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Bernice Bobs Her Hair and Other Stories
It was an age of miracles," declared F. Scott Fitzgerald of the 1920s, "it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire." No author is more closely associated with the decade than Fitzgerald, who christened it the Jazz Age and chronicled its manners and morals. His lyrical, witty fables of society life reveal the disillusionment and cynicism behind the Roaring Twenties' glamorous façade.
Six of Fitzgerald's best-loved stories appear here, starting with the title tale, in which a hostess regrets her success at transforming a visiting cousin from wallflower to coquette. Other selections include "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," a glittering fantasy about the corrupting power of wealth; “The Ice Palace,” a quasibiographical story of a restless Southern belle; "The Offshore Pirate"; "The Jelly Bean"; and "May Day." Each of these colorful portraits from a bygone era considers timeless themes — love, money, power, the search for happiness — that keep them enduringly popular and ever relevant.
Six of Fitzgerald's best-loved stories appear here, starting with the title tale, in which a hostess regrets her success at transforming a visiting cousin from wallflower to coquette. Other selections include "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," a glittering fantasy about the corrupting power of wealth; “The Ice Palace,” a quasibiographical story of a restless Southern belle; "The Offshore Pirate"; "The Jelly Bean"; and "May Day." Each of these colorful portraits from a bygone era considers timeless themes — love, money, power, the search for happiness — that keep them enduringly popular and ever relevant.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1920
22 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
F. Scott Fitzgerald
2,332 books25.5k followersFrancis Scott Key Fitzgerald, widely known simply as Scott Fitzgerald, was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age, a term he popularized in his short story collection Tales of the Jazz Age. During his lifetime, he published four novels, four story collections, and 164 short stories. Although he achieved temporary popular success and fortune in the 1920s, Fitzgerald received critical acclaim only after his death and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.
Born into a middle-class family in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Fitzgerald was raised primarily in New York state. He attended Princeton University where he befriended future literary critic Edmund Wilson. Owing to a failed romantic relationship with Chicago socialite Ginevra King, he dropped out in 1917 to join the United States Army during World War I. While stationed in Alabama, he met Zelda Sayre, a Southern debutante who belonged to Montgomery's exclusive country-club set. Although she initially rejected Fitzgerald's marriage proposal due to his lack of financial prospects, Zelda agreed to marry him after he published the commercially successful This Side of Paradise (1920). The novel became a cultural sensation and cemented his reputation as one of the eminent writers of the decade.
His second novel, The Beautiful and Damned (1922), propelled him further into the cultural elite. To maintain his affluent lifestyle, he wrote numerous stories for popular magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's Weekly, and Esquire. During this period, Fitzgerald frequented Europe, where he befriended modernist writers and artists of the "Lost Generation" expatriate community, including Ernest Hemingway. His third novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), received generally favorable reviews but was a commercial failure, selling fewer than 23,000 copies in its first year. Despite its lackluster debut, The Great Gatsby is now hailed by some literary critics as the "Great American Novel". Following the deterioration of his wife's mental health and her placement in a mental institute for schizophrenia, Fitzgerald completed his final novel, Tender Is the Night (1934).
Struggling financially because of the declining popularity of his works during the Great Depression, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood, where he embarked upon an unsuccessful career as a screenwriter. While living in Hollywood, he cohabited with columnist Sheilah Graham, his final companion before his death. After a long struggle with alcoholism, he attained sobriety only to die of a heart attack in 1940, at 44. His friend Edmund Wilson edited and published an unfinished fifth novel, The Last Tycoon (1941), after Fitzgerald's death. In 1993, a new edition was published as The Love of the Last Tycoon, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli.
Born into a middle-class family in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Fitzgerald was raised primarily in New York state. He attended Princeton University where he befriended future literary critic Edmund Wilson. Owing to a failed romantic relationship with Chicago socialite Ginevra King, he dropped out in 1917 to join the United States Army during World War I. While stationed in Alabama, he met Zelda Sayre, a Southern debutante who belonged to Montgomery's exclusive country-club set. Although she initially rejected Fitzgerald's marriage proposal due to his lack of financial prospects, Zelda agreed to marry him after he published the commercially successful This Side of Paradise (1920). The novel became a cultural sensation and cemented his reputation as one of the eminent writers of the decade.
