book review 1

F Scott Fitzgerald - Collection of short stories


     I borrowed this book recognizing the author's name, but not remembering the reason it stands out so clearly in my head is because I HATED Great Gatsby. But, running out of options, I decided it was better than nothing.
     Begrudgingly, I read the prefaces that explained why each story was chosen and what influenced Scotty at the time. This, at least, intrigued me. With Fitzgerald's history and world view laid out before me, I could approach his work with a different perspective than I did in 11th grade. Not that this retrospectively muted my loathing of Gatsby...
     F Scott's verbal portrait of his peers and zeitgeist is almost Picassan. Unlike vague and unrecognizable abstract art, there is a clear image underneath the exaggerated figures. Fitzgerald's focus of vanity, futility of wealth, and frustrations of the middle class highlight the essence of the time in a manner truer than most history texts can portray. And, in small doses, are palatable. Gatsby is like eating Cassava root - dense with hints of flavor and requires far too much cutting into to be edible. Also, it sucks all the liquid out of your mouth and leaves you craving something refreshing.
     The short stories are compact enough that you can absorb Scott's wit and be amused at his cynicism without being weighed down by it. You can see the truth under the symbolism without too much mastication, but the longer you chew on it, the more juice is released - like a good piece of gum.
    
     If you liked Gatsby, I recommend exploring Fitzgerald’s earlier and later works that and earned him the title of "America's greatest short story writer". And read the history - it adds to the symbolism without prejudicing you too much.

     If you hated Gatsby, join me in a bonfire upon returning to the states. In the meantime, I encourage you to try these smaller pieces and see if they resonate a little better.
(if you're a PCV, honestly, what else are you going to do with your time?)


The Short Stories of F Scott Fitzgerald