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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
"Amory wondered how people could fail to notice that he was a boy marked for glory, and when faces of the throng turned toward him and ambiguous eyes stared into his, he assumed the most romantic of expressions and walked on the air cushions that lie on the asphalts of fourteen. ... It was always the becoming he dreamed of, never the being."
Hard to get into the style but once I had got over that I found it quite a powerful book.
I first read this in high school & I tremendously enjoyed it more now.
I choose to read again as I continue reading all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works.
I choose to read again as I continue reading all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works.
I almost gave This Side of Paradise five stars but I reserve that final decision for the next time I read this book. That alone is a testament to how I feel about my 2nd Fitzgerald book - I will read this again.
TSOP is the story of Amory Blaine, a self-centered boy brought up in a wealthy family. The entirety of the book is centered around Amory's perpetual search of self and his ultimate discovery. His life experience was a balance of women, social graces or convention, and money. In the end, Amory loses everything and becomes the one thing he hates: a poor person. The book epitomizes the adage that one has to lose everything before they understand how much they truly had. In Amory's case, it is unclear what direction he ultimately takes but for me, the greatest gift that Fitzgerald gives was the process of the discovery. Several times throughout the book Amory defines sentiment and romance in terms not of absolute things, but of their place in a personage. It's not the girl, but how the girl came to be. But, again, Amory loses all his "possessions" and his ideals are dashed to pieces leaving only his selfish identity. A ironical real view of life: beautiful romantic ideals somehow warped around an unyielding reality.
As Fitzgerald's first novel, he seems to have tried many literary devices which made the process of reading this story quite a bit of fun. In addition, the book is funny in many different parts and ways. Although never quite light on subject, it can read airy and free just from Amory's personality. I am surprised I liked it so much, but I did, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read from a great American novelist.
As Fitzgerald's first novel, he seems to have tried many literary devices which made the process of reading this story quite a bit of fun. In addition, the book is funny in many different parts and ways. Although never quite light on subject, it can read airy and free just from Amory's personality. I am surprised I liked it so much, but I did, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read from a great American novelist.
challenging
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An underrated gem. Definitely my favorite by F.S.F. because it touches on the artistic and profound just lightly enough to be seen as genuine, not pretentious.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes