The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Summary:

  Nick Carraway moves to New York in the roaring twenties to become a bond salesman, but he soon finds himself drawn into a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby's affairs and is swept away into the lives of New York's elite. Nick attends wild and glamorous parties thrown at Gatsby's lavish mansion and meets famous performers, actors, businessmen, and even infamous criminals. But why has secretive Gatsby taken such an interest in Nick? Nick discovers that Gatsby has been in love with his cousin Daisy for many years, but there is a problem: Daisy is married now, to the despicable Tom Buchanan.

  As Nick aids Gatsby in his mission to win Daisy's heart again, he becomes entangled in several other romantic follies, including his own. And then, finally, the question arises: Who is Jay Gatsby, really?

Review:

  5 stars!!!

  Don't be afraid of The Great Gatsby because it is a classic! So many think "classic" is synonymous with "dull". The Great Gatsby is anything but! It's a masterpiece. The writing is so beautiful it sucks you straight into the story and makes you want to read it and read it again. The book also handles heavy topics such as the American Dream, material wealth, and what true love is (or is not). When I first read this novel it was like finding a treasure chest full of jewels on a deserted island. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest books of all time. 

Other notes:

  There is reference to illicit affairs, and illegal alcohol consumption, but overall the book is very clean. A safe read. 

We Were Liars, E. Lockhart

Summary: 

  Cady Sinclair is the firstborn grandchild of Harris Sinclair, the patriarch over an enormously wealthy high-society family. Cady narrates We Were Liars, which details her past saccharine-sweet summers and her current, confused one on Beechwood Island, her family's vacation property. The entire Sinclair family migrates to Beechwood every summer. When they arrive, the Sinclairs enter into a dream world of private beaches, boating trips, playing tennis, making ice-cream and building bonfires- entertaining every whim with their old money. From the outside looking in, the Sinclairs are picture-perfect. But from the inside, Cady reveals all is not as it seems. Because the family has a secret. 

  Cady's accident is a mystery to her, but no one is interested in filling the hole in her memory. This summer, the family's flaws are laid bare as Cady searches for the truth of what happened to her on the island with her closest friends- and the family that is no longer all she ever wanted. The story ends with a shocking plot twist. You'll never see it coming. 

Review:

  5 stars!!!

  This is one of my favorite books, ever. The storyline is intriguing and the writing good enough to do it justice. Lockhart tells Cady's story so well that I couldn't put this book down, and after it was over, I reread it several times. Her description of Beechwood and depiction of the characters made me feel like I was also a Sinclair. You must read this book. 

Other Notes:

  This book requires a mature audience. There is a lot of cursing and occasional sexual reference.