This Side of Paradise (Bookcassette(r) Edition)

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Summary: great read
Review: this is a brilliant and thoughful book, wonderfully written. it is a true "philosophy on life" that everyone should read.

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Summary: umm..it...is..art
Review: who cares if it want written with impeccable structure..so what if its immature....it IS art..i was under the impression that that is what literature is supposed to be...

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Summary: excellent 'young man in the world' book
Review: This book is somewhat immature in structure and language in comparison to later books, but it is also Fitzgerald's most honest and autobiographical work. It was done before his infatuation with society and success, and his alcoholism, diverted his intense ability to look at character and its manifestations in sharp relief-- into portrayals of more maudlin sentiment. Its a great 'young mans' book, an art form in itself, and always an important read of an author who achieved fame later in life.

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Summary: A Classic--justifiably!
Review: When I first picked up "This Side of Paradise" I was moved at once to put it back down. A casual thumbing through the pages, though, held out the promise of a surprisingly witty author. (After all, good readers should approach with extreme caution that pantheon of flatulent phonies extolled by schoolmarms!) But, the "Bored of Education," aside, I allowed my interest to master my natural prejudice and read a few more lines. "Hm. Actually intelligent," I thought. "Sardonic!" Indeed! With overtones of Mencken's Nietzschean irony and Oscar Wilde's talent for pithy phrase-making, the young Fitzgerald produced a remarkable novel, by anyone's standards. One of the ten best of the 20th century, in my opinion--right up there with "Lolita," "Steppenwolf," and "The Tin Drum"! . . . . Certainly, readers of limited vocabularies (or else readers with ample vocabularies, but no playfulness) should not attempt this book. Its free-flowing structure is reminiscent of that used by Melville in "Moby Dick," which itself drew heavy criticism by people who wanted craftsman when they had before them Artists! So, for anyone to see in such virtuosical creativity the "follies of Youth" just because it refuses to conform to the old, boring and hackneyed formula of a linear novel, betrays a lack of understanding on the part of the blathering critic. "This Side of Paradise" is a great book--not because we were told it is; but (by some accident, some mistake, some blessing!) it really and truly is!

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Summary: Unperfected Prose... A Perfect Story
Review: Reading some of these reviews has proven to be depressing - in the sense that everyone is focusing on the youthful 'flaws' of this novel. Perhaps it is not comparable in brilliance to Gatsby - but kids-Fitzgerald was a rarest of species-he was a literary genius and Gatsby was his masterpiece! 'This Side'...may have been his first attempt out but never the less a marvelous portrait of being young in the 20th Century. It's shameful that people constantly compare this story to Gatsby, his Sistine Chapel of novels. No, this is simply a terrific story - and it truly is. Amory Blaine is an exceedinlgy likeable protagonist(something all the 'young hip'writers of today seem to forget to have), his images are portraits and his prose are just beginning to blossom. Indeed, this a youthfully 'flawed' novel by a young genius - which still equals an excellent work of fiction. - Oh, and if one reads this book and does not like Amory Blaine, that someone either forgot what it was to be young - or simply doesn't want to be reminded. Ciao.

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Summary: childish tripe
Review: I wrote a review a few months ago, carefully thought out, given what the book deserves, and apparently you did not publish it. The book is childish tripe, chiefly attractive because, with its ivy league "insight," undemanding readers will think they're in voyeurs' heaven. They aren't. Forget it. Get some brains and go try to figure out any Hemingway short story instead. You will spend more time on a Hem short of 4 pages than this couple hundred, if you have any probity. Treat yourself. If you can't probe, have some ice cream instead. I'm buying. Or a nap.

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Summary: The most boring book I've ever read.
Review: I don't know what everyone sees in this book. I found it very boring and a pain to read, but I didn't quit on it, hoping it would get better. I got nothing out of reading it. I figured whatever literary value the book had 80 years ago had been outdated.

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Summary: argh
Review: just perusing the reviews and was frustrated to find out the possible ending. don't think they should have said that amory is rejected. I haven't finished the book yet but I'm pretty sure that is an important turning point.

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Summary: My Absolute Favorite
Review: As a HS sophomore I read this book for the first time, and I was enthralled with Amory's journey to find himself. The closing lines of the novel remain some of my favorite of anything I've read. Everytime I re-read this book, I am captured by the search for self and prompted to rethink my own self-concepts. Some criticize the book for its unrefined style, but the variance in techniques used is one of my favorite parts of the novel. I love Fitzgerald most for his way with words, and the use of both poetry and script along with prose truly showcase his brilliance. A wonderful read!

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Summary: F. Scott Comes Through
Review: "This Side of Paradise" was Fitzgerald's first novel, and it is quite immature. But nevertheless, it is extremely vital, and fascinating not jut as an example of his early work, but on its own... the compelling story of a young man trying to make his own way in an increasingly complex world. Rings as true today as it did with the Lost Generation 80 years ago.