What a snoozefest this book was!

The best part about this book is that it eventually ends. It seems to drag on and on, as if it has no end in sight.

The worst part about it is that it doesn’t end sooner. I found myself constantly looking at the page number, hoping that it would be over soon.

I will never read another book by this bum ever again unless compelled to do so against my will. This author has completely failed to engage me and has left me with a sour taste in my mouth.

“The great gatsby” more like “the great fatsby”. It was a disappointment from start to finish and I would not recommend it to anyone.

A True Book of Split Personalities

A collection of short stories, this work presents a split personality of sorts. On one hand, it showcases the typical Fitzgerald style, delving into the lives of society types engaged in high-class pursuits. Some stories, like "Babylon Revisited," "Crazy Sunday," and "The Freshest Boy," connect well, drawing the reader in and maintaining their interest. However, at other times, as in "Absolution," "The Rich Boy," and "The Ice Palace," the characters and storylines lack the necessary intrigue to carry the narrative. "Diamond as Big as the Ritz" is interestingly bizarre, while "May Day" and "Winter Dreams" miss the mark. "The Long Way Out" is basically a nice 5-page summation of a typical Fitzgerald story.

I feel that Fitzgerald's approach works better in novel length. In the context of short stories, it doesn't quite have the same impact. Overall, it's not bad for a one-time reading, but there isn't enough variety to warrant repeat visits.

If only most short stories would have a happy or easy-to-understand ending, I'd like them better.

The first few stories in this selection were truly sad, forlorn and without any glimmer of hope. Their endings were so confusing that it left me scratching my head.

However, as the years progressed, Fitzgerald seemed to make a change. He made his stories shorter, and to my great relief, somewhat more enjoyable for me.

I do think he is a great writer, and that is precisely why I have kept this book in my stash for years.

I am so glad I finally took the time to read it again. It has given me a new perspective on Fitzgerald's works and has made me appreciate his talent even more.

Despite the initial disappointment with the first few stories, the overall collection has proven to be a worthwhile read.

It shows the evolution of Fitzgerald as a writer and his ability to adapt and change his style over time.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading great short stories.

For fans of Fitzgerald, it's a hundred percent certain that they must like it.

Previously, I had only read 'The Great Gatsby' and 'Benjamin Button' which are long works, and that made me get to know this writer. When I came across some short stories, they were also wonderful and didn't disappoint at all. I must find and buy the collection of short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald to queue up and read next.

For those who like American literature, I invite you to come and read it together. :)

Babylon Revisited and Other Stories is my first encounter with Fitzgerald's short fiction. Previously, I had only read Gatsby and Tender is The Night. I have always heard that he is the master of the short story and that BR is his finest collection. However, after reading, my feelings are rather mixed.

Many of the stories appear to be too similar, and in my opinion, they tend to blend together. This is especially true of the earlier ones in the collection, which all seem to revolve around romances that end tragically for the wealthy. If I were to attempt to recount their plots, I might easily get them confused. My main concern, though, was that while reading, I struggled to define the purpose of the stories. I couldn't quite grasp what Fitzgerald was trying to convey or teach me through his prose.

Unless the themes were as simplistic as "rich people have tragic loves and gluttonous and empty lives." If that is the case, then it is overly emphasized in this collection, and one would be better off reading Gatsby. Despite these seemingly harsh criticisms, I still enjoyed the stories for what Fitzgerald always delivers: beautiful, poetic prose. The writing is on par with anything else, and it remained the most significant attraction of his stories for me.

Overall, while Babylon Revisited and Other Stories had its flaws, it also had its redeeming qualities. Fitzgerald's prose is truly a work of art, and it is worth reading for that alone. However, if you are looking for more complex and diverse themes, you may want to explore other works of his or other authors.

Ice Palace: This short story vividly showcases the cultural disparities between the industrious North and the more hospitable South.

The quotes add depth and nuance to the narrative. For instance, the line "Yet as a matter of fact, they would have felt more at home in a prison than in this newfound and unquestionable freedom" reveals the characters' complex emotions and their struggle to adapt to a new situation.

Another quote, "He had left Cornel, where he had been an instructor of economics, and had come to New York to pour the latest cures for incurable evils into the columns of a radical weekly newspaper," provides background information about one of the characters and his motives.

The dialogue between Peter, Rose, and Key is also quite interesting. Peter's questions about their choice of furniture and leisure activities highlight the differences in their perspectives.

The description of the little girl as "beautifully ugly" and the prediction that she will bring misery to many men in the future adds a touch of mystery and anticipation to the story. Overall, these elements combine to create a rich and engaging short story.

Charlie Wales, a former party boy of the roaring twenties, now finds himself back in Paris after a decade.

His main objective is to obtain custody of his daughter from his sister-in-law, who harbors a deep grudge against him and holds him responsible for her sister's death.

Charlie has made significant efforts to turn his life around and clean up his act. However, he discovers that his past exploits continue to haunt him.

During his short stay in Paris, people and drunken memories from his former life constantly come in and out of his existence.

Despite his attempts to move forward, the shadows of his past seem to linger, making it difficult for him to fully embrace the present and achieve his goal of reuniting with his daughter.

Will Charlie be able to overcome the obstacles placed in his path by his sister-in-law and the ghosts of his past, or will he be forever trapped by the mistakes of his youth?

Only time will tell as he navigates the complex web of emotions and memories that come with returning to the city where his wild past once took place.

This wasn't the actual compilation I read. Lol. It wasn't on here, so I've made do.

I was really looking forward to seeing that specific compilation, but unfortunately, it wasn't available. I had hoped to find it here and explore all its interesting contents. However, since it wasn't there, I had to come up with something else.

I started thinking about what I could do instead. Maybe I could try to recreate a similar compilation on my own. I began to gather my thoughts and ideas, and before I knew it, I had started writing this expanded version.

Although it's not the exact compilation I was hoping for, I think it still has some value. It gives me a chance to express my own perspective and share some interesting information. Who knows, maybe someone else will find it useful or enjoyable to read.

In the end, even though the original compilation wasn't available, I was able to make the most of the situation and create something new. And that's what matters.

I like F Scott Fitzgerald quite a bit more than my high school self.

Who knew that as I grow older, my appreciation for his works would deepen? In high school, I might have read his novels with a certain level of detachment. But now, I see the beauty and complexity in his writing.

Fitzgerald's ability to capture the essence of the Jazz Age, with its glitz and glamour, as well as the underlying disillusionment and moral decay, is truly remarkable. His characters are vividly drawn, and their struggles and desires resonate with me on a much deeper level.

Perhaps it is my own life experiences that have made me more attuned to the themes in his works. Or maybe it is simply a matter of maturity and a greater understanding of the human condition. Whatever the reason, I am glad that my love for Fitzgerald has grown.

I look forward to re-reading his novels and discovering new nuances and meanings each time.

Unlike the bitterness often associated with Hemingway, I have always been entranced by Fitzgerald. He is a master storyteller, a true American with his own battles, able to effectively convey them in literature. While his novels, especially "The Great Gatsby" and "Tender is the Night", are highly popular, his short stories are equally beautiful and carry significant weight in their words.

This collection encompasses almost the entire length of Fitzgerald's writing career, spanning from the exuberant 1920s to the decline of the 1930s. It portrays the successes and the devastation of lives during a brief period when America was undergoing drastic changes, the world was plunged into war, and the economic climate of the stock market was shattered. Love, loss, loneliness, and the bitter curse of memories of happier times haunt the characters in these stories. From a young boy in school to an older gentleman who has achieved economic success but not in life, Fitzgerald has a talent for capturing the delicate existences of American lives and, essentially, the concerns of living in this country. He extends his writing style from the fantastical that borders on sci-fi to the sharp, clear, and accurate realism of the NYC or Parisian atmosphere.

I truly enjoyed these stories, and they are a pleasure to read. They may not be filled with non-stop action, but that's not their intention. The overarching feelings of dread, depression, and even insanity are sufficient to keep the stories moving forward.

"Babylon Revisited" is a captivating story that delves into the life of a father, Charlie Wales. After the death of his wife and his own struggle with alcoholism, he attempts to regain custody of his daughter. In the 1920s, Charlie built a fortune in stock investments and moved to Paris with his wife, Helen, to enjoy their wealth. However, their marriage was marred by friction, his alcoholism, and their wild lifestyle, which ultimately led to Helen's death and Charlie's admission to a sanitarium. During this time, their daughter, Honoria, was sent to live with Helen's sister and her husband in Paris.

After being released from the sanitarium, Charlie moved to Prague and re-established himself as a businessman. As the story begins, he sits at the bar of the Ritz Hotel, reminiscing about his past and asking the bartender about the people he knew. He declines a drink, stating that he is going slow these days. Out on the Paris streets, he passes by places that remind him of his former debauched lifestyle and reflects on how it has spoiled Paris for him.

Charlie visits his brother-in-law's apartment and is reunited with Honoria. He tells her guardians about his success in Prague and comments nostalgically on the pre-crash days in Paris. During dinner, he feels a strong protectiveness towards Honoria but decides to let the Peterses bring up the subject of his regaining custody. The next day, he takes Honoria to lunch, a toy store, and the vaudeville. When she expresses her desire to live with him, he postpones the conversation, anticipating his talk with his in-laws.

Later, Charlie runs into two old friends, Duncan Schaeffer and Lorraine Quarrles, who are still drunken and try to draw sustenance from his newfound strength. The next day, he formally requests custody of Honoria from the Peterses. Marion is initially reluctant, blaming him for her sister's death and doubting his sobriety. However, Charlie's chastened attitude pays off, and Marion eventually concedes, leaving the final decision to him and Lincoln. That night, Charlie is haunted by the memory of Helen, who assures him that she is happy for him and wants Honoria to return to Prague with him.

On his fourth day in Paris, Charlie finalizes his plans to take Honoria back to Prague with him. However, his plans are derailed when a drunken Duncan and Lorraine appear at the Peterses' apartment, causing Marion to storm out and Lincoln to call off their dinner. Charlie heads to the Ritz bar, hoping to confront his old friends but instead runs into Paul, the head bartender. He learns that Marion wants him to wait at least six months before they will consider the question of Honoria's custody again. Disheartened, he resolves to send Honoria presents and vows to come back one day.

Reading Fitzgerald is truly my most beloved thing ever.

There exists a very naked and extremely stark beauty within Fitzgerald's writing that I have not discovered in any other writer.

Prior to this, I had not read a great deal of his short stories, and I am truly delighted that I picked this up.

I adored every story (except "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz", which, despite hearing positive things about it, I thought was merely okay) in this particular collection.

My favorites were "The Rich Boy" and "Babylon Revisited".

I am beginning to notice that several themes are common to most of Fitzgerald's work, which bring to the forefront the ugly underbelly of the Jazz Age.

Moreover, most of them also seem to possess some semblance of an autobiographical element.

Reading these stories reminded me a great deal of "Gatsby" (one of my all-time favorites).

And I am eager to finally read my next Fitzgerald novel, although I am unsure which one I will pick up first.

I look forward to delving deeper into Fitzgerald's literary world and uncovering more of his masterpieces.