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3.0 

This Side of Paradise

By F. Scott Fitzgerald
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description

This Side of Paradise chronicles the coming of age of Amory Blaine, born to a wealthy midwestern family. It begins with Amory as a spoiled youth, doted on by his eccentric mother Beatrice. It follows him as he attends preparatory school and Princeton, and then briefly attempts but quickly abandons at a career in advertising. His service in World War I is mentioned but mostly glossed over. Covered in much more detail are his various romances: youthful dalliances, a correspondence-based relationship that ends as soon as the couple spends time together in person, a deep love with the debutante sister of one of his close friends, and an intense summer fling.

The book shows Amory’s attempts to define himself as a person and find his place in a world rapidly changing through World War, the “Jazz Age,” and Prohibition. It provides the reader with a good picture of what life was like for a privileged young man of the era.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel, This Side of Paradise was published in 1920 when he was 23 years old, and was widely praised by critics. The semi-autobiographical work launched his career as one of America’s most well-known writers. As a direct result of the publishing of the novel, Zelda Sayre (the inspiration for the character of the debutante Rosalind Connage) agreed to marry Fitzgerald. The couple became an icon of the excesses of the Jazz Age.

1382 Reviews

3.0
“A beautiful introspection... F Scott Fitzgerald's debut novel is nothing short of a masterpiece, outlining his literary craftsmanship and his ability to entice readers with his romantic prose. I wept for Amory as much as his heart broke for himself...”
Thinking Face“This is Fitzgerald’s debut novel and it was definitely a risk taker and I can see why this made him explode with fame. This book follows Amory, an arrogant guy and his unsuccessful attempts at love and simply growing up in a privileged lifestyle until it goes down hill. It is similar to Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, but I find it to be more clearer and enjoyable. It is an unconventional style that can make it a bit confusing to follow but you get used to it as the book goes on. I would recommend reading The Great Gatsby first since it is more simpler and the format isn’t complex before giving this book a shot. If you’re not used to Fitzgerald’s style of writing, you may not like this so much. I enjoyed it and can relate to Amory’s journey through college and beyond, especially after researching that this is a semi-autobiography. Yes, he is a frustrating protagonist and the women he meets are horrible but they are reflections of himself. I guess you can say that it’s his karma. And this is how he learns his lesson the harsh way. And he does have a recent redemption at the very end. This comes incredibly slow though but his transformation is well written and developed - we can’t always have a super fast epiphany. Money isn’t always everything and during this time, even Fitzgerald became resentful and disillusioned by it given how it categorized and mistreated him. A few characters, especially Tracy could’ve had some more screen time. I felt that he was an after thought. Overall, it is an enjoyable read and if you’re a fan of the Great Gatsby or Fitzgerald’s writing in general, I’d recommend this!”

About F. Scott Fitzgerald

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American novelist, essayist, short story writer and screenwriter. He was best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age—a term he popularized. During his lifetime, he published four novels, four story collections, and 164 short stories. Although he achieved temporary popular success and fortune in the 1920s, Fitzgerald received critical acclaim only after his death and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.

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