His second novel, The Beautiful and Damned (1922), propelled him further into the cultural elite. To maintain his affluent lifestyle, he wrote numerous stories for popular magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's Weekly, and Esquire. During this period, Fitzgerald frequented Europe, where he befriended modernist writers and artists of the "Lost Generation" expatriate community, including Ernest Hemingway. His third novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), received generally favorable reviews but was a commercial failure, selling fewer than 23,000 copies in its first year. Despite its lackluster debut, The Great Gatsby is now hailed by some literary critics as the "Great American Novel". Following the deterioration of his wife's mental health and her placement in a mental institute for schizophrenia, Fitzgerald completed his final novel, Tender Is the Night (1934).
Struggling financially because of the declining popularity of his works during the Great Depression, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood, where he embarked upon an unsuccessful career as a screenwriter. While living in Hollywood, he cohabited with columnist Sheilah Graham, his final companion before his death. After a long struggle with alcoholism, he attained sobriety only to die of a heart attack in 1940, at 44. His friend Edmund Wilson edited and published an unfinished fifth novel, The Last Tycoon (1941), after Fitzgerald's death. In 1993, a new edition was published as The Love of the Last Tycoon, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 5, 2020
I always enjoy The Great Gatsby, and, while I labored through This Side of Paradise, I wanted to see what Fitzgerald’s short stories offered. I figured that this short story collection might be the usual glitz and glamour; however, I was so pleased with many of the unique, imaginative tales Fitzgerald puts together. This collection contains some of the Jazz Era glitz, but also fantasy elements that take place outside this era. Still, they explore many similar themes from other novels (money and wealth, greed, dreams, popularity, prejudice, etc.), and provide both social commentary and morals about this time period. They also have that definitive poetic flair typical of Fitzgerald.
Here are some of my favorites:
"Bernice Bobs Her Hair" is reminiscent of a modern high school comedy. Bernice is a socially awkward intellectual and a definite party pooper, so thinks her cousin Majorie. Majorie hatches a plan to take plain Bernice and make her into a socially attractive girl who becomes the center of attention. Majorie comes to represent the revolutionary free thinking, modern girl who pushes her ideas of popularity onto Bernice. As we might expect, Bernice soon becomes the talk of the boys, with Majorie a bit taken back and somewhat envious. When Majorie chides Bernice as a "bluffer" about actually going through with her plan to get her hair bobbed, it plants the seeds to a fantastic finish.
"The Ice Palace" has deep symbolism and amazingly poetic descriptions typical of Fitzgerald. Taking place during the Civil War, the story explores differences between the North and the South and makes a bigger point to illustrate the importance of home and one's values. Sally Carol, a Southerner, has visions of moving up, and moving past the southern way of life and marrying a Northern man, Harry Bellamy. Harry takes Sally to the north to visit for a while, but while there, Sally has conflicted thoughts and must decide where her true values lie. Fitzgerald captures insightful perspective into Sally's conflicted nature: "To the spirited throb of the violins and the inspiring beat of the kettledrums her own old ghosts were marching by and on into the darkness." Both Northern and Southern ideals are tremendously romanticized.
My favorite story of the bunch is "A Diamond as Big as the Ritz." Who would have thought Fitzgerald had so much humor in him? This is such a laugh out loud, funny story on many levels, as it is a definite satire about money, wealth and good living, and Fitzgerald reaches into his bag of fantasy to make anything and everything a possibility, even owning a diamond as big as a hotel. John Unger attends one of the richest prep schools in the world with classmate, Percy Washington. John, with idealized visions of wealth, is quite impressed when Percy boasts about his father being the richest man in the world and takes him to a secret mountain range in Montana where his father keeps the world's largest diamond. Percy's father goes to extreme measures to guard this diamond for fear of having its price value diminish, so he has servants guard the entrance, and attempts to shoot down airplanes that fly overhead. Also, those who come to the Washington estate either must be imprisoned or "removed." John soon finds himself interested in not only the amazing lavishness of the Washington home, but Percy's sister, Kismine. John and Kismine decide they will try to escape and elope, but John is now a marked man and must figure out an escape.
