The Great Gatsby CD

Book Description

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's portrait of the Jazz Age in all its decadence and excess, is, as editor Maxwell Perkins praised it in 1924, "a wonder." It remains one of the most widely read, translated, admired, imitated and studied twentieth-century works of American fiction.

This deceptively simple work, Fitzgerald's best known, was hailed by critics as capturing the spirit of the generation. In Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald embodies some of America's strongest obsessions: wealth, power, greed, and the promise of new beginnings.

The recording includes a selection of letters written by Fitzgerald to his editor, Maxwell Perkins, his agent, Harold Ober, and friends and associates, including Willa Cather, H.L. Mencken, John Peale Bishop and Gertrude Stein.

Performed by Tim Robbins

Customer Reviews:

received damaged.......2007-07-29

received damaged and returned. amazon did not have another copy to send. the $5.00 creidit was mostly offset by my being sharged for shipping. a very unsatisfactory experience

Very poor audio rendition.......2007-06-19

I have listened to only a few tracks of this book-on-CD, and maybe I should wait for a while before posting a review, but here is what I can already say. First, while Scott Fitzgerald is clearly a great writer, he writes about characters who are so far from who I am and I care about that I wonder if I will ever really like his novels. I have read "This side of paradise" before listening to this one, and found it equally uninteresting. Almost everyone seems to be an obnoxious and spoiled character. There is way too much aristocracy, money and privilege, and I find all characters rather fake. BUT, what is worse about this CD is... Tim Robbins. He reads mostly with an annoyingly low, dreamy voice, playing all women with a terrible fake-feminine voice which really seems to come from a drag queen. I will never understand why so many men have to read women's voices as if words were spoken by a drag queen. Overall, this is a pretty bad audio book.

gatsby dvd audio.......2007-05-14

Tim Robbins does an excellent job reading this book! Well worth the purchase.

Tim Robbins Narrates "The Great Gatsby" Brilliantly.......2007-04-04

Tim Robbins does a first rate job narrating "The Great Gatsby." I am not much of fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald, but for me Gatsby is by far Fitzgerald's best book. Tim Robbins makes this a powerful story.

I have two minor criticisms. First, the chapter designations are left out of the narration. Since my son and I were reading this book as a school assignment, we needed to know what chapter we were listening to. Second, the tracks on the CD were too long, generally 10 - 18 minutes. Tracks every 3 - 4 minutes are far more useful. But these are minor complaints, and I loved the book and the way it is read.

Gatsby comes alive.......2007-01-10

Tim Robbins, what talent. He became each of the characters, it was great. Enjoyed it immensely, drove beyond my destination to finish listening. Haha, never occurred to me that we have a stereo at home!!!! The last disc with F. Scott's letters was amazing, really cool.

The Great Gatsby: Complete and Unabridged (Audio Editions)

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A Monument in Audio Book History
Maybe Gatsby wasn't great, but the story is...
Heartrending
What it means to be an American
Thought Provoking

The Great Gatsby: Complete and Unabridged (Audio Editions)
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: The Audio Partners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1572702567

Book Description

The mysterious Jay Gatsby embodies the American notion that it is possible to redefine oneself and persuade the world to accept that definition. Gatsby's youthful neighbor, Nick Carraway, fascinated with the display of enormous wealth in which Gatsby revels, finds himself swept up in the lavish lifestyle of Long Island society during the Jazz Age. Considered Fitzgerald's best work, The Great Gatsby is a mystical, timeless story of integrity and cruelty, vision and despair. Now available unabridged on CD, Alexander Scourby delivers Fitzgerald's story in “one of the finest readings ever recorded” (The New York Times). “[Fitzgerald's] talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly's wings.” — Ernest Hemingway

Customer Reviews:

A Monument in Audio Book History.......2005-09-29

Scott Fitzgerald, a monumental talent who only occasionally got things working right, made Gatsby great by the extraordinary invention of Nick Carraway. Carraway as narrator provided the exact perfect pitch: more awestruck than he would admit, more moral than it was fashionable to reveal -- always objective and distanced and subtle and charming, genuinely decent and impeccably well mannered, a little dangerously smitten himself by the lovely but corrupt Jordan Baker.

