The themes in this book are as relevant back then as they are now. Power, money, love and hope.
The book is written in a way that is hard to digest at first but once you get into the rhythm, it flows well. It certainly isn’t an easy casual read.
As for the reader to character connection, i had a very unusual feeling throughout the novel due to the cautious and distant perspective of the narrator which becomes more cynical and unapproving as the story transpires. He clearly wasn’t of the same superficial crowd the story centered around (excluding gatsby ie daisy, Tom, myrtle, Jordan etc) and I guess the author hoped the reader would relate.
All in all, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Made references to some people I know around me.