Nghi Vo’s “The Chosen and the Beautiful” offers readers a dazzling reimagining of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic “The Great Gatsby,” breathing new life into the Jazz Age narrative through the eyes of Jordan Baker—now reimagined as a queer, Vietnamese adoptee navigating the glittering and oppressive world of 1920s high society. While the novel shimmers with magical elements, lush prose, and important representation, it occasionally struggles with pacing and fully developing its most ambitious themes.
Having previously established herself with the acclaimed novellas “The City of Glass,” “The Empress of Salt and Fortune,” and “When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain,” Vo’s debut novel demonstrates her talent for weaving magical elements into historical settings while exploring themes of outsidership and identity. This is the first installment in what appears to be a developing series, with “Don’t Sleep with the Dead” announced as the follow-up.
Magical Paper-Cutting and Demon Blood: The Fantastical Elements
One of the novel’s most captivating aspects is its seamless integration of the fantastical into the familiar Gatsby narrative:
- Paper magic: Jordan possesses the ability to bring paper cuttings to life, a skill tied to her Vietnamese heritage that becomes both metaphor and literal power
- Demoniac: An infernal liquor more potent than alcohol that flows freely at Gatsby’s parties, replacing the traditional bootlegged alcohol of the Prohibition era
- Gatsby’s infernal bargain: The titular character is reimagined as having sold his soul for wealth and power
- Living paper constructs: From dancing lions to human doubles, paper creations that blur the line between animate and inanimate
The magic system is elegantly understated, never overexplained, leaving the reader with a delicious sense of mystery. When Jordan creates a paper lion that comes alive or a paper double of Daisy to attend a dinner party, these moments feel both unsettling and enchanting. The magic serves as both plot device and powerful metaphor for the constructed nature of identity and social performance.
Through Jordan’s Eyes: A Fresh Perspective on a Classic Tale
Vo’s greatest triumph is her reimagining of Jordan Baker, transforming Fitzgerald’s somewhat peripheral character into a complex protagonist with her own rich inner life and struggles:
“I was a strange combination of bereft and relieved when he was gone. Even after all our time together, I hadn’t quite resigned myself to being a couple yet, half of an equation when the male half could somehow continue as a whole without me.”
As a queer, Asian adoptee in white high society, Jordan occupies a precarious position—granted access to exclusive spaces due to her wealth and connections but always viewed as an exotic curiosity. Her outsider status grants her unique insight into the hypocrisy and hollowness of the glittering world around her, while her wry observations provide a fresh take on familiar characters.
Jordan’s relationship with Daisy is particularly nuanced, a complex mixture of friendship, desire, codependency, and resentment. Their shared history, revealed through flashbacks to their Louisville youth, adds emotional depth to both characters.
Strengths: Where the Novel Shines
Atmospheric Prose and Setting
Vo excels at capturing the sensory details of the Roaring Twenties, from the intoxicating parties at Gatsby’s mansion to the stifling heat of a New York summer:
“Everything was dripping with money and magic, to the point where no one questioned the light that flooded the house from the ballroom and dining rooms to the halls and secluded parlors. The light had a particularly honey-like quality, something like summer in a half-remembered garden, illuminating without glaring and so abundant that you always knew who you were kissing.”
Her prose is lush and evocative, creating a dreamlike quality that matches the novel’s magical elements while maintaining the decadent atmosphere of Fitzgerald’s original work.
Exploration of Identity and Belonging
The novel thoughtfully examines what it means to exist at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities. Jordan’s adoption by the Baker family and her subsequent navigation of white high society raise questions about assimilation, authenticity, and the price of acceptance.
When Jordan finally encounters other Vietnamese immigrants in Chinatown, the scene is rich with uncomfortable tension—she feels both drawn to and alienated from this potential community, highlighting the complex nature of diasporic identity.
Political Context
Vo skillfully incorporates historical elements like the “Manchester Act” (a fictional stand-in for real exclusionary immigration policies) to highlight the precarious position of Asian Americans in 1920s society. The looming threat of deportation adds urgency to Jordan’s narrative and grounds the fantasy in historical reality.
Weaknesses: Where the Novel Stumbles
Uneven Pacing and Structure
The novel sometimes struggles with pacing, particularly in its middle sections:
- The narrative can feel episodic, with certain scenes lingering while others rush by
- The magical elements, while fascinating, aren’t always fully integrated into the plot
- The finale feels somewhat rushed compared to the leisurely pace of earlier chapters
Underdeveloped Themes
Several promising themes are introduced but not fully explored:
- The implications of Jordan’s paper magic and its connection to her heritage
- The nature of Gatsby’s infernal bargain and its broader implications
- The politics of the Manchester Act and its effects on immigrant communities
Character Development
While Jordan is richly drawn, some supporting characters remain somewhat flat. Nick Carraway’s reimagining as a paper construct created to replace the real Nick (who died) is a fascinating twist that feels somewhat underdeveloped. Similarly, Gatsby’s motivations beyond his obsession with Daisy could have been more deeply explored.
The Queer Representation: Refreshing but Complex
The novel’s portrayal of queer relationships in the 1920s feels both authentic and refreshing. Jordan moves through various romantic and sexual encounters with both men and women, and the Cendrillon, a queer speakeasy, provides a glimpse into hidden LGBTQ+ spaces of the era.
However, some readers might question the somewhat casual treatment of Jordan’s sexuality—while her queerness is central to her character, the societal repercussions of being queer in the 1920s sometimes feel understated.
Comparisons: Where “The Chosen and the Beautiful” Fits
Vo’s novel, The Chosen and the Beautiful, joins other recent works that reimagine classics through the lens of marginalized perspectives, such as:
- Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s “Mexican Gothic” (reimagining Gothic literature)
- C.L. Polk’s “Kingston Cycle” (exploring magic and marginalization in a fantastical Edwardian setting)
- P. Djèlí Clark’s “Ring Shout” (blending historical fiction with cosmic horror)
For fans of Vo’s novella work, “The Chosen and the Beautiful” maintains her signature lyrical prose and interest in identity and power, while expanding her canvas to a novel-length exploration of American society.
Final Assessment: A Flawed but Brilliant Debut
Despite its imperfections, “The Chosen and the Beautiful” remains a compelling and important addition to the fantasy genre. At its strongest, it offers:
- A fresh perspective on a classic American novel
- Beautiful prose that captures both magic and mundanity
- A protagonist whose complex identity speaks to contemporary concerns while remaining true to the historical setting
- A reimagining of the 1920s that acknowledges the era’s exclusionary politics
As the first book in a developing series, with “Don’t Sleep with the Dead” to follow, it sets up an intriguing magical world with room for further exploration. While some elements feel underdeveloped in this installment, the foundation is strong enough to warrant enthusiasm for future entries.
Vo’s ambitious blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and queer romance doesn’t always cohere perfectly, but its highs are spectacular enough to forgive its occasional stumbles. For readers interested in magical reimaginings of classics, diverse perspectives on American history, or simply lush, atmospheric prose, “The Chosen and the Beautiful” offers a captivating, if sometimes uneven, reading experience.