Alexander Scourby, one of the greatest reading voices of his era (overlapping Fitzgerald's enough to know and feel it all) here does Carraway in a way that cannot, therefore, again be quite equalled. Imagine having a recording of a great contemporary actor reading Ahab's speeches in Moby Dick, and one begins to appreciate the gift that we only now have in recorded sound, something we are already quite casual about. But there is much more here than historical accuracy. Scourby's voice wraps around every phrase of Fitzgeral's text with both an actor's professionalism and a good reader's care, making it not only uncannily his own monument but also a monument in audio book history. It sets the bar, and anyone interested in the recorded voice as an art form should own this for repeated learning.

Maybe Gatsby wasn't great, but the story is..........2004-09-28

There is a reason why this is required reading in advanced literature classes throughout the country. This is without a doubt one of the best tales ever told. It should be used as an example to any aspiring writer of what great writing can be. The thing that makes it so great is Fitzgerald's ability to formulate characters, both large and small, and his ability to have them interact in a manner that is at once both imaginative and realistic. This makes the story, which in and of itself is not more amazing than other books, more amazing because you are compelled to believe the plausibility of a story that is incredible. Even if you are not a literature student you will find this book an enjoyable read that is intellectually stimulating, yet easy reading for those reading to relax. Many have copied this story directly and indirectly because of the lesson it teaches (that in the story about life and that about creating a story) and many will continue to do so in the future.

Heartrending.......2003-01-26

I listened to this book over a few nights with my wife, after having read it first some sixteen years ago. It is a masterpiece, and known widely as such, but what surprised me on hearing it was how the book I'd remembered as terribly romantic was actually rather clear-eyed and dark. My wife, who had never read it, listened spell-bound, and at the end burst into tears at the sadness of it. A word about Scourby as reader - he is restrained but emotional, captures the personality of each character with a slightly different tone, and - most importantly for me - brings out the fact that the closing pages, which are often quoted out of context as deeply romantic, are in fact painfully cynical, a voice of disenchantment about the cost of America, not its promise. A masterpiece on the page and on tape. Can't recommend it too highly.

What it means to be an American.......2002-10-28

After living abroad in the Middle East for a year and traveling through more than twenty-five countries, I recently re-read The Great Gatsby, seeking the familiarity of America. The Great Gatsby captures what is different about Americans and the American experience. At its most basic, America represents endless striving for greatness. Whether in business, science, athletics or world affairs, Americans imagine and seek the best. Though we often stumble and fall short; though we often cut corners to achieve our dreams - striving for greatness is the essence of America. In Gatsby, we feel what it is like to want something so badly, to succeed in reaching it and to ultimately fail. How many of us have not shared these experiences in some way or another? American writings today, such as David Ebershoff's Pasadena (2002) and Scott Gaille's The Law Review (2002), continue to explore Gatsby's central theme of obsession with greatness. In this time of global uncertainty, we can get back in touch with what it means to be an American by reading such books.

Thought Provoking.......2002-08-27

This was a book that stayed with me long after hearing it read. I found Gatsby to be a very intriguing character because of his singleminded passion. I enjoyed understanding the thoughts and ideas of Carraway. The writing provided vivid imagery of a time gone by and yet it was a timeless story. Highly recommend.

The Great Gatsby : A Unit Plan (Litplans on CD) (Litplans)

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Definitely good resource for the money
This will be brief because I have to finish lesson plans . .
A Teacher's Greatest Helper
Feeling Overwhelmed By Paperwork and Planning?
Feeling Overwhelmed By Paperwork and Planning?

