Devastating.

This word alone can send shivers down one's spine. It implies destruction on a massive scale, leaving behind a trail of chaos and despair.

When something is described as devastating, it means that it has had a profound and often irreversible impact. It could be a natural disaster, like a hurricane or an earthquake, that levels entire cities and leaves thousands homeless.

Or it could be a personal tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one or the breakdown of a relationship, that shatters a person's world.

Perfect.

In contrast, the word perfect represents the opposite end of the spectrum. It suggests flawlessness, excellence, and the highest level of achievement.

When something is perfect, it is without defect or imperfection. It is a thing of beauty and wonder, something that inspires awe and admiration.

It could be a work of art, a scientific discovery, or a moment of pure joy and happiness.

While devastating and perfect may seem like polar opposites, they both have the power to evoke strong emotions and leave a lasting impression.

Really, this is practically five stars. I loved it. It's my favorite (American) story that I've read so far this summer.

I don't know what it's missing. Truly, it's such an immensely straightforward story that it doesn't actually have a whole lot happening below its surface. I guess that's it. I like the feeling of the unknown, just a little bit, when I read something. The feeling of, how did they get there?

Apparently, the story is truer to life than I realized when I finished it. Fitzgerald was in fact in a situation like this after his most alcoholic years, cleaning up and trying to get his sister-in-law to give him his daughter back.

I really like thinking about the work an author does to turn a true circumstance into solid fiction, which requires so many more things than nonfiction. To make art out of life, much more structure is needed to deliver its message, and the timing of the things that happen must be more controlled. It won't work unless you are an extremely skilled storyteller. It seems somehow more structurally impressive to do so in a short piece than in a novel. The plot and people here are so smooth and genuine at the same time.

Though it's written with a light touch, the emotions in this story are brutal. The irony of Charlie's powerlessness defines everything: he's earned back everything he could, but his respect may be gone forever. And he feels that he may deserve this, but who could live like that? Back in Paris, he faces the scene of his disgusting hedonist meltdown, and can barely stand to look. It's a part of him that won't ever leave him, even if he lets it die. If he asks for true forgiveness, what does he do for the rest of his life if the answer's no?

The crux of this story is the waiting and swinging of this yes-or-no answer on the custody question that essentially decides the whole remaining worth of his life. Thinking of it happening, he feels "The door of the world was open again." I almost fell over with that sentence. His daughter is young but getting older, and in six months, she would not be the same. The time in which they can have each other is being lost. They never truly will, if not now. Six months is so short to wait, but so much can be ruined.

I happened to read this on a day that left me a rather bitter disappointment: one that said to wait. Not no, not yes. Three months. Maybe six. I was glad that Charlie was there, and sorry too.

It truly felt as if it had an entirely distinct vibe compared to Gatsby. This is quite understandable considering it is set in the post-depression era. The story offers a really fascinating perspective on what it means to be American. It delves into the essence of the American Dream and shows how, despite all the hardships and challenges that came with the post-depression period, slivers of that dream managed to survive. It makes one think about the resilience and the enduring nature of the American Dream, even in the face of adversity. It's a captivating exploration that invites readers to reflect on the significance of being American and the power of hope and aspiration that still lingers within the American psyche.

Há muito de confessional neste conto de 1931. Charlie Walles, um americano que residia em Praga, retornava a Paris para buscar a filha que ficou a cargo dos tios após perder a mãe. Ele apreciava personagens masculinas e era sensível aos temas abordados: a decadência, o arrependimento, o alcolismo, a busca pela redenção e o preço que se paga pela excentricidade. Em Scott Fitzgerald, até mesmo um diamante do tamanho do Ritz podia ser reduzido a pó.

Charlie Walles revisita uma Paris que representa as ruínas do seu passado extravagante e as consequências das suas ações. O bar do Hotel Ritz voltara a pertencer à França e não era mais o bar americano onde antes, antes da queda da bolsa de Nova Iorque, se sentia o dono. Quando rodava pela Rive Gauche e sentia seu súbito provincianismo, pensava: "Estraguei esta cidade para mim. Eu não percebia, mas os dias foram correndo, um atrás do outro, dois anos se passaram e tudo acabou, inclusive eu."

Foi bom enquanto durou; os americanos eram uma espécie de realeza com uma aura de beleza e magia. "Acabou tão rápido quanto começou." Charlie Walles é um alcoólico, mas já está sóbrio. Será que os seus cunhados lhe entregarão a guarda da filha? "Um dia ele voltaria; não podiam obrigá-lo a pagar para sempre. Queria sua filha e nada mais interessava. Já não era jovem, capaz de sustentar-se sozinho com belos sonhos e pensamentos. Tinha absoluta certeza de que Helen [a mãe da filha] não gostaria de vê-lo só." Fitzgerald retratava as suas personagens com realismo e profundidade dentro de um estilo de vida que também foi o seu, mas confere-lhes uma certa imunidade, sem piedade mas também sem castigo.

This was my first encounter with Fitzgerald's writing, and it was bound to happen eventually. How wonderful it was that I was given this small collection a few months ago.

Bernice Bobs Her Hair
I truly adored the characters in this story. Bernice and her growth in such a short span were truly endearing. The conclusion had a scandalous feel, something that the Jazz Age partygoers would have loved to gossip about.

