The Great Gatsby Audiobook Review
The Great Gatsby – An Audio Book Review
- The Great Gatsby
- Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Narrated by: Jake Gyllenhaal
- Length: 4 hours and 49 minutes
- Unabridged
- Genre: Classics/Drama
Audio book Summary:
The classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald can now be enjoyed as an audiobook. The Great Gatsby is set in the backdrop of the 1920’s just after the end of the First World War. It tells the story of the mysterious, eccentric and insanely wealthy man named Jay Gatsby from the point of view of his neighbor and friend Nick Carraway. Gatsby is the talk of the town as he continuously throws lavish and extravagant parties yet does not seem to appear in any one of them. The classic and bittersweet American tale is one of the true great novels that has left its imprint for generations.
One reason to listen:
It is a classic tale of a romanticized and unrequited true love and the realization of the harsh truths of life.
Reactions:
“Jake Gyllenhaal gives a very solid narration as Nick Carraway, our portal into Gatsby’s world, who proclaims he’s “the only honest man he’s ever met.” Gyllenhaal’s performance isn’t a flashy one, and I think that’s a wise choice on his part – it matches the understated power of the book, and let’s Fitzgerald’s prose carry the story. He’s received a lot of praise for his reading of this novel, and it’s well-deserved. The Great Gatsby continues to be a serious book with a lot on its mind, and was a treat to revisit.” – Dave
“The narration is such a big factor with this version. I doubt there is anyone that could have given a more inspired reading than Gyllenhaal; he was amazing not only when he was in character, but he impressed me so much with his reading of the body of the story, as if he felt a reverence for Fitzgerald’s words.” – Melinda
“I knew I always liked The Great Gatsby, but having not read it since high school, I couldn’t remember exactly why. After listening to Jake Gyllenhaal’s superb narration, I was reminded of what I found so great about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic. Gyllenhaal strikes the right chord as Nick Carraway, who exists within the hyper-privileged world of Long Island’s upper crust but manages to avoid becoming jaded and swept up by the materialism of his cousin, Daisy, and the titular Gatsby. Fitzgerald’s elegant yet simple prose still holds up, and Gyllenhaal treats it with the utmost respect, allowing the vivid descriptions of mansions, landmarks, and 1920s New York to flow at just the right pace. While ultimately tragic, The Great Gatsby is full of light and beautiful moments that kindle nostalgia for the Roaring Twenties, and I was glad to have been reintroduced to a favorite book this way.” – Chris
“There is so much one can say about this novel, from the standpoint of symbols and motifs (such as the famous old billboard with the eyeglasses of TJ Eckleburg, who may represent the fading society that is passing, or maybe the eye of God looking down upon an increasingly godless society), or the story of tragic romance, or, as a prescient commentary on that passionate era.” – Kathi
“I know this book is a classic. I like reading the books and then (being disappointed by) seeing the movie. It kept my interest; however, I feel at the end of the book, the author doesn’t round out Daisy’s character. She basically….well, disappears. I would have altered that with more description…” – Kimberly
“His narration was solid, albeit fairly lackluster. It could probably be considered the antithesis to Baz Luhrman’s sure to be over-the-top film adaptation. I would agree that the prose is so solid that it does not require extreme conveyance of emotion, or an intensely dramatic voice, however at times Gyllenhaal’s sleepy, somewhat monotone voice nearly put me to sleep. I began to get used to it after a while, however, and enjoyed the story regardless of the narration.
The book still outrates the audio for me. But to be fair, that may always be the case, Gyllenhaal or no Gyllenhaal. I am biased towards the Gatsby that took shape in my head years ago.” – Alexandria Milton
Score on Audible: 4.1 out of 5
Score on Amazon: 4.2 out of 5
