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Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Great Gatsby (audio version)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts



What The Great Gatsby is about:
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. There, he has a firsthand view of Gatsby’s lavish West Egg parties - and of his undying love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. After meeting and losing Daisy during the war, Gatsby has made himself fabulously wealthy. Now, he believes that his only way to true happiness is to find his way back into Daisy’s life, and he uses Nick to try to reach her. What happens when the characters’ fantasies are confronted with reality makes for a startling conclusion to this iconic masterpiece.

I started The Great Gatsby several years ago but was distracted by life and sit the book aside. After reading Mary's review of the audio version which was narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, I knew that I needed to give it another shot. While I loved Jake's voice and thought he did a wonderful job with this book, I found myself wondering what all the fuss about this author and his style of writing??? I was glad that the audio was only four hours because it was easy to listen to while walking and it was quickly done and finished! Maybe I need to take a class entitled, Appreciation of Classic Literature, because I thought the story was stuffy and a bit lackluster. I clearly read too much fluff!

Recommend? This may surprise everyone because it sounds like I hated it, but I didn't. This author just doesn't work for me, but that's okay. However,  I think this audio version would work for those that love classic literature and Fitzgerald.

Source: Purchased from audible.com
Narrator: Jake Gyllenhaal
Length: 4 hrs 49 minutes


Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #110
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

17 comments:

  1. I have YET been able to bring myself to read this! LOL!!

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  2. I read the book in high school and remember liking it. I think I thought it made me sophisticated. lol

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  3. I have tried to read The Great Gatsby but couldn't even read 4 pages of it. Perhaps having Jake read it to me will work!

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  4. Your review made me laugh, but I know Fitzgerald's style is not for everyone. The next time I reread The Greta Gatsy, it will be on audio.

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  5. this author doesn't work for me either. not in print or video so I don't think I'll be trying the audio. nice review though :)Have a nice day :)

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  6. I've read it several times over the years and find that I like it more each time I read it. Maybe it's just grown on me, LOL.

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  7. I loved this book in high school and college. Wonder if I would still love it today.

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  8. Woo hoo! I listened to this one years ago (not Jake) and my feelings were exactly like yours. What's all the fuss ;) And I took plenty of literature appreciation classes in college for my Eng. Ed. degree. Nice to know there is at least one other blogger who didn't fall in love with this one.

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  9. bahaha well we can't all be cultured ;) I'm going to see the movie ... me doing my bit to become more learned in the classics LOL. Callum thought the movie was pretty good!

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  10. I read this book not too long ago and I thought it was okay. Now, I want to see the movie. Fitzgerald's writing is sparse and unlike some of the books we read today. There are some classics I truly like and others I don't. It really all depends on our reading tastes or the story.

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  11. I think it took me less time to actually read the book than it took you to listen to it. LOL I read it and was not overly impressed either. I liked the book, but I thought there would be more of a wow factor that just wasn't there

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  12. I know I read this book in high school, but I remember nothing about it. I don't think I'll be rushing to re-read it, though.

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  13. My husband is a big F. Scott Fitzgerald fan. He has read just about everything the author has written--but he still hasn't read this one. I read The Great Gatsby in high school all those years ago. I keep going back and forth about whether I want to revisit it or not . . .

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  14. I have read this book a couple of times now (and, surprisingly may read it again) and still don't get the allure. I see where Fitzgerald's writing is marvelous and all but I think both times I've read it, I can't get past Robert Redford as Gatsby and I can't believe that he could, basically be a bad guy. Or, perhaps, I'll just read a different Fitzgerald and see if I'm awed by his genius where Redford isn't in my brain!

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  15. Don't feel bad. I've read this twice and didn't care for it either time!

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  16. Hmmm I'm on my third comment now, and they all seem familiar. Anyway, I didn't like this book either. In general, classics aren't my thing.

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  17. To clarify - I thought I may have already commented, that's why my comments seemed familiar.

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