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The Chosen and the Beautiful

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Book Brief

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Nghi Vo

The Chosen and the Beautiful

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New York • 1920s

Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo retells Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby from Jordan Baker’s perspective, adding fantasy elements and making Jordan a Vietnamese bisexual woman. She navigates Prohibition-era New York, magical charms, societal racism, and romantic entanglements with Nick, Daisy, and Gatsby, culminating in personal revelations and a journey to Shanghai and Vietnam to explore her heritage. This story discusses racism, sexual aggression, and abortion.

Mysterious

Fantastical

Contemplative

Emotional

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.8

18,128 ratings

54%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Nghi Vo's The Chosen and the Beautiful reimagines Fitzgerald's classic with a fresh, magical twist. Praised for its lush prose and innovative perspective, especially in its depiction of Jordan Baker, the novel excels in atmospheric world-building. Criticisms include a disjointed narrative and occasional pacing issues. Overall, an imaginative and bold retelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Chosen and the Beautiful?

A reader who would enjoy The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo is likely a fan of richly reimagined classics, magical realism, and diverse narratives. Similar audiences may have appreciated The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, for its Jazz Age glamour, or The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, for its enchanting magic realism.

3.8

18,128 ratings

54%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Character List

Jordan Baker

A talented golfer of Vietnamese descent who navigates high society in Louisville and New York, often confronted by her status as an outsider.

A Southern Belle and flapper with ties to both traditional values and emerging freedoms, whose beauty and charm captivate those around her.

A mysterious and wealthy man with mixed ethnic origins, using charm and magic to navigate the tangle of secrets and desires in high society.

Daisy's cousin from a conservative background, experiencing tension between his heritage and his immersion in the vibrant New York scene.

Daisy's husband from a wealthy family, embodying traditional privilege and power, with a controlling and often rough demeanor.

Daisy and Tom's young daughter, largely cared for by a nurse, whose presence reflects Daisy’s ambivalence toward motherhood.

A lower-class woman engaged in an affair with Tom, who longs to escape her stagnant life and is vividly characterized by her striking appearance.

Myrtle's husband, who is financially struggling and becomes a tragic figure of desperation and revenge.

Jordan’s adoptive mother who brought her from Vietnam to America, representing the complex layers of colonial history in Jordan's life.

Jordan's supportive aunt in New York, balancing her progressive independence with her traditional beliefs about heritage.

Leader of the Vietnamese paper-cutting troupe, symbolizing the cultural heritage and magic within Jordan that she must reconcile with her life.

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New York • 1920s

Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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