THIS SIDE OF PARADISE

Fitzgerald's debut novel is well performed by a placid, measured Adam Sims. Amory Blaine's life takes center stage, and the listener follows him from prep school through Princeton, from failed romances through struggles to find his place in the world. Sims's voice is elegant and professional throughout the audiobook. His pace matches the action of the plot. His performance is at its best when Amory's exploits are at the fore. The hero's lengthy musings on life, art, politics, and the like can be ponderous, even when shared by Sims. But the tone of the Jazz Age permeates the work, and Sims does a fine job with the lively conversations and wide array of characters. The novel is no GATSBY, but Sims makes it worth a listen. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]