How Can I Review The Great Gatsby Book For A Book Club?

If you want a quicker, very practical plan that still feels lively, try this checklist and script approach — it’s what I use when I’m running short on prep time but still want a memorable discussion about 'The Great Gatsby'. Start with a five-minute warm-up: ask everyone to say one word that describes Gatsby. That tiny icebreaker gets people into the book’s mood fast.

Then use three compact sections: 1) Characters (15 minutes) — prompt with: Who is Gatsby underneath his myth? Is Daisy a victim or a choice? 2) Symbols & Style (20 minutes) — give small slips with symbols (green light, valley of ashes, cars, parties) and have pairs discuss their meaning for five minutes each before reporting back. 3) Big Questions (15 minutes) — use sharp prompts like: Does the book celebrate or critique the American Dream? How does Nick’s narration shape our sympathy? For timing, call out transitions and keep a visible timer on your phone; it keeps energy high.

If you want to be playful, prepare a short “Gatsby bingo” card (mentions of parties, yellow shirts, rumors, cars) to keep people attentive. Close by inviting everyone to recommend one modern book or movie that echoes Gatsby’s themes — you’ll walk away with a mini reading list and a natural segue into the next meeting.

Honestly, prepping a book-club review of 'The Great Gatsby' is like setting the table for a very stylish, slightly tragic dinner party — and I love that. Start by anchoring the meeting in context: give your group a quick, vivid sketch of the 1920s (Jazz Age energy, Prohibition, roaring wealth and glaring inequality). I usually open with a short reading of the opening paragraph and then the final line — that contrast gets people listening and curious. Point out that Nick Carraway isn’t just a narrator but a filter: his Midwestern sensibilities color everything, and the novel asks us whether he’s reliable or complicit. Bring two or three short, typed quotes on index cards (green light, eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, ‘So we beat on, boats against the current…’) and pass them around to spark mini-conversations.

For structure, I like to split the meeting into three clear parts: 1) first impressions and emotional reactions (10–15 minutes), 2) a focused thematic dive (30–35 minutes), and 3) activities and wrap-up (15–20 minutes). For the thematic dive, pick 3 lenses: the American Dream (who achieves it, who’s promised it), performance vs. reality (parties, clothing, identities), and symbolism (green light, valley of ashes, eyes). Ask targeted questions like: Who do you trust in this novel? Is Gatsby a romantic hero or a deluded fantasist? How does wealth deform moral judgement? I also like a short compare-and-contrast: play a 2–3 minute clip from the 2013 Baz Luhrmann film, or read a review excerpt to discuss tone and adaptation choices.

End with a light activity so the meeting leaves a memory: role-play a short exchange (Nick confronting Gatsby, or Daisy reading Gatsby’s yellow shirts), vote on who ‘wins’ the novel’s moral debate, or build a playlist of songs that belong in Gatsby’s party. Finish by asking everyone to name one line that lingered for them and why — it’s a simple way to close and opens a path to personal reflection. Personally, I find that reading the last paragraph aloud at the end binds the whole conversation together, and I always leave wanting another read through a different lens.