THE CHOSEN AND THE BEAUTIFUL

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo is an exhilarating novel that rejuvenates F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Set in the New York summer months of 1922, the novel is told through the perspective of Jordan Baker, a queer adoptee from Vietnam. Jordan was adopted by the Baker family as a child, immersing her in a world of wealth and privilege. She attends extravagant parties hosted by the mysterious Jay Gatsby, a devilishly wealthy man who lives in a dark mansion located in West Egg. Jordan's best friend Daisy Buchanan, is a woman whose husband is having several open affairs with other women. However, she had an affair with Gatsby and eventually disconnected from him as he went off to war. In this novel, Jay Gatsby has returned from the war and is determined to revive his connection with Daisy. Through Jordan and Daisy's cousin, Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby formulates a scheme to regain their relationship. Readers can watch the relationship between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan unravel through the eyes of Jordan Baker. As the protagonist immerses herself in the Jazz Age, she discovers herself and who she is. Jordan Baker provides a unique perspective on this world, given her distinctive background and unusual upbringing. Through Jordan Baker, the novel explores themes of race, gender, sexuality, and class and their intersectional impact on identity, addressing issues that were often overlooked in the original narrative by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Nghi Vo's vivid storytelling immerses readers in the Jazz Age and the depth that it brings.