The Great Gatsby : A Unit Plan (Litplans on CD) (Litplans)
Mary B. Collins
Manufacturer: Teachers Pet Pubns Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

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ASIN: 1583370323

Book Description

Complete lesson plans for teaching Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Includes introduction to the unit, unit objectives, reading assignments, unit outline, study questions (short answer), study/quiz questions (multiple choice), vocabulary worksheets, daily lessons planned, related nonfiction reading assignment, oral reading evaluation, biographical info about the author, three detailed writing assignments (inform, persuade, personal opinion), vocabulary review games & activities, unit review games & activities, at least one group activity assignment, discussion questions on all levels (factual, critical, interpretive, personal response), 2 short answer unit tests, 2 multiple choice unit tests, 1 advanced short answer unit test, unit and vocabulary crossword puzzles, unit and vocabulary extra worksheets & games, bulletin board ideas, ready-to-copy student materials, answer keys, and more!

Customer Reviews:

Definitely good resource for the money.......2007-07-13

This unit plan for The Great Gatsby is a great supplemental unit for a teacher who is either not familiar with this novel, or just a new teacher without much time to create an entire unit. Some of the lessons are a little bit "bare bones" in that they just scratch the surface, and just go into basic information about characters, plot and vocabulary. However, over all, this is a unit that I found very helpful just to get some additional study questions and vocabulary in. There are also quizzes within this unit for the entire novel, broken into chapter increments. If there is one drawback, I found some of the quiz questions to be a little bit trivial or unimportant, so, when using the unit, I have found myself skipping some or editing others. Still, for the price, this is a great time saver for a teacher, and also works as a supplemental tool for the novel.

3 1/2 stars

This will be brief because I have to finish lesson plans . ........2002-10-01

Good stuff, this is! Vocabulary, study questions, unit tests- nothing you haven't already seen. It is my first year teaching Gatsby and between classroom management, grading papers and getting caught up with the book (and material for other classes) I am exhausted.

This pack gives me the time to focus on how I will present the material and is dry enough that it let's me modify it to my students' needs.

A good skeleton unit.

A Teacher's Greatest Helper.......2002-06-17

Wow! This was a great resource to use when teaching a novel. I had not taught The Great Gatsby before and really wanted to have my students "work with" this novel. It provided a great resource for vocabulary exercises and study guide questions. It also provided a plethera of quiz and test questions to use. As another teacher-reviewer indicated, she felt guilty at first of using premade materials. I, on the other hand, believe that my role as a teacher is demanding enough, without having to spend hours creating my teaching materials. I do create my own original activites and adapt materials to fit appropriately, but cherish the teaching materials that I can choose from to use. I am teaching a new grade level next year with new novels, and I am already planning my order for more LitPlan titles. Thank you for this wonderful resource!!

Feeling Overwhelmed By Paperwork and Planning?.......2002-06-13

Okay, I'll confess that I felt guilty when I ordered this CD-ROM. It kind of seemed like the equivalent of serving your kids TV dinners instead of a fresh cooked meal, but I've gotten over it.

These lesson plans aren't a substitute for homemade, but they certainly do foot the bill more than adequetly. The activities are comprehensive and thoughtful, though sometimes a little dry.

I'm planning on ordering more to have on hand for emergencies. Also, the study questions and vocabulary lists are a Godsend. I hate writing study questions... so boring, yet necessary. The study questions included here helped my students grasp the novel and made my life a bit easier.

On the down side the files are in PDF format so if you want to be able to _edit_ the handouts, you need Adobe Acrobat. (Printing handouts "as is" doesn't require anthing fancy and you can cut and paste the old fashioned way.)

Feeling Overwhelmed By Paperwork and Planning?.......2002-06-13

Okay, I'll confess that I felt guilty when I ordered this CD-ROM. It kind of seemed like the equivalent of serving your kids TV dinners instead of a fresh cooked meal, but I've gotten over it.

These lesson plans aren't a substitute for homemade, but they certainly do foot the bill more than adequetly. The activities are comprehensive and thoughtful, though sometimes a little dry.

