Is Great Gatsby suitable for v good 11 year old reader?

[pollycazalet]

I read years ago and can't remember a thing about it except the green light and the optometrist poster.

If consensus is 'yes' I'll reread before giving to her.

The sex is alluded to (Tom is having an affair - Gatsby and Daisy obviously start a relationship) but there is nothing explicit. There isn't much in the way of violence (shockingly Tom breaks his mistress's nose, she is later run over) and overall it's a very proper little morality tale. I'm not sure that most 11 year olds, no matter how sophisticated their reading age, would actually enjoy it that much. Perhaps try a classic with more children in it - To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies or some such?

I found it terribly dull, and I'm a very good 29 year old reader.

I cant see it being a book they would enjoy TBH.

I agree with the suggestion of to kill a mockingbird.

What is it you don't want her to read about?

I can't see many 11 year ods getting much at all out of it tbh. The description of Myrtle's body is pretty graphic but I imagine that nearly every 11 year old would've given up in boredom far before then.

Is there a reason you/she are considering it? What does she normally like?

She's asked to read it. She's just read Little Women, the Uglies series and Alice through the looking glass, and lots of John Greene.

My real concern is she'd find it slow and way above her head.

I think shr would. It's a very adult book in its ambitions and ideas - the books you have mentioned were all written for children. GG won't do her any harm soblet her haveca go if she wants but, as I said earlier, she'll probably find it quite dull.

Thanks for all the comments by the way

I remember reading it at school when I was 13 - can't remember too much of the detail though

Way above her head, yes. What about Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy? And yy To Kill a Mockingbird.

I think you're right.

Is there a particular reason why she's asking to read it?

Dd1 devoured this series aged ten/eleven. Some of the themes are a bit adult but they are really gripping and well written.

I think probably the film has captured her imagination ( she hasn't seen it but has seen trailers, pics etc),

She's read all the Philip Pullman. Haven't seen that series tho Remus.

She doesn't have any problems finding things to read - just wondering about this particular book she's shown an interest in and from my experience with her older brother I do want to encourage stepping up to adult fiction if appropriate abd if it will engage her. When I was a kid there was no such thing as teen fiction.

My 11 yo is v engrossed in "hunger games" trilogy at the moment. I am meaning to read them myself so we can discuss the political themes, so it's not just a violence-fest. He's pretty mature so I'm not too worried. He's not allowed to watch the film though.

Dull. I had to read it at 21 and it did nothing for me. At 30, I found a lot more in it, but it's mainly about disappointment and the disintegration of the AMerican Dream, and I'm not sure 11 year olds are up for that. Sixth formers certainly aren't!

I read it recently and think it is quite dull. I just can't imagine an 11 yr old engaging in it to be honest.

To Kill a Mockingbird is however, absolutely incredible and I re-read it all the time.

I'm pretty much in the let them read what they want camp.

I enjoyed it when I read it at 14, but 11 may be a bit young. Let her give it a go anyway.

If she's a good reader and picking up on the 1920s, she might like Jeeves and Wooster books or (1930s) Rebecca. I read Rebecca 23 times between 11 and 13. I was obsessed! Both much more easily graspable than Gatsby.

Alternatively, Agatha Christie is good fun for a period feel and there are many many many so she can devour her way through them for at least a couple of years if she likes them.

I might actually reread it as am a bit horrified how little I remember.

Can it really before turgid than catcher in the eye which I loved around dd's age. Altho accept is v different book!

Rye! Obv not eye. On eye phone

Oooooh Rebecca that's a great idea! She loves old films so might watch it first.

Yes to Agatha Christie. Maybe Georgette Heyer too. Both much more likely to appeal than Gatsby imho.

I read loads of georgette heyer at a similar age and, having reread recently, not sure dd would go for it.

Agatha Christie - yes to Agatha Christie. Dies she like books (as in not e readers)? Some of the 1950s-1980s covers are awesome to collect and really cheap in book stalls, charity shops and Amazon.