Narration Was Dry Like Reading a Dictionary

I would prefer reading the book itself than listening to this version of the audiobook. The narration was haste, dry, detached, and emotionless. It takes away what enjoyment a reader could have derived from the literature itself.

7 persone l'hanno trovata utile

still relevant

amazing how contemporary the ideas and political philosophy are today with the socialist-democratic party we have now.

6 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Fitzgerald fan

I love all Fitzgerald’s novels. Ranking them, Tender is the night ranks first because it is powerful with great psychological depth. The beautiful and the damned is second because the story is interesting. This side of paradise is third because some scenes are great and others boring. The great gatsby is his worst in my opinion because the characters aren’t that complex and the protagonist is way too passive.

4 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Beautiful story

This book involves some deal of philosophy struggles and thinking, yet is very entertaining to read(or listen). If you like to dig deep into yourself, you might enjoy the life of Amory and his self analyzes.

3 persone l'hanno trovata utile

a long boring book but well read

I struggled to finish this one. it was more of a gloomy monologue of a man's life and how selfish he is. it ended as mundane as it began. the reader however did an excellent job considering the material he had to work with

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

yippee

wonderful

at least 15 words needed at least 15 words are needed here. Fauci is in control

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

My favorite Fitzgerald novel

I’ve read Gatsby and Tender Is The Night multiple times - for school and again for pleasure. I listened to this reading of This Side of Paradise in a quick few days because I was enthralled from the start. It is my first time reading/listening to this book. I guess I imagined that his debut novel would be less gripping than subsequent books. But I love this one the most because Fitzgerald is speaking directly to his reader before he was a success, his enthusiasms are unbridled, his youthful passions are offered up- it’s intimate, unique. He is unapologetically intellectual while being insecure and aspiring. He fills the pages with poetry and discussions of literary authors, politics, sociology, and he is such a keen observer of society. It’s like opening up the society pages from the 1920’s, very fun and an honest look at the rules for young men and women in the upper classes. Amory Blaine’s description of his brief affair with Eleanor Savage captures her cleverness and extraordinary individuality -she is a fully realized female character who surpasses Fitzgerald’s drawing of Daisy Buchanan or Nicole Diver. Highly recommend listening to this reader. I had a wonderful time and I’m sorry it’s over.

Probably should’ve read it myself

It was ruined for me by the guy who read it. He had a BEAUTIFUL voice, but he used it as a crutch. There was no music or emotion to it and was extremely hard to pay attention to, much less follow. Fitzgerald can be circumlocutory which can make his stories tough to follow anyway. I probably should’ve just read the book myself.

Disappointed

The Narrator was fantastic, but the main character and story were not for me. My expectations were very high because I love 'The Great Gatsby', and have wanted to read more by Fitzgerald; but I couldn't relate to this story or character at all. He was strange and the whole of the story was lacking.

God and man at Yale; Fitzgerald at Princeton

F. Scott Fitzgerald's first published novel - published in 1920 - published so as to impress his girlfriend (later wife) Zelda. Fitzgerald wanted to be a famous writer - Zelda wanted to be associated with someone famous.

Good, not great novel - tells the story of an elite Princetonian (lightly disguised story of Fitzgerald himself) - who tries 'n' things - education, a Second Lieutenant in WWI - writing copy in an Advertising firm. The main character flirts with Religion; flirts with revenge against the Capitalist System (not quite Socialism)- and flirts with women (*4) - and then becomes 'disillusioned'.

Narratives are especially interesting and show very great promise. The character's relationship with women (....almost flappers) - indicates the soon-to-upon-them change in 'what becomes acceptable' behavior concerning single women. The rules of acceptability are about to change with the emergence of the 'flapper', Charleston Dance (after 1923), shortening of skirts, Jazz Age, etc. It has already been observed that this novel documents ..."how a flapper thinks...." The underlying theme of oncoming social change is relevant today.

Additionally, some snippets of the narrative about disillusionment is relevant today - something like:

...."All of life is a muddle.
It is like a football game where both sides are simultaneously offside
It is like a football game where they've done away with referees...."

A snapshot of the then contemporary society - where elites went to Princeton - and then 'found themselves' - made a good marriage and proceeded into the downstream of their lives, accumulating wealth and friends. Fitzgerald's character Amory Blaine lives this life - becomes 'disillusioned' and 'thinks his way' [at very great cost] out of this situation - after having had bad relationships with women, work and other things - and in the end - becomes 'graced' with self-knowledge.

Good, not great introduction to Fitzgerald.

Should be of interest to those who read U S 20th Century Contemporary Novels..