This Side of Paradise (version 2)

Amory Blaine grew up in a wealthy family and was given an Ivy League education. Without a need to learn a profession, he chiefly dabbled in literature and partying. His school chums were of similar background, and the ideas they reflected to each other grew in their minds to be of the greatest importance. Amory began to think of himself as somewhat of a character in a Rupert Brooke poem (from which the book's title is taken).

World War I intervened in this happy fog and brought focus to some, doubt to others.

In the rapidly changing technology of the war era, the financial underpinnings of the Blaine fortune began to fall apart. The deaths of Amory's parents left the finances without a rudder and as Amory's situation deteriorated he came to realize he had only his interest in literature to fall back upon.

Meanwhile, a series of young women traipsed through his life, attracted to his handsome face and bright wit like moths to a candle. But Amory could never master the role of being a real person... and, one by one, they traipsed out.

This Side of Paradise was F. Scott Fitzgerald's first novel and was one of the nation's most popular books in the year it was published. It has some definite parallels with Fitzgerald's own life, and is in some ways an autobiography. Summary by Mark F. Smith) (9 hr 51 min)

Chapters

Book One, Ch 1 – Amory, Son of Beatrice	29:36	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 1, Part 2	25:21	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 1, Part 3	21:32	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 2, Part 1	35:17	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 2, Part 2	38:29	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 2, Part 3	38:57	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 3, Part 1	39:36	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 3, Part 2	21:46	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 4, Part 1	31:34	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 4, Part 2	25:35	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 4, Part 3	30:10	Read by Mark F. Smith
Book Two, Chapter 1, Part 1	29:41	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 1, Part 2	39:06	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 2, Part 1	30:00	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 2, Part 2	21:32	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 3, Part 1	27:19	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 3, Part 1	18:57	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 4	22:18	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 5, Part 1	27:32	Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 5, Part 2	37:36	Read by Mark F. Smith

Reviews

Excellent reader, strange story.

(3 stars)

TwinkieToes

Mark Smith is an excellent reader. Technically, there was a whistle throughout the recordings, which I used software to filter out of my files after downloading. Otherwise, technical quality was good. The story, however, confused me. It was more of a character study than a story. Even then, I felt like chapters were missing - the story was a bit disjointed. For example, in later chapters, he bemoans the loss of a girl who appears to have been important to him, but we were never introduced to her. It seemed like some events could have been fleshed out a bit more. But it was good to get my first taste of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Thank you, Mark!

Great narrator- though his female character voices are a bit odd

(5 stars)

Outonawalk

It was ok

(2 stars)

Joe

I'll give him this, he is quite a good writer. He is descriptive, and poetic even. But if you're not a fan of endless meandering of the mind, philosophy, philosophy, philosophy, and pointless poetry that leaves you feeling dry and empty and wondering if you should give it up all together, this book is not for you. The reader however did a fantastic job.

ok book, fantastic narrator

(4.5 stars)

anb

The book is ok. It is engaging to see how some generational problems keep existing. I am coming from listening to two books from Wharton, and I believe she delivers better stories, even within the same setting.

Oddly Fascinating

(5 stars)

NSA

I found this story by Fitzgerald tumultuous in its rather honest portrayal of the time, position, and possible thoughts of a wealthy born boy fostered by life's unwieldy progress. The reader was clear and fairly well paced.