Is it strange that I derived more pleasure from reading this short story than from reading The Great Gatsby?

It might seem odd to some, as The Great Gatsby is widely regarded as a classic and a masterpiece of American literature. However, everyone has their own unique tastes and preferences when it comes to reading.

The short story in question may have had something that particularly appealed to me, perhaps a relatable character, a captivating plot, or a unique writing style. It could have touched on emotions or themes that resonated with me on a deeper level.

On the other hand, The Great Gatsby, while undoubtedly a great work, may not have connected with me in the same way. Maybe I didn't find the characters as engaging, or the story didn't grip me as tightly.

In the end, it doesn't matter which work I enjoyed more. What matters is that I had the opportunity to read and appreciate both, and that each one offered me something different in terms of literary experience and enjoyment.

So, to be completely frank, I truly don't have a fondness for Fitzgerald's other works. In fact, I'm not overly keen on him as a person either. However, this particular piece managed to touch me deeply.

It is exquisitely well-written, with a vulnerability that is palpable. As I read it, I could clearly see the shining honesty shining through every word. I felt an overwhelming range of emotions; I still do. This story has left an indelible mark on me and is going to stay with me for a considerable time.

Nevertheless, it did lose a star in my eyes for being slightly pretentious. There were moments when it seemed to be trying too hard to be profound, which detracted a little from the overall impact. But despite this minor flaw, it is still a remarkable piece of writing that I will remember for a long time to come.

Charles Wales, an American businessman, led an extravagant life in Paris during the prosperous late 1920s. He lived off the fortune he made in the stock market. However, everything changed with the crash of 1929. He lost his money, his wife passed away, and he had to spend time in treatment for alcoholism. For the past few years, his daughter had been cared for by his wife's sister, Marion, and her husband.

Now, Charles has returned to Paris, the Babylon of his past. His aim is to prove that he is a new man and regain custody of his daughter. There is a deep and mutual love between them. The story delves into his questionable values in the 1920s, his sense of guilt, and his firm determination to become a responsible man who can resist the allure of alcohol. As he revisits the places that haunt his past, doors open and close. He hopes that one of those doors will open to present him with the opportunity to have his daughter back in his life. But the question remains: how long will he have to pay for his past mistakes?

\\"Babylon Revisited\\" is a poignant short story that contains semi-autobiographical elements. It offers a profound exploration of a man's journey towards redemption and the complex emotions that come with it.

\\"He would come back some day; they couldn't make him pay forever.\\" This line encapsulates Charles' hope and his belief that he can overcome his past and start anew.

Meh. It was just okay, nothing really outstanding or remarkable. It didn't have that certain something that would make it worthy of a detailed review. At least for the moment. Maybe upon further reflection or a second reading, there could be more to discover. But as it stands now, it's a bit of a meh experience.

PERSONAL NOTE: [1931] [112p] [Fiction] [Not Recommendable]. This work was published in 1931 and consists of 112 pages. It falls into the category of fiction. However, based on the initial impression, it is not something that I would recommend. There are likely other works out there that offer a more engaging and worthwhile reading experience.

Meh. Estuvo bien, pero no tenía nada que lo hiciera destacar. No valía la pena reseñarlo en detalle. Al menos por ahora. Quizás con más reflexión o una segunda lectura, se pudiera descubrir más. Pero en este momento, es una experiencia un poco meh.

NOTA PERSONAL: [1931] [112p] [Ficción] [No Recomendable]. Esta obra fue publicada en 1931 y consta de 112 páginas. Pertenece a la categoría de ficción. Sin embargo, basado en la impresión inicial, no es algo que yo recomendaría. Probablemente hay otras obras por ahí que ofrecen una experiencia de lectura más atractiva y valiosa.

This is how you do a short story. It is only about 30 pages long, but it has an immense and rich depth of character(s) and context. The story is actually so good that I have to mark it down to 4.5 stars because I wanted it to be longer. However, I am rounding it back up to 5 stars because, hey, that's not really a bad thing for a short story to make you feel.

The brevity of the story is one of its greatest strengths. It manages to pack in so much detail and emotion in such a short space, leaving the reader with a powerful and lasting impression. The characters are well-developed and complex, and the context in which they exist is vivid and engaging.

Despite its short length, the story manages to explore deep themes and ideas, making it a thought-provoking and rewarding read. It is a testament to the skill of the author that they are able to create such a rich and satisfying story in such a short amount of time. Overall, I highly recommend this short story to anyone looking for a quick and engaging read that will leave them with a lot to think about.

This was very mid.

I truly despise a short story that lacks a clear point. It's like reading something that just meanders aimlessly without any real purpose.

Moreover, a story without a proper plot is equally frustrating. There's no build-up, no climax, and no resolution. It's as if the author just gave up halfway through.

And don't even get me started on well-rounded characters. In this short story, the characters felt flat and one-dimensional. They had no depth, no personality, and no real motivation.

Woof. It was a real disappointment and a waste of my time. I hope to read better short stories in the future that have a clear point, an engaging plot, and well-developed characters.

A cast of thoroughly disagreeable characters inhabit the first two stories. These characters are so unlikable that it becomes a struggle to engage with the narrative.

The third story, on the other hand, is so slight as to be instantly forgettable. It lacks depth and substance, leaving the reader with no real impression.

