THE CHOSEN AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Natalie Naudus narrates a reimagining of THE GREAT GATSBY that is magical and queer, while still wholly true to the spirit of the original. Jordan Baker may be an adopted orphan of the War in Vietnam, but she does not dwell on her past; she has status and money and connections, and she uses them to advance herself. Naudus perfectly captures Jordan's ambivalent feelings about her decidedly murky origins without deviating from the carefully crafted façade of carefree flapper that Jordan presents to the world. As the familiar plot advances, Naudus ratchets up the tension and dread as the slow, creeping horror of precisely what Gatsby and Daisy have done--and will always continue to do--finally dawns on Jordan, leaving her feeling bereft and betrayed. A beautiful retelling. K.M.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2021]