Nobonita Chowdhury
In case you’re not aware, Fitzgerald is the one who wrote The Great Gatsby, eons before Leonardo Dicaprio turned it into a soap opera. If you just want to read a Fitzgerald novel and get things over with, then this article is not for you. However, if you’d like to have a deeper understanding of his writing as well as the motives behind it, then this guide might be your life saver. Or if you just need some quick advice with a relevant English project. Without further ado, here is my guide to making the most out of your Fitzgerald reading experience.
DO NOT START WITH THE GREAT GATSBY. Words cannot describe how significant this is. Instead, I would suggest starting off with his first novel, This Side of Paradise. Fitzgerald’s writing becomes more complex as he starts publishing more novels. Therefore anyone who wants to truly understand his writing should try reading the novels in ascending order of publication date. Furthermore, as This Side of Paradise was Fitzgerald’s debut novel, there are visible imperfections in his writing. But the flaws make the novel a more relatable read in comparison to his other works.
LEAVE TENDER IS THE NIGHT FOR LAST. Sometimes, the reviews are worth paying attention to. To this date, Tender is the Night has received a lot of negative criticism, and not without reason. Don’t get me wrong: the book does uphold the “Fitzgerald” standard. It’s just that it isn’t a great book either. The novel doesn’t give the feeling of being complete in itself. However, I wouldn’t advise people to completely avoid the novel either. Rather, pick it up once you’re satisfied with the other works you’ve read.
DO READ SOME OF HIS SHORT STORIES. My favorite is Winter Dreams, because halfway through it almost feels as if you’re reading poetry. The story has a lyrical sense to it, without actually being lyrical. I always felt that Winter Dreams was meant for artists and painters, rather than actual readers.
Disclaimer: This is just my personal opinion. It’s fine if you feel that this guide isn’t for you. After all, each individual comprehends things differently. But this is the route I would’ve chosen for myself, had I taken another chance at getting to know Fitzgerald.