The Great Gatsby

Author:  F. Scott Fitzgerald

Publication Date:  04/09/2013

Publisher:  Audible, Inc.

Narrator:  Jake Gyllenhaal

Audible Synopsis:

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 (Brokeback Mountain). 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.

This special audio edition joins the upcoming film - as well as many other movie, radio, theater, and even video-game adaptations - as a fitting tribute to the cultural significance of Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age classic, widely regarded as one of the greatest stories ever told.

I'd read this book about fifteen years ago and, truth be told, I'd forgotten a lot of what the story was about. But that ending had stuck in my head. I tend to think that I probably didn't recognize this book for the work of art that it is. With age and experience, I can see the genius of Fitzgerald and recognize the nuances that I think I missed in my younger days. I bought this audiobook for two reasons (1) the movie is coming out soon and I wanted a refresher on the story; and, (2) It's narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal. I wasn't overly impressed by Jake Gyllenhaal's narration. I thought it was adequate but he didn't bring that magic to the story that great narrators do i.e. Colin Firth in The End of the Affair. If you've never read this book, I'd say listen to this audiobook. It's well worth the listen even if the narration isn't out of the park.