large mansion. However, Jordan Baker (his love interest) tells Nick that Gatsby is getting close to him because he wants Daisy. The two met while Gatsby was stationed at a camp and the two fell in love. After he was shipped overseas, she married Tom because of his material possessions. Gatsby had the idea that he would win her back by becoming rich and improving his social standing. When he finally does get Daisy to come over, she doesn't have a good time. They have a lukewarm affair, and eventually, Daisy chooses Tom over Gatsby. Tragedy ensues when Myrtle Wilson is run over by Daisy (who was driving) and Gatsby, in Tom's car. Myrtle's husband is crushed, and goes out to find Gatsby. He shoots him on his property, then shoots himself. Only Nick, a few servants, and Gatsby's father attend his funeral. This experience leaves Nick with a sense of di

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Approximate Word count = 852
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)