Questions About This Side of Paradise

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about This Side of Paradise, please sign up.

Answered Questions (8)

Is the writing style of this novel hard to follow along with?

Megan The writing style is fine, it's the early 20th century slang that I had a hard time with.…moreThe writing style is fine, it's the early 20th century slang that I had a hard time with.(less)

flag

When the book discusses males and females sharing a kiss, and how big a deal it is, does the author literally mean kiss, or is the kiss a euphemism for a sexual relationship that could not be discussed due to standards of the time?

Maegan White I took it to mean actually kissing. As the war went on, kissing became less haphazard and more intentional to "aid" the soldiers through. After the wa…moreI took it to mean actually kissing. As the war went on, kissing became less haphazard and more intentional to "aid" the soldiers through. After the war, a shift in society was noted that girls were no longer reprimanded for kissing (at least as not as much as before). Hence, the flapper population that Fitzgerald is deemed to have "created" with this novel.

He mentions moments between Amory and Rosalind where "you could have had all of me had you just asked it". So, kissing yes, petting yes, sex no...(less)

flag

About Amory, it's stated: "It was always the becoming he dreamed of, never the being" - How would you interpret or explain that? Is it about ambition for the future, not being content with life as it is?

Misato o I would interpret this as Amory being a romantic; he likes the idea of something, more than the actual thing. He writes increasingly long poems to mai…moreI would interpret this as Amory being a romantic; he likes the idea of something, more than the actual thing. He writes increasingly long poems to mail to Isabelle, but doesn't actually end up liking her in person. He only likes Eleanor before he actually gets to know her. etc. He likes the idea of being a creative when he's in college, but he hates the work when he enters the workforce. (less)

flag

This novel contains the first known uses of two words. What were they?