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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
(3.25/5) Reminiscent of the jazz age which I'm familiar with solely due to the film "Midnight in Paris", this book was Fitzgerald's debut novel.
A combination of Catcher in the Rye with Dead Poets Society, the first half was wonderful. I loved the character of Amory, full of himself but somewhat endearing and entertaining but the novel meandered endlessly in the second half. I grew bored of the shallow monologues and unnecessary lyrical chapters. I was restlessly waiting for it get over soon. Nevertheless, F. Scott's exciting and exaggerated life has always felt very interesting to me and this book helped me gain a closer insight into the author's personality as it was loosely inspired by himself.
A combination of Catcher in the Rye with Dead Poets Society, the first half was wonderful. I loved the character of Amory, full of himself but somewhat endearing and entertaining but the novel meandered endlessly in the second half. I grew bored of the shallow monologues and unnecessary lyrical chapters. I was restlessly waiting for it get over soon. Nevertheless, F. Scott's exciting and exaggerated life has always felt very interesting to me and this book helped me gain a closer insight into the author's personality as it was loosely inspired by himself.
Unpolished and sporadic yet Fitzgerald's brilliance shines through.
His turn of phrase is second to none.
His turn of phrase is second to none.
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have realised that Fitzgerald and I are not compatible. Aside from Gatsby, which has plot, characters with depth and beautiful pieces of narrative, I find myself reading Fitzgerald and thinking, "couldn't this all be condensed?". Although not a large novel, This Side of Paradise was heavy and repetitive. The main character flits from person to person, scene to scene, either being a snob or sulking because things aren't going his way. I understand the social commentary Fitzgerald was subtly making, which is one of the reasons I keep returning to him, but his narratives drive me to boredom.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I found this book annoying and sexist for about the first 3/4 of the story, and found Amory and his love interests extremely annoying. However, it is all buildup to the magnificent character arc of Amory Blaine and his epiphany on life and himself. His change in circumstance throughout the story lead him to reach conclusions much less privileged and elitist than the ideas spoon-fed to him during his childhood. I really enjoyed the last chapter of the novel, and everything prior sets the background for it.
Fantastic prose. Oscillated between amusing, bittersweet, romantic, philosophical, and scathing: reflecting on a generation. Despite everything, I liked Amory as a character (hopeless romantic stumbling through life... a kind of sympathetic disaster human). I really enjoyed this book!
Oh and the poems interspersed and the witty chapter dividers were totally charming.
-Read in 2021-
Oh and the poems interspersed and the witty chapter dividers were totally charming.
-Read in 2021-
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-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
this is one of the very few books i've read where i liked the end more than the beginning -- amory's world never got less delightful, and his insights only became less frivolous.