The Great Gatsby

Mr. Robbins does a fantastic job of not only holding your attention, but also making you want to hear more and more. His voices range from feminie and southern, to a harsh New Yorker.
It's just lovely!

As an English major, I had read Gatsby many times, both in undergraduate and graduate work. I THOUGHT I was downloading this for a nostalgic easy listen - and instead, by hearing the words read by Tim Robbins, I had a chance to experience the flow and poetry of the words in a different way (maybe because I wasn't busily highlighting sections to write a paper about the Death of the American Dream). The words that come to my mind are gorgeous, lyrical -- it is hard to describe how such fanciful language can explain a whole narrative incident or a character with such surgical clarity. Just listen to the descriptions of characters who wander in for cameo roles, never to be seen again, and yet note how they are as vividly drawn as the main characters - a man selling dogs to poor, gullible Myrtle, the three black occupants of a limo who laugh at Tom and Nick's amazement, etc. Near the end, Nick comments that this has been a story of the West - and yet so clearly it is a story of the expansion of this country and how we, as a people, have been as careles as Daisy and Tom in breaking anything that gets in the way of ours heart's desire, whether good or bad. Can't recommend highly enough!

Tim Robbins makes this recording fun to listen to, he does a good job reading. The only problem is that sometimes the characters whisper and so does our reader. This makes the book a little difficult to listen to in a loud environment such as a car. I found my self constantly turning up the volume and then turning it back down.

By this time, you have read how good Robbins is reading this Great American Classic. The production brings the work to life and puts you there with light jazz interludes. I am listening to this one for the second time and it is even better.

I would give the story five stars because it's a classic (and I listened to "Bobbed Hair and Bathtub Gin" right before this - which I highly recommend) but Tim Robbins' reading nearly drove me insane! His reading of the male dialogue was fine, but he insisted on reading the female dialoge in a whining Southern drawl which made the women sound like drag queens. I found it extremely annoying. I see that everyone else enjoyed his reading very much...just wanted to mention that it may not be everyone's cup of tea.

First class narration - characterization developed by voice including pacing, lilt, and tone. Excellent quality of sound as well.

I have to admit I had no interest in reading this book in high school but listening to it read by Tim Robbins made it very enjoyable. Regarding the problems people are having with the women's accents, if memory serves me correctly both Daisy and Jordan were originally from Tennesee even though they lived in NY, hence the accents.

This is a classic novel, well worth listening to over and over. The reading is excellent, with distinctive accents and great enunciation. Its entertaining enough to listen to for fun or on roadtrips, and at about 5 hours it is perfect for this. It also burns onto about 5 CD's, so it works well in most CD players as well, and it isn't too long to carry around. I guantee you will find something new to think about every time you listen to it.

I thought that I couldn't enjoy Fitzgerald's quintessential novel about the Lost Generation any more than in previous readings...until Tim Robbins brought this book to life. His reading is magnificent. If you haven't read this gem of a novel yet, or if you've read it a thousand times, you will love this audio version.

Beautifully, intelligently read by Tim Robbins. If you've not read this (and you should read it -- #2 on the Modern Library's list of the 100 greatest novels) you'll be delighted. In fact, you'll likely be delighted even if you HAVE read it.