This is a story dripping with satiric qualities. There is a scene where John first gets there and is bathed in the most lavish of fashions, complete with a movie-reel overhead so John can be entertained all the while. Fitzgerald lampoons the ideals of wealth to the infinite degree and taking shots all the while at the Washington family, especially Braddock, who at one point attempts to bribe God to keep his wealth intact. The story also has enough zaniness to compete with Vonnegut's world.
Also included are the stories "The Jelly Bean", "May Day", and "The Offshore Pirate", about a spoiled girl's notions of love, who meets her match.
These are very accessible, and a light read for those wanting to read Fitzgerald, but do not want to take on one of his novels.
Here are some of my favorites:
"Bernice Bobs Her Hair" is reminiscent of a modern high school comedy. Bernice is a socially awkward intellectual and a definite party pooper, so thinks her cousin Majorie. Majorie hatches a plan to take plain Bernice and make her into a socially attractive girl who becomes the center of attention. Majorie comes to represent the revolutionary free thinking, modern girl who pushes her ideas of popularity onto Bernice. As we might expect, Bernice soon becomes the talk of the boys, with Majorie a bit taken back and somewhat envious. When Majorie chides Bernice as a "bluffer" about actually going through with her plan to get her hair bobbed, it plants the seeds to a fantastic finish.
"The Ice Palace" has deep symbolism and amazingly poetic descriptions typical of Fitzgerald. Taking place during the Civil War, the story explores differences between the North and the South and makes a bigger point to illustrate the importance of home and one's values. Sally Carol, a Southerner, has visions of moving up, and moving past the southern way of life and marrying a Northern man, Harry Bellamy. Harry takes Sally to the north to visit for a while, but while there, Sally has conflicted thoughts and must decide where her true values lie. Fitzgerald captures insightful perspective into Sally's conflicted nature: "To the spirited throb of the violins and the inspiring beat of the kettledrums her own old ghosts were marching by and on into the darkness." Both Northern and Southern ideals are tremendously romanticized.
My favorite story of the bunch is "A Diamond as Big as the Ritz." Who would have thought Fitzgerald had so much humor in him? This is such a laugh out loud, funny story on many levels, as it is a definite satire about money, wealth and good living, and Fitzgerald reaches into his bag of fantasy to make anything and everything a possibility, even owning a diamond as big as a hotel. John Unger attends one of the richest prep schools in the world with classmate, Percy Washington. John, with idealized visions of wealth, is quite impressed when Percy boasts about his father being the richest man in the world and takes him to a secret mountain range in Montana where his father keeps the world's largest diamond. Percy's father goes to extreme measures to guard this diamond for fear of having its price value diminish, so he has servants guard the entrance, and attempts to shoot down airplanes that fly overhead. Also, those who come to the Washington estate either must be imprisoned or "removed." John soon finds himself interested in not only the amazing lavishness of the Washington home, but Percy's sister, Kismine. John and Kismine decide they will try to escape and elope, but John is now a marked man and must figure out an escape.
This is a story dripping with satiric qualities. There is a scene where John first gets there and is bathed in the most lavish of fashions, complete with a movie-reel overhead so John can be entertained all the while. Fitzgerald lampoons the ideals of wealth to the infinite degree and taking shots all the while at the Washington family, especially Braddock, who at one point attempts to bribe God to keep his wealth intact. The story also has enough zaniness to compete with Vonnegut's world.
Also included are the stories "The Jelly Bean", "May Day", and "The Offshore Pirate", about a spoiled girl's notions of love, who meets her match.
These are very accessible, and a light read for those wanting to read Fitzgerald, but do not want to take on one of his novels.