Customer Reviews:

I Could Write Greater "Literature" in My Sleep!.......2001-11-14

Tragically, in Grade 11 we were forced to read "The Great Gatsby" and I thought it was the stupidest book pretty much ever. Gatsby was too full of himself, Daisy was a blonde ditz, Nick I just really didn't care about, and all in all Jordan was the only one I really liked. My teacher said I was looking at things too much in the black and white perspective, but when it really comes down to it this book was about stupid people who did stupid things. Wish I could have put that in my essay. It barely showed anything about the twenties lifestyle for those who say it's a great commentary on those times unless you count descriptions of cars and clothes. It was like "Romeo and Juliet" only not tragic and you wanted to kill off Daisy and Gatsby yourself half way through it. I don't know who says what Great Literature is, but if this is among them, then that's a tragic commentary on our times. I can normally appreciate most literature we're made to read: "The Glass Menagerie", "Hamlet", "To Kill a Mockingbird" even "The Bean Trees" I had to read, but "The Great Gatsby" is just a lot of stupid nonsense I really could have cared less about. My apologies to those who liked it, but for myself it was the biggest waste of time in school. Math made more sense and trust me, I usually hate math a whole lot more than literature.

The Great Gatsby and The American Dream.......2000-07-08

F S FITZGERALD - THE GREAT GATSBY The best descriptions of Fitzgerald was made by one of his critics : "he stood outside the ballroom , a little boy with his nose to the glass , wondering how much the tickets cost and who paid for the music " . His place in American literature was clearly defined . He records an age and a particular social circle within the age . The Great Gatsby is a character study of a wealthy Long Island parvenu , Jay Gatsby . Gatsby , who had aquired his fortune through shady means , is the archietype of the American self made man , seen in the hurried -crazy alchooldominated haze of the Jazz age , but through the eyes of Nick Carraway , an objective cold blooded observer who represents the the older values of the American Middle west before the war ; The Great Gatsby gives expensive parties , he recalls his struggled youth with romanticism and he seeks to rearrange his friends lives to suit himself . In fact through this behaviour he tried to escape his loneliness of fear of remaining alone . When he rencounters Dasy Fay , a youthful love romance whose memory he has long cherished but who is now married to Tom Buchanan , he seeks to take up the affair where he left off . Dasy ,driving Jay from New York to Long Island in his car , runs over and kills a woman named Myrtle Wilson , who by improbable coincidence is Tom Buchanan`s mistress. Myrtle`s husband , who has seen the car before in the possession of Buchanan , follows Jay , murders him and kills himself . Gatsby`s funeral is attended only by Nick and Jay`s father . The Great Gatsby is a study of success and presents the evolution and developement of the american dream : a poor boy is hurted by a rich and beautiful girl , spends his life in order to aquire wealth and this way to become worthy of her , then finds , after he has achived success that the girl was not worthy of his struggle . The "mystery " of Gatsby , uncovered by Nick Carraway as the novel evoluates , is that his extravagant and vulgar way of life represents an attempt , perhaps subconscious freudian struggle , to win the recognition of the beautiful Dasy who rejected him years before because he was poor and unknown .

GATSBY.......2000-01-14

AH THE GREAT GATSBY THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE NOVEL IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHAT WE TODAY WOULD CALL A JERRY SPRINGER SHOW THIS NOVEL IS A NOVEL WITH A LOT OF SYMBOLISM IF YOU LOOK FOR IT BUT IF YOU DON'T IT'S STILL A VERY CLEVERLY WRITEN NOVEL. BECAUSE OF THE LOVE TRIANGLE AND THE MANY TWISTS AND TURNS I GAVE IT 3 STARS

Great Gatsby recaptures the atmosphere of the roaring 20s.......1999-10-18

The Great Gatsby is one of the best novels I have ever read. The story centers on Jay Gatsby, a millionaire, whose past is a mystery, but with his tremendous wealth, he is able to attract everyone into his life circle. Nevertheless, his entire motive is to win back his old lover, Daisy. His loyalty for love eventually paved the road toward his tragic ending.

Nothing Is Greater Than Gatsby.......1999-10-09

This book was excellent in my opinion. It contained love, lust, undying devotion, betrayal, and every other element that makes for a good love story. But it was more than that, meaning can be found in each and every character. Some characters such as Daisy represented the times (the 20's), as she was dependent upon her husband and was nothing more than the vision her husband held in his eyes. While a character such as Gatsby represented the struggle that we shall face until the end of time. The struggle I speak of is one of the heart. If you are at all romantic, I suggest this book to you, and if you are not I suggest it to you because of its intrigue and content.

