I want to quote every word from this and hang it on NYC's invisible walls.
It's not even quotable, because you need every word and context. It's timeless in many ways, a little outdated in some.
But overall, so wonderful, and it "gets" you. Very good for the time I'm at in my life.

Well lads we did it we’ve found my favorite 20th century American novel

I am shocked that I enjoyed this so much, but it was a really good read (or listen, because this was my first audiobook). I have never been that impressed by the only other Fitzgerald work I've read--The Great Gatsby-- but I finished Z earlier this year and wanted to read at least one other. I don't think I'll read anymore of Fitzgerald after this, but this was a good experience.

When I started reading this book, I could not distinguish between reality and fiction. Our main character and Fitzgerald seem to be any different. The story and the characters' development were flat. I did not find the kind of narration I am used to enjoying with this author.

'I don't want to repeat my innocence. I want the pleasure of losing it again.'

3.5*, rounded up because, well, Fitzgerald's always a riot.

I guess I was kind of disappointed with this, but only because The Great Gatsby is an all-time favourite which I could - and do - re-read on a regular basis and find more brilliance within. This didn't quite move me as much; I feel like Fitzgerald honed his craft like an elite sniper and peaked in a special way with Gatsby and company, but he was still testing the waters with This Side of Paradise.

It was good, don't get me wrong, but I was spoiled by his later genius, and as a result couldn't help but compare. As ever, his whip-smart dialogue and wit was on display, and the first half of the book raced along, but it drifted away when one Amory Blaine left his childhood behind. H. L. Mencken said it best in The Smart Set, a literary magazine from the 1920s: '... his hero begins to elude him. What, after such a youth, is to be done with the fellow?'

I love Fitzgerald, the old sport, and probably always will, but increasingly I feel like I won't find anything as good as his Gatsby exploits. Which is okay. I didn't expect I would. Still, one can hope... and I do have one of his novels left in the pipeline: The Beautiful and the Damned. Whatever the judgement may be, I look forward to that.

There are certain books that hardly seem worth reviewing because everyone knows of them. This was the book that launched F. Scott Fitzgerald into popularity, making him and his wife, Zelda, into instant celebrities. I think at some point in high school I had a copy of this book that I started to read but never continued on with. I don't know why. I suppose I was less patient back then. Now, I found this extraordinary.

'This Side of Paradise' chronicles the early life of Amory Blaine as he grows up, an idle mama's boy, goes to prep school, goes to Princeton, falls in love, falls in love again, goes to war, moves to New York, falls in love again, loses all his money, falls in love again, and then finally finds himself.

A trite summary, yes, but this is one of those books that's not easy to describe. The sort of book that deals with real life. The comings and goings of family, friends, wealth, and love. It's exciting in some points, and much less so in others.

Despite all his many faults, I found the character of Amory to be very sympathetic. I would understand if everyone didn't feel this way, however. He's often lazy, wanting things to come easy to him, such as good grades and money, without working for them. He can be overly sentimental, falling in and out of love at the drop of a hat. And often acts without thinking of the consequences. But, he is an unfailingly good friend, capable of big thoughts, and a strong sense of what he considers right and wrong.

I can see how this would be the sort of book people could go crazy over. It's a little bit quiet, certainly quieter than Fitzgerald's more oft read novel ('The Great Gatsby', obviously), but it packs the sort of punch that leaves you thinking. And ultimately wanting more.