I’ve been required to read several books over the course of my high school career, and surely there have been some I absolutely hated with my heart and soul (psst… Macbeth), but there have also been a small number of books that I enjoyed. Out of all of those, there is one book that lands on the top of my list, and I would definitely have to say it was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a novel that I was required to read for AP English 11, last year.

This book has it all: romance, mystery, action, twists-and-turns, and – not to mention – lots of lavish rolling 20’s themed parties.

Here is a synopsis according to Barnes and Noble:

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. This exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted “gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,” it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.

I adored his style of writing. As an aspiring writer myself, his writing was a piece of art that I could only hope to achieve.

As I read, I learned to love Nick Buchanan’s character, who is the protagonist. He comes from new money and decides to move to Long Island, where there existed many of those that came from old money. Among this social divide, he resides in a neighborhood suited for his social status. Not soon after, he then discovers that a mysterious man lives next door to him, who often hosted elegant, over-the-top parties during this era of prohibition. This man was elite. Intangible. But soon, Nick has the privilege of meeting him: the Great Gatsby.

If I had to rate this novel, it would be a 9/10. Once, you finish the novel, you’ll understand why my rating is missing the one!