Cliffsnotes Fitzgerald's the Great Gatsby (Cliffsnotes Audio)

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Cliffsnotes Fitzgerald's the Great Gatsby (Cliffsnotes Audio)
Kate Maurer
Manufacturer: Penton Overseas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: MP3 CD

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ASIN: 1591252245

Book Description

No reading required - just listen and learn! Listen anytime, anywhere; target any chapter for quick research: -Learn about the life and background and the author, -Preview the literary work through the Introduction and Brief Synopsis, - Explore the themes, literary devices and development of characters with the Critical Commentaries, - Examine in-depth Character Analyses and Critical Essays, - Reinforce the material with the CliffsNotes Review, and - Enhance your vocabulary with glossaries from Webster's New World Dictionary. Includes handy reference card with a Character Map and a listing of additional resources.

Average customer rating:

Jazz Age Beauty
Jazz Age Beauty
A brilliant story about the Era of Wonderful Nonsense
Una historia previsible.

El Gran Gatsby/the Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: Yoyo Music USA Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 9584301977

Customer Reviews:

Jazz Age Beauty.......2000-04-23

In the Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald created a wonder. He described a world and a fiend we can all relate to, that of frustrated and not fully requitted love, and he described it with all the beauty that anybody using the English language could muster. His message was the we are all fighting against the tide of time, which beats us back ever more forcefully with the progressing years, and yet we all feel that our youth, our elixir, our perfect moment and strength of Orient is within our grasp. Gatsby was a man who had lost once, and yet felt the compulsion to fight again, for the ultimate prize that would revoke his past defeat. A simple and bewilderingly focused passion that in the end destroyed the man as only it could. That was Gatsby's only goal, but in stripping his life down to such basics, and in essence, seeking to negate the past, Gatsby found he was fighting against the viscious tide of time. Read this book for the narrative, if you like. Read it for the beautiful Jazz Age description if you like also. But read it most of all for the moments in it whose beauty surpasses all contemporarys'. Find the green light.

Jazz Age Beauty.......2000-04-23

A brilliant story about the Era of Wonderful Nonsense.......2000-02-25

Life in the Roarin' 20s was oodles of fun. The wealthy people all throughout the United States were going to parties and making money. Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, and Daisy and Tom Buchanan were right there in the action. But, there was a huge conflict that stopped all the fun for these four individuals. The Great Gatsby will show you what is really behind all of the excitement in the 1920s. You will here about the poor people who couldn't afford the parties and fun events. Also, the ever-going romance between Gatsby and Daisy, and the problem they have when facing society will amaze you. For example, they meet in secret places tucked away from the public. Their romance is one of betrayal and privacy. This novel will also describe the Jazz Age as it really happened with the alcohol binges at Gatsby's parties, the fashion of flappers, and architecture, especially the homes of Gatsby and the Buchanans. Before you know it, you will be living in the Era of Wonderful Nonsense right along with the characters while sharing their story. This novel is definitely a must read!

Una historia previsible........1997-07-30

La verdad es que desde el principio uno podia suponer como iba a terminar la historia. Mal al principio por no defnir a cada personaje, se hace dificil seguir la historia. Gatsby no quiere quedar afuera de la sociedad en esa epoca, y de esta manera, tiende a prostituirse en todo sentido con tal de conseguir su unico y preciado fin

Average customer rating:

Not what I expected.