August 29, 2021
Fitzgerald was such a favourite in my youth, and revisiting him through this early set of short stories tells me why. The FSF elements are all there - the poor boy yearning for the golden girl, the flappers with their wit and beauty, the post-war world and it’s brittle joy, the class divide, the North-South divide, and most of all, the writing. It’s fresh and sparkling, even the deepest cynicism couched in the smoothest lines, and many a time, you pause to take in that clever metaphor or observant phrase. The stories in this collection were written by a boy yet to turn twenty five, and you have to wonder at the precociousness of it all - they are bitter-sweet, the romance and the tragedy, the beauty and the cruelty, life in the ‘smart set’ and life looking into it. Fitzgerald will remain a favourite.
August 30, 2023
I loved Bernice Bobs Her Hair (slay girl), The Baby Party, Magnetism, and The Rough Crossing. I could live without Winter Dreams, Absolution, and a Short Trip Home. I'm a bit ambivalent about The Sensible Thing but it had a fantastic line in it.
August 29, 2019
One or two of the stories ended abruptly, but even in those the delicious descriptions made it worth the read. The Offshore Pirates was a good story. So was Bernice Bobs Her Hair.
August 3, 2022
Bernice é uma jovem que vai passar o verão na casa da prima, Marjorie. Enquanto Bernice é romântica e um pouco chata, Marjorie é a menina mais popular de sua turma, que sabe envolver os rapazes nos seus “encantos femininos”.
Em um determinado momento, Marjorie resolve ajudar Bernice, ensinando ela a ser aceita no grupo, como fazer os rapazes se encantarem por ela.
E aí, nesse momento, começa uma crítica muito sutil sobre a sociedade e seus valores.
Quando a Bernice era “chata”, ela gostava de falar de diversos assuntos, de demonstrar sua opinião. Quando Marjorie a faz se enturmar, o que ela tem que fazer? Tem que começar a falar sobre qual vestido é o mais bonito, sobre como a dança é interessante. Ela nunca pode se aprofundar em assunto nenhum, tem que ficar apenas nessas frivolidades, momento em que ela passa a ser popular.
Ou seja, temos aí a ideia de que as mulheres não foram feitas para discutir grandes assuntos. Ela só passa a ser interessante quando vira uma peça de diversão no baile, quando sua maior preocupação é apenas a próxima dança.
Temos também presente a rivalidade feminina. Antes, a prima queria ajudar Bernice, mas quando ela passa a ser mais popular que ela, Marjorie começa a ficar ressentida, enciumada e faz de tudo para acabar com a prima.
O corte de cabelo entra na história como um suporte para a história. O grande assunto que faz com que Bernice comece a ganhar sua popularidade é quando ela começa a falar que morre de vontade de cortar o cabelo. Isso na época era um ato revolucionário, mulher não tinha cabelo curto.
E ela mantém essa narrativa o tempo todo, como uma forma de se mostrar à frente das outras meninas.
E aí, vem o efetivo corte de cabelo e o desfecho do conto, todos começam a trata-la mal, porque que tipo de mulher anda com cabelo curto?
Ou seja, a sociedade podia aceitar uma garota que fala que é a frente do seu tempo, mas quando ela realmente é, quando as palavras se transformam em ação, aí ela já foi longe demais e deve ser excluída.
Mais resenhas no meu IG: https://www.instagram.com/_casadacoruja/
Em um determinado momento, Marjorie resolve ajudar Bernice, ensinando ela a ser aceita no grupo, como fazer os rapazes se encantarem por ela.
E aí, nesse momento, começa uma crítica muito sutil sobre a sociedade e seus valores.
Quando a Bernice era “chata”, ela gostava de falar de diversos assuntos, de demonstrar sua opinião. Quando Marjorie a faz se enturmar, o que ela tem que fazer? Tem que começar a falar sobre qual vestido é o mais bonito, sobre como a dança é interessante. Ela nunca pode se aprofundar em assunto nenhum, tem que ficar apenas nessas frivolidades, momento em que ela passa a ser popular.
Ou seja, temos aí a ideia de que as mulheres não foram feitas para discutir grandes assuntos. Ela só passa a ser interessante quando vira uma peça de diversão no baile, quando sua maior preocupação é apenas a próxima dança.
