Yesterday, I finished the first book in my reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels: his debut "This Side of Paradise" (1920). Strictly speaking, it's my second Fitzgerald novel; after all, I've read "The Great Gatsby" many times. Over time, I've gone from enjoying "Gatsby" without admiring it much to being quite fascinated by its style, richness, and intensity. In contrast, "This Side of Paradise" seems like it describes itself when Amory Blaine, the protagonist, thinks of his life as "a succession of quick, unrelated scenes". Even if "This Side of Paradise" was a bestseller when it was published, I doubt that a second reading would help make it seem more coherent. (Andrew Shields, #111Words, 7 November 2026)