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ryanlindbergo's review against another edition
4.0
This was, definitely something.
You can definitely tell that this was F. Scott Fitzgerald's first novel as there's so much experimentation going on with the structure. Much of the first section of the book is written as brief vignettes, we get sections that are made up of poetry, letters written between characters, and a rather excellent section written as a stage play. I think that there are some thematic elements to this as the novel is written about the main character Amory Blaine growing up. I considered my own half-forgotten vignettes of childhood as I read them.
However, a lot of it comes off very choppy. There's one section that veers wildly into an excellent ghost story, but it resolves itself too quickly. When things do feel like they're running on all cylinders, it is over in an instant.
There's a rather funny "history rhymes" pattern that's developed into the novel. Amory has multiple instances of cursing the Victorians for the misfortunes heaped upon the Lost Generation (the mismanagement of his family's fortune, the trauma of World War I, the social expectations enacted by a more Puritan time). Was very interesting to compare the culpability that Baby Boomers have on the current socio-economic maladies of our present time.
I did find though, while very fitting to the themes of a disillusioned Lost Generation, that the novel lacks a strong plot throughline. Often we meander into territory that just didn't build up to much. You could chalk this up to being a thematic choice (as the disillusioned loss of youth of a generation wanders, so is the reader brought along for the ride). But there are better ways that this is done (i.e. the way that Fitzgerald does in The Great Gatsby) and this novel does leave you wanting a little more of a crystalized plot.
Good (admittedly very good in particular bursts), but a shadow of what would come along with Gatsby.
You can definitely tell that this was F. Scott Fitzgerald's first novel as there's so much experimentation going on with the structure. Much of the first section of the book is written as brief vignettes, we get sections that are made up of poetry, letters written between characters, and a rather excellent section written as a stage play. I think that there are some thematic elements to this as the novel is written about the main character Amory Blaine growing up. I considered my own half-forgotten vignettes of childhood as I read them.
However, a lot of it comes off very choppy. There's one section that veers wildly into an excellent ghost story, but it resolves itself too quickly. When things do feel like they're running on all cylinders, it is over in an instant.
There's a rather funny "history rhymes" pattern that's developed into the novel. Amory has multiple instances of cursing the Victorians for the misfortunes heaped upon the Lost Generation (the mismanagement of his family's fortune, the trauma of World War I, the social expectations enacted by a more Puritan time). Was very interesting to compare the culpability that Baby Boomers have on the current socio-economic maladies of our present time.
I did find though, while very fitting to the themes of a disillusioned Lost Generation, that the novel lacks a strong plot throughline. Often we meander into territory that just didn't build up to much. You could chalk this up to being a thematic choice (as the disillusioned loss of youth of a generation wanders, so is the reader brought along for the ride). But there are better ways that this is done (i.e. the way that Fitzgerald does in The Great Gatsby) and this novel does leave you wanting a little more of a crystalized plot.
Good (admittedly very good in particular bursts), but a shadow of what would come along with Gatsby.
cokezoo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“I think of Princeton as being lazy and good-looking and aristocratic—you know, like a spring day.”
This Side of Paradise felt like mandatory reading as a freshman at Princeton. But while I enjoyed reading about my school through the eyes of Amory, I could not overlook its pretentiousness. To me, it was very clear that this was a debut novel given the mix of structure and form. I often found myself skipping over the poetry. Yet, it is something I can also see myself returning to during my time at Princeton. Perhaps, once my four years here are done, I will come to appreciate and relate to Amory.
This Side of Paradise felt like mandatory reading as a freshman at Princeton. But while I enjoyed reading about my school through the eyes of Amory, I could not overlook its pretentiousness. To me, it was very clear that this was a debut novel given the mix of structure and form. I often found myself skipping over the poetry. Yet, it is something I can also see myself returning to during my time at Princeton. Perhaps, once my four years here are done, I will come to appreciate and relate to Amory.
daimencianci's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
capote65's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This Side of Paradise feels like a debut in every sense of the word. It's often very experimental and free in a way that can only be achieved without any expectations to meet but, as a result, not all of that experimentation lands. There were some parts that I thought were so beautifully written I made notes so I could buy myself a copy and annotate them, and there were other parts that were somewhat impenetrable. It has compelling characters but a plot that never really figures itself out. Overall, definitely worth the read.
greenhej's review against another edition
3.0
While worth reading, I didn't love this book. Some passages were witty but, overall, I found the book shallow and affected. Maybe I just didn't "get it"?
mjtoad's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
catmisae's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
rosietakesonliterature's review against another edition
4.0
Fitzgerald does an alarmingly good job at portraying the coming of age of a student at an elite institution. It is also alarming how true most things stayed over the years in the said institutions. Found it especially interesting how he ends up a lonely communist; says a lot of things about the society values at the time. This is a novel you have to read at a certain time in your life—otherwise, it will have no meaning to you. I tried to read it in high school and I could not get through the first two chapters, for I was so bored. In college, I swallowed it whole in two days. A portrait of hopes, academics, changes of views, failed romances, this captures the college youth. I could not think of a better time and place for it.
Having been a fan of Gatsby for as long as I can remember, I was a particular fan of the budding "symbolic imagery" that would become Fitzgerald's signature in the later novels (think the green light, there are a lot of very descriptive symbols in general that he enjoys using).
Having been a fan of Gatsby for as long as I can remember, I was a particular fan of the budding "symbolic imagery" that would become Fitzgerald's signature in the later novels (think the green light, there are a lot of very descriptive symbols in general that he enjoys using).
annabelms's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i kinda hate the whole autofiction/bildungsroman/male writers lamenting the trials and tribulations of being a genius in the modern world thing but this was pretty funny