The Great Gatsby
F.Scott Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: Penguin Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0141801034

Customer Reviews:

Not what I expected........2007-08-08

A famous book, I was surprised that is was a love story. Our narrator. Nick moves to West Egg to be close to work in New York as a broker. He tells us the events of one summer that he witnessed whilst living next door to Jay Gatsby.
Gatsby is a tragic figure who can't move on from his past love and he moves to the big house to be close to her. The rich people are silly and flighty and that don't care how their actions affect people aroudn them.
Entertaining but strangley disappointing

Average customer rating:

Great Book
"Great" doesn't even begin to describe this one
Fantastic
I HATED IT!
Better with each reading

The Great Gatsby (Modern Classics)
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: Naxos Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 9626340517

Amazon.com

In 1922, F. Scott Fitzgerald announced his decision to write "something new--something extraordinary and beautiful and simple + intricately patterned." That extraordinary, beautiful, intricately patterned, and above all, simple novel became The Great Gatsby, arguably Fitzgerald's finest work and certainly the book for which he is best known. A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, Gatsby captured the spirit of the author's generation and earned itself a permanent place in American mythology. Self-made, self-invented millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald's--and his country's--most abiding obsessions: money, ambition, greed, and the promise of new beginnings. "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning--" Gatsby's rise to glory and eventual fall from grace becomes a kind of cautionary tale about the American Dream.

It's also a love story, of sorts, the narrative of Gatsby's quixotic passion for Daisy Buchanan. The pair meet five years before the novel begins, when Daisy is a legendary young Louisville beauty and Gatsby an impoverished officer. They fall in love, but while Gatsby serves overseas, Daisy marries the brutal, bullying, but extremely rich Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby devotes himself blindly to the pursuit of wealth by whatever means--and to the pursuit of Daisy, which amounts to the same thing. "Her voice is full of money," Gatsby says admiringly, in one of the novel's more famous descriptions. His millions made, Gatsby buys a mansion across Long Island Sound from Daisy's patrician East Egg address, throws lavish parties, and waits for her to appear. When she does, events unfold with all the tragic inevitability of a Greek drama, with detached, cynical neighbor Nick Carraway acting as chorus throughout. Spare, elegantly plotted, and written in crystalline prose, The Great Gatsby is as perfectly satisfying as the best kind of poem.

Book Description

MAXnotes offer a fresh look at masterpieces of literature, presented in a lively and interesting fashion. Written by literary experts who currently teach the subject, MAXnotes will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the work. MAXnotes are designed to stimulate independ ent thought about the literary work by raising various issues and thought-provoking ideas and questions. MAXnotes cover the essentials of what one should know about each work, including an overall summary, character lists, an explanation and discussion of the plot, the work's historical context, illustrations to convey the mood of the work, and a biography of the author. Each chapter is individually summarized and analyzed, and has study questions and answers.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-09-29

I use this book as a college student for the course of "Critical Thinking Skill" . Easy to follow and to understand.

"Great" doesn't even begin to describe this one.......2007-09-29

This is a seriously awesome book. Quite simply, you must read it. I know you've heard it before: allow me to join in praising it.
The first thing I'd like to point out is Fitzgerald's brilliant use of symbolism. The cars, the colors, various characters' glasses... these aren't just trivial things, you know. Pay close attention to them.
Anyway, the next thing I'd like to discuss is the character of Gatsby himself. A very intriguing figure. In fact, he's a bit of an enigma to me in that I have no definite opinion on whether or not I admire him. My opinion on the other characters is clear-cut (I mostly dislike them, other than Nick - which I believe was Fitzgerald's intention, to portray the rich as shallow and irresponsible - another thing that comes off brilliantly). But Gatsby... I'm not sure on Gatsby. I have to salute him for sticking with his dream for so long, in spite of its hopelessness, but the ends of said dream would have resulted in disaster for all parties involved, and his motives would be questionable. Gatsby is charismatic, well-read, determined, and intelligent; he is also greedy, self-absorbed, and stuck in the past. In other words, very human. And that's the most intriguing part of his character: when the end comes, I am unsure whether or not I feel Gatsby deserved his fate. Something to ponder. I like books that make me think deeply, and this is one of them.
As for Fitzgerald's language, let us say he has total mastery over it. I knew he was a phenomenal writer from reading a collection of his short stories before I picked up Gatsby, but nothing could prepare me for what this book would present. Fitzgerald was a very, very talented writer, and there's a fine reason why he is widely considered one of the best. Books don't get much better.
As an attack on the fast, hard lifestyles of the wealthy (something Fitzgerald himself knew a lot about), and as a meditation on how time's passage can ruin lives, this is equally brilliant. Easily one of the best books I've ever read. Every character is fully fleshed out, even seemingly (but only seemingly!) trivial characters like Old Owl Eyes; the symbolism is perfect, the language is stunning, and the book is just the right length. I can think of no criticisms.

