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Flappers and Philosophers: The Collected Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald by F. Scott Fitzgerald
hylianchai's review against another edition
4.0
Every story after and including Bernice Bobs Her Hair was a fun read. I should say I get tired bc Fitzgerald always writes the same kind of woman (19, beautiful and blonde with grey eyes), but he is excellent at writing character interactions and picking up and describing little nuances people have in conversations. He's also really good at subtly deconstructing values and ideas, some of which still hold up today.
Some of his stories have not aged well, especially the first half. He definitely wrote for a particular audience, which is probably why I didn't enjoy the first half, but loved the second half.
Some of his stories have not aged well, especially the first half. He definitely wrote for a particular audience, which is probably why I didn't enjoy the first half, but loved the second half.
charlottereadsthings's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An eclectic mix of works from F.Scott Fitzgerald.
A lot just didn't really land with me while some I could read full books of in one sitting.
A lot just didn't really land with me while some I could read full books of in one sitting.
alexandre_rl's review against another edition
3.0
Lu en français.
Les huit nouvelles de "Garçonnes et philosophes" parurent presque toutes individuellement dans le magazine Saturday Evening Post en 1920, l'année de la publication de ce premier recueil de F. Scott Fitzgerald, ainsi que de son premier roman "L'Envers du paradis". Il n'avait que 24 ans. Fitzgerald a toujours traité ses nouvelles avec mépris, comme des productions alimentaires destinées à une consommation rapide pour un vaste public, au contraire de ses romans qu'il considérait comme sa "véritable" production. La majorité des lecteurs de Fitzgerald s'entendent pour dire que ce dégoût est la plupart du temps injustifié.
Il est vrai que certains des textes de "Garçonnes et philosophes" trahissent leur origine commerciale et donnent raison à l'auteur; "Le pirate de la côte", par exemple, est d'une platitude et d'une prévisibilité totales. "Dalyrimple tourne mal" n'est pas beaucoup mieux et "Quatre coups de poing" est alourdi par une morale un peu facile qui plaisait au lectorat du Post. En contrepartie, "Bernice se coiffe à la garçonne" et "Le Palais de glace" font partie des incontournables de Fitzgerald et figurent à juste titre dans presque toutes les collections de ses meilleurs nouvelles. Les autres textes sont sympathiques, agréables à lire, bénéficient d'une prose cynique, habile et comique et capturent bien l'ambiance des "Roaring Twenties". Un petit recueil sinon génial, du moins divertissant.
Les huit nouvelles de "Garçonnes et philosophes" parurent presque toutes individuellement dans le magazine Saturday Evening Post en 1920, l'année de la publication de ce premier recueil de F. Scott Fitzgerald, ainsi que de son premier roman "L'Envers du paradis". Il n'avait que 24 ans. Fitzgerald a toujours traité ses nouvelles avec mépris, comme des productions alimentaires destinées à une consommation rapide pour un vaste public, au contraire de ses romans qu'il considérait comme sa "véritable" production. La majorité des lecteurs de Fitzgerald s'entendent pour dire que ce dégoût est la plupart du temps injustifié.
Il est vrai que certains des textes de "Garçonnes et philosophes" trahissent leur origine commerciale et donnent raison à l'auteur; "Le pirate de la côte", par exemple, est d'une platitude et d'une prévisibilité totales. "Dalyrimple tourne mal" n'est pas beaucoup mieux et "Quatre coups de poing" est alourdi par une morale un peu facile qui plaisait au lectorat du Post. En contrepartie, "Bernice se coiffe à la garçonne" et "Le Palais de glace" font partie des incontournables de Fitzgerald et figurent à juste titre dans presque toutes les collections de ses meilleurs nouvelles. Les autres textes sont sympathiques, agréables à lire, bénéficient d'une prose cynique, habile et comique et capturent bien l'ambiance des "Roaring Twenties". Un petit recueil sinon génial, du moins divertissant.
emasvingerova's review against another edition
4.0
4,5*
Miluju Fitzgeralda! Některé povídky byly méně zábavné, jiné více, ale celkově je jeho styl psaní neuvěřitelně čtivý a hrozně mě baví.
Miluju Fitzgeralda! Některé povídky byly méně zábavné, jiné více, ale celkově je jeho styl psaní neuvěřitelně čtivý a hrozně mě baví.
readymadereader's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
benedettal's review against another edition
3.5
This was a good little collection. Again, must preface by saying that I don’t love short stories. But I love Fitzgerald so this was a good time, even though it took me over two years to finish it (I was reading a very daunting version that actually included a lot more than just flappers and philosophers though).
This collection is so hopeful. Especially after just having read Babylon Revisited, which is cynical and dreadful at times, this really clearly appeared as a product of its time, that being a brilliant time pregnant with great expectations, where the worse seemed to be in the past and the future offered everyone an opportunity to be rich and famous and happy. The stories very much centre on those themes, they are a bit farcical and always optimistic. It’s actually quite wonderful to behold, life was so good in 1920.
Not whimsical as tales of the jazz age, not dark like babylon revisited. Flappers and philosophers is just Fitzgerald showing off his talent as a storyteller and a keen observer of society, especially the fellow young people of his generation. Definitely a bit lost, but still mostly hopeful at this point.
This collection is so hopeful. Especially after just having read Babylon Revisited, which is cynical and dreadful at times, this really clearly appeared as a product of its time, that being a brilliant time pregnant with great expectations, where the worse seemed to be in the past and the future offered everyone an opportunity to be rich and famous and happy. The stories very much centre on those themes, they are a bit farcical and always optimistic. It’s actually quite wonderful to behold, life was so good in 1920.
Not whimsical as tales of the jazz age, not dark like babylon revisited. Flappers and philosophers is just Fitzgerald showing off his talent as a storyteller and a keen observer of society, especially the fellow young people of his generation. Definitely a bit lost, but still mostly hopeful at this point.
driaslibrary's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
morgathon's review against another edition
4.0
* "The Offshore Pirate": 10/10
* "The Ice Palace": 6/10
* "Head and Shoulders": 9/10
* "The Cut-Glass Bowl": 7/10
* "Bernice Bobs Her Hair": 10/10
* "Benediction": 9/10
* "Dalyrimple Goes Wrong": 4/10
* "The Four Fists": 9/10
Total Average: 8/10
Converted to five star system: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* "The Ice Palace": 6/10
* "Head and Shoulders": 9/10
* "The Cut-Glass Bowl": 7/10
* "Bernice Bobs Her Hair": 10/10
* "Benediction": 9/10
* "Dalyrimple Goes Wrong": 4/10
* "The Four Fists": 9/10
Total Average: 8/10
Converted to five star system: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
It now have been cleare to me that no matter how much I try to read F. Scott Fitzgerald I'm not a huge fan of his writing, it's not bad by any means just not my cup of tea. Don't get brain tingles from it and I'm not overly entertained by them.