Very witty, hugely enjoyable. In many ways more accessible and relatable than the original book; Daisy takes us through the story of The Great Gatsby from her perspective. We get details of her marriage to Tom and her relationship with Jay Gatsby and Jordan, through to the death of Myrtle Wilson and beyond, and throughout Daisy shows herself to be very shrewd about those around her; having a sharp eye for what was funny. I particularly enjoyed the details of the ‘roaring’ parties she went to.
The book is, in turns, coy and clear about its origins. F Scott Fitzgerald originally wrote a longer manuscript than the final book published, and this, along with his other writings around that time is used to furnish the background details about Daisy’s life. I’d always wondered why Daisy said, ‘I’ll be the man smoking two cigarettes.’ Well now we know. I always wondered why it was so important to Gatsby for Daisy to specifically say she had never loved Tom; it always struck me as more that a warped romanticism, and now we know. But it’s more than that; it’s an enjoyable romp of a book. I read it in one sitting; two, if you factor in that I had to eat.
I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who loves Fitzgerald and Gatsby but also to people who are immune to his charms and just want a fun, well-written interesting read.