The Ice Palace
A tale of home and identity. I suspect there are some hidden meanings about the North and South that were obvious to the contemporary readers. Nevertheless, I have always loved how the weather can serve as a foil for a character's emotional state.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This story was completely different from what I had expected. It offered an interesting perspective on aging and perception. While many find the ending sad, I felt that if our development ran backwards, it might all be easier.

Winter Dreams
Oof. This one was a bit too harsh for my taste. A man spends his entire life chasing after one woman, idealizing a life with her to the point of even cheating on his wife. It didn't leave a lasting impression on me as the message was rather simple and not something I wanted to internalize.

The Baby Party
This was quite humorous and not at all like Fitzgerald's other works. I'm glad the editors included this short story. It took me a few pages to understand the joke, but once I did, the rest of the story had me chuckling.

The Last of the Belles
This story didn't make a significant impact on me, although I understand it's about yearning and how nostalgia can exist even for the worst of places. It was cute to see Sally Carrol Happer from "The Ice Palace" make a cameo. That alone makes the story worth including in the collection.

Babylon Revisited
The obvious choice to end any of Fitzgerald's short story collections. The Jazz Age is over, and the protagonist has to come to terms with the mistakes of his past. The quiet melancholy really hits you after the previous stories painted such a vivid picture of that era.

Is it bad that it’s not as melancholy as I had hoped?

Charlie Whales, who had spent two years in Paris during the 1920s, revisits the city in 1930 after returning from the United States following the stock market crash. His time in Paris in the late 1920s was marked by lavish and overspending, along with enjoying pleasurable activities with friends at various Parisian venues.

He had run up a bill of thirty thousand francs. On his return, he casually visits the casino where Josephine Baker is performing "her chocolate arabesque," and strolls up Montmartre, Rue Pigalle, and Place Blanche.

He also stops by Bricktops, another venue with an orchestra and dancing girls, as well as cafes and a brasserie. There are people in evening dress, "cocottes," and negroes around. He gives groceries and money to a particular woman.

Charles, who is currently based in Prague, is thirty-five years old, Irish, and handsome, with a "deep wrinkle between his eyes." He is mainly back in Paris to pick up his nine-year-old daughter, Honoria, who lives with his sister-in-law, Marion, and her husband, Lincoln Peters, in the suburban Rue Palatine on the left bank of the Seine. They also have two children of their own, Richard and Elsie.

Charlie's wife, Helen, had died under suspicious circumstances (Ted Wilder), and Marion is his daughter's legal guardian. During his visit to one of his old haunts, he encounters former friends, Lorraine Quarrles and Duncan Schaeffer. Duncan is a friend from his college days.

The meeting disrupts his plans for his daughter, leaving him in a state of uncertainty. The story also mentions D. H. Lawrence's portrayal of child and parent relationships.

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— review to come —

Love and loss are two powerful emotions that can shape our lives in profound ways. This short story delves into the various manifestations of these emotions and explores how we deal with their consequences during transitional phases.

As the story unfolds, we witness the protagonist's journey through love and heartbreak. We see how they struggle to come to terms with the loss, how it affects their conscious, and how they eventually find the strength to move forward with life.

The story is a beautiful exploration of the human experience, filled with moments of joy, sadness, and everything in between. It is a reminder that love and loss are an inevitable part of life, but that we have the power to overcome them and find happiness once again.

So, if you're looking for an enjoyable read on a Sunday afternoon, this short story is sure to captivate your heart and leave you with a sense of hope and inspiration.

How can you not love Fitzgerald?

The sheer irony that pervades his works, the meticulously sewn characters who seem to leap off the page, and the fantastic magical writing that weaves a spell around the reader, all leave me yearning for more every single time.

Babylon Revisited has to be one of my absolute favourite short stories of all time. It delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of regret, redemption, and the consequences of past actions.

The Cut Glass is a close second. It too showcases Fitzgerald's remarkable talent for creating vivid and engaging stories that stay with you long after you've finished reading.

"He thought rather angrily that this was just money--he had given so many people money...." This line perfectly captures the complex emotions and attitudes of the characters in Fitzgerald's works, adding yet another layer of depth to his already rich and nuanced storytelling.

Fitzgerald's writing is truly a gift, and I will continue to be captivated by his words for years to come.

I read this book in just one night and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

It's been great to read some more of Fitzgerald (Fitzy) after having loved The Great Gatsby so much.

What a tremendous writer he was. His ability to create vivid characters and immersive worlds is truly remarkable.

This particular work has made me even more excited to read Tender is the Night. I can't wait to see what other literary treasures Fitzgerald has in store for me.

I'm sure it will be just as captivating and thought-provoking as this one. Fitzgerald's writing style is so unique and engaging that it keeps me hooked from the very first page.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves great literature and wants to experience the genius of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Babylon Revisited: 4.5 stars

The Lost Decade: 3.5 stars

The Cut-Glass Bowl: 3.5 stars


“Babylon Revisited” is clearly the standout here. I was required to read it for a creative writing class and I absolutely adored it. I then decided to read the other two stories as well. They were good, but in my opinion, not as engaging or as captivating as “Babylon Revisited”. I could write volumes about all the things I loved about “Babylon Revisited”, but I won't. Just read it for yourself! It is a prime example of twentieth-century American storytelling at its best, exploring themes of sobriety and redemption.

CW: It should be noted that there is a use of a racial slur in “The Cut-Glass Bowl”. This caught me off guard and is, of course, extremely harmful. I believe it was in reference to Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, which has an alternate title that is both vulgar and racist. This is an important point to make, as such language has no place in literature or in our society.