This Side of Paradise

To say F. Scott Fitzgerald’s’  “This Side of Paradise” is an old book would be an understatement. Fortunately age had no bearing in my decision to read it. “Paradise” is Fitzgerald’s first novel, most everyone is aware of “The Great Gatsby” Fitzgerald most famous writting, because we all read it in high school. At least I did.

“Paradise” is a coming of age story, about a young man in the so called Jazz Age (1910-1920’s). There are many obvious reasons to like the story. Like most of us in our mid- twenties or early thirties, the protagonist has many thoughts of grandeur, but no real ideas on how to execute them. He moves from place to place and woman to woman, always feeling like this may finally be the place for him.

 This is a well written novel with elegant dialogue and believable descriptions of the world. Some of the characters come off as pathetic while others are self-absorbed, but you always just believe that’s the way life and people were. It is true that most of the people alive when this story was wrote are now consequently dead, but that doesn’t take away from its meaning or point. While I don’t agree with all conclusions the protagonist comes up with, I can see the thought process. All in all it was a good book worth reading and I would give it four out of five stars.

Tagged as: Books, fitgerald, paradise