Thankfully, only the second story feels fully developed. Here, the characters come to life and the plot unfolds in a more engaging way.

However, it must be noted that the men in these stories seem mostly to be selfish drunkards. Fitzgerald appears content to present the women as 2D stereotypes, which is rather disappointing.

Overall, this collection of stories is a chore to read. The unlikable characters and lack of depth make it a less than enjoyable experience.

Beautifully intense, this phrase holds a certain allure that can captivate our senses.

When we think of something as beautifully intense, it implies a combination of aesthetic appeal and a powerful emotional or sensory impact.

It could describe a breathtaking sunset, with its vivid colors and the way it seems to set the sky on fire, evoking a sense of awe and wonder.

Or perhaps it's a passionate performance on stage, where the artist pours their heart and soul into every note or movement, leaving the audience spellbound.

Beautifully intense can also refer to a deep and meaningful relationship, filled with love, passion, and a connection that is both profound and overwhelming.

In essence, beautifully intense is a quality that makes us stop and take notice, that leaves a lasting impression on our hearts and minds.

It is a reminder of the power of beauty and the intensity of human experience.

Three Fitzgerald short stories, part of the Penguin (mini) Modern Classics series.

Book Review: Babylon Revisited brings together three stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940) from different stages of his career. The earliest, \\"The Cut-Glass Bowl,\\" was in his first short story collection, Flappers and Philosophers (1920). Then comes the title story, included in Taps at Reveille (1935), his last collection published during his lifetime. The third, \\"The Lost Decade,\\" is a rarely collected experimental sketch from December 1939, a year before his death.

Fitzgerald's common themes of loss, disappointment, regret, and punishment are present in all three works. There's a sense of paradise lost, though for him, paradise was often short-lived and maybe not even valued at the time. For his female characters, the consequences were even more severe. In \\"The Cut Glass Bowl,\\" a former lover gives a woman a gift that symbolizes her. By the end, she faces the passage of time, the end of beauty, and unfulfilled desires.

\\"Babylon Revisited,\\" the best here, looks back at the glorious days of ex-pat Americans in Paris after the crash, through the lens of responsibility, cost, and retribution. Catholic guilt is palpable. It was filmed in 1954 as The Last Time I Saw Paris, a different but entertaining melodrama. \\"The Lost Decade,\\" just a few pages long, also looks back at a man's punishing past with a stronger resolve.

As with Penguin's mini Modern Classics, this selection offers a good overview of Fitzgerald's short stories, serving as both an enjoyable introduction and a test for the individual reader. [4★]

A clean and sad story is one that touches the heart in a simple yet profound way. It is a narrative that is well-structured and concise, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. The beauty of such a story lies in its ability to convey complex emotions with just a few words. It doesn't need excessive details or flowery language to make an impact. Instead, it relies on the power of the story itself to draw the reader in and make them feel. Whether it's a tale of lost love, a tragic event, or a moment of realization, a clean and sad story has the ability to make us reflect on our own lives and the emotions that we experience. It is a reminder that sometimes, the simplest things can have the greatest impact.

This short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the Short Story Club reads.

Written in 1935, this classic short story is set in Paris a few years after the stock market crash of 1929. Just like many others, Charles Wales lost everything in the stock market crash and, unfortunately, also lost his wife who passed away around the same time. His young daughter was then sent to Paris to live with his wife's sister and brother-in-law.

The story unfolds over a few days when Charles returns to Paris with the intention of regaining custody of his daughter and attempting to forge a new life for himself.

However, Marion, his sister-in-law, resurrects all her bitter feelings and anger towards Charles due to his poor behavior in earlier years. She even blames him for her sister's death. Charles tries to convince her that he has changed and that his daughter, as his family, is his top priority. His main objective is to seek forgiveness and a second chance.

This story is truly quite sad as it showcases the weaknesses and conflicts within a family. While his daughter is overjoyed to see him and desires to go with him, she exhibits a maturity that belies her young age.

Money, the past, and negative emotions all pose obstacles to Charles' endeavors. And when his "old ways" resurface, his fate is not sealed but rather significantly delayed.

The writing is lucid and to the point, with detailed portrayals of the excesses of the era as well as the sacrifices made. There is a hint of a moral examination in the storytelling, which clearly reflects the time in which it was penned. Well-written but not outstanding, yet the storyline, despite being melancholy, is what truly endures over time.

This is a mini Penguin Modern Classic consisting of just 76 pages. It contains 3 short stories: 'Babylon Revisited', 'The Cut-Glass Bowl', and 'The Lost Decade'. All of them share a common theme of alcoholism. The writing style is well-executed, yet it doesn't quite appeal to my personal taste. The reader has to make numerous mental leaps in order to understand the story, as there is very little setup of the plot or characters.

The first story, 'Babylon Revisited', initially managed to draw me in. However, the ending was so abrupt that it gave me the impression that it was a short story precisely because the ending was omitted. It was not very satisfying.

I recently watched 'The Great Gatsby' on TV for the first time. I found it to be slightly disjointed and confusing, with some surreal elements. I initially thought it might be due to the production, but now I understand that this is the writing style of F. Scott Fitzgerald. His works often require the reader or viewer to engage in a deeper level of thinking and interpretation to fully grasp the meaning and significance behind the stories.