Temos também presente a rivalidade feminina. Antes, a prima queria ajudar Bernice, mas quando ela passa a ser mais popular que ela, Marjorie começa a ficar ressentida, enciumada e faz de tudo para acabar com a prima.
O corte de cabelo entra na história como um suporte para a história. O grande assunto que faz com que Bernice comece a ganhar sua popularidade é quando ela começa a falar que morre de vontade de cortar o cabelo. Isso na época era um ato revolucionário, mulher não tinha cabelo curto.
E ela mantém essa narrativa o tempo todo, como uma forma de se mostrar à frente das outras meninas.
E aí, vem o efetivo corte de cabelo e o desfecho do conto, todos começam a trata-la mal, porque que tipo de mulher anda com cabelo curto?
Ou seja, a sociedade podia aceitar uma garota que fala que é a frente do seu tempo, mas quando ela realmente é, quando as palavras se transformam em ação, aí ela já foi longe demais e deve ser excluída.
Mais resenhas no meu IG: https://www.instagram.com/_casadacoruja/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2024
مدلِ مویِ تازه برنیس رو دوست داشتم. چرا؟ اول اینکه از گتسبی بزرگ کوچک تر بود و دوم اینکه فضایِ شادخوارانه و پر از جنب و جوشِ دهه بیستِ آمریکا و عصرِ جَز رو به تمام و کمال نشون نمیده بلکه با بُرش هایی گُزیده پیش چشم میگذاره( گرچه برش ها کلیشه ای هستن ولی لحظاتِ خواندنی و روایت سازی رو می آفرینند) و سوم اینکه پلاتِ ساده ای داره و همین عمیق شدن بر شخصیت هایِ البته نه چندان فربه از لحاظِ روانی رو ممکن میکنه.
این هم شایانِ یادآوری هست که برای ما ایرانی ها این کتاب میتونه خواندنی تر هم باشه از این نظر که شباهت هایی میشه دید میانِ روحِ حاکم بر فضایی که این کتاب در اون بالیده و پدیده ای که الان برای ما معروفه به "دهه هشتادیا".
این پایین حاوی لَختی افشاگریه نخونید اگه نخوندید:
دخترانی در پیِ مُد روز و پسرکانِ دلداده ای که در پیست های رقص دلبری میکنن و در این داد و ستد آدم هایِ ساده دلی که از روابط و شرایط حاکم بر این بازارِ شام آگاه نیستن نصیبِ چندانی جز اندوه نخواهند برد و حتی شاید مانند آنچه در پایان کتاب رخ داد دادگاهِ صحرایی راه بندازن.( نمیخوام این کتاب رو به چیزی که نوشتم فروبکاهم ولی در نگاه اول این تصوراتی که نوشتم به ذهن میرسه و بعد میشه عمیق تر شد بر لایه های روایت و رسوب هایِ جامعه شناختی و نَهَشت هایِ فلسفی حتی.)
این هم شایانِ یادآوری هست که برای ما ایرانی ها این کتاب میتونه خواندنی تر هم باشه از این نظر که شباهت هایی میشه دید میانِ روحِ حاکم بر فضایی که این کتاب در اون بالیده و پدیده ای که الان برای ما معروفه به "دهه هشتادیا".
این پایین حاوی لَختی افشاگریه نخونید اگه نخوندید:
دخترانی در پیِ مُد روز و پسرکانِ دلداده ای که در پیست های رقص دلبری میکنن و در این داد و ستد آدم هایِ ساده دلی که از روابط و شرایط حاکم بر این بازارِ شام آگاه نیستن نصیبِ چندانی جز اندوه نخواهند برد و حتی شاید مانند آنچه در پایان کتاب رخ داد دادگاهِ صحرایی راه بندازن.( نمیخوام این کتاب رو به چیزی که نوشتم فروبکاهم ولی در نگاه اول این تصوراتی که نوشتم به ذهن میرسه و بعد میشه عمیق تر شد بر لایه های روایت و رسوب هایِ جامعه