Fantastic.......2007-08-18

Most classics fall into one of two traps. The first: thick, tedious prose, tiny font, 800 pages of 18th, 19th century drama. The second: a theme so blatant it sits beating the reader on the head, neglecting the fact that stories still have things called a story. Most fall into one of those two situations--thick or preachy.

Not Gatsby. Oh no. Gatsby falls into neither classic trap. You can read it in a day and enjoy yourself doing it. Actually, you can read it in a few hours and enjoy yourself just as much as if you were rereading The Hobbit or Harry Potter. Then, once you've finished, you look back and see, to your wonderment, how powerful and deep The Great Gatsby really is.

And that is only part of Fitzgerald's success.

The entire work is highly precise. Every word has its reason for being there. None are wasted. The themes are embedded in precise locations so as not to jump out at the reader and consequently distract them from the story.

Speaking of the story, Fitzgerald does what many classical novelists fail to do--tell one. Fitzgerald told a story about this man, Gatsby, who invented himself. As a result, he told a story about following dreams, and ambition, and living life, and viewing life, and carelessness. But he told the story about Gatsby, and the people around him, first.

In that way, he avoided theme device, and plot devices, and made for an impeccable, enjoyable, thought-provoking read. Thus, five stars from me for the best classic I have ever read, The Great Gatsby.

I HATED IT!.......2007-08-01

AM I THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO HATES THIS BOOK?!?!?! I found the characters insipid, vacant and superficial, and I know that's the point Fitzgerald was trying to make, but instead of being deeply moved and inspired by the depiction of our society as shallow and meaningless like THE REST OF THE WORLD, I found myself incredibly disgusted and repulsed. I know this is the Great American Novel. I know that I'm supposed to appreciate it for its sublime beauty and honest portrayal of the Diseased Elite. But I don't.

Better with each reading.......2007-07-30

Jay Gatsby lives in a large mansion on the water in Long Island, New York, circa 1925. He hosts enormous parties each weekend attended by hundreds of people whom are uninvited and do not even know him. But that does not bother him. He is the perfect host, always making sure that his guests have everything their heart's desire. Nick Carraway lives next door and works in the City selling bonds. He is originally from the midwest but has relocated East to seek his fortune. He is befriended by Gatsby and others in elite social circles including a college friend Tom Buchannan and his wife Daisy, who is also Nick's cousin. But the world appears smaller and smaller as Nick discovers that Gatsby is in love with Daisy and that they dated once, years before, prior to her wedding to Tom. Gatsby has never gotten over Daisy and spends his every minute in an effort to win her back and prove his love.

Fitzgerald's best known novel is filled with love, hate, intrigue, and friendship. He describes the frivolity of the time as contrasted with the sadness of human lonliness and insecurity. What seems to say so little given that it is a very short book, really says quite a bit in what it does not say. Romantic relationships that are described as happy clearly illustrate the dispair and sadness that is truly being suffered by those that are not truly in love with each other. Platonic relationships that seem losely connected actually describe tight friendships that are closer than others that portend to be strong.

With each reading of this novel more of what Fitzgerald meant to convey comes through. It is the type of novel that grows with the reader. Reading it at different times in ones life will change what the reader gets out of it and enjoys. It is a timeless classic that continues to get better over time.

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The Great Gatsby CD SP
F Scott Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: HarperAudio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0060743387

The Great Gatsby Mead Westavco Limited Edition (with music CD)

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The Great Gatsby Mead Westavco Limited Edition (with music CD)
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: Mead Westavco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

A privately printed edition in a decorative clamshell box with cover illustration. Also includes a music CD featuring jazz great Louis Armstrong.

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