The first Fitzgerald book I have read since The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise proved to be more lyrical and include even more shrouded themes centering on the struggles of the 1920's in the United States. I enjoyed the style of writing throughout, with poems intermixed that illuminate Amory's desires and thoughts and often provide the reader a glimpse of the themes. Furthermore, I appreciated the lesson that Amory exemplifies throughout the book: the more we focus on our own steps to success, the more we tend to interfere with ourselves by our own indecision. Although it was not an easy read, I appreciated the complexity of the characters and mood throughout the book. The book is a four star read since it makes the reader think about the deeper themes and has a plot line that, although slow at times, conveys a message worth hearing.
Trigger warnings that I noticed: mention of suicide, death through war and drunk driving, and frequent prejudiced (both racist and sexist) thinking of numerous characters throughout the book.