The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I know that most people have at some point in their life read F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby or has perhaps seen the confetti packed Baz Luhrmann rendition with Leonardo DiCaprio. Regardless, I am recommending the original infamous text, because I truly think it may be one of, if not the, most beautifully composed novel in literary history. Every single literate person should read this book at least once.

Set in the 1920s Jazz Age of New York, we follow the ramblings of a young man, Nick Carraway, as he witnesses the bizarre and dramatic love triangle involving his cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Nick narrates his experiences with Daisy, her brutish husband Tom Buchanan, and Nick's neighbor and secret suitor to Daisy, Jay Gatsby. We learn of the incredibly powerful romance once lived out between Daisy and Gatsby, and become tangled in the mess created when Gatsby gets involved with the wrong businessmen, Tom's mistress demands more of him, and when Daisy and Gatsby attempt to rekindle their relationship in the midst of it all.

Not only is this book considered a classic for it's incredible blend of genres, including action, drama, and of course, romance, but it is so well written. Personally, I love this book beyond itself, because I read it at a time when I was struggling to find myself again, and it re-sparked my love for literature through Gatsby's extreme devotion to Daisy. As dramatic as it is, and though it often falls under the dirty lens of "required school reading", it is a magical story that deserves a place on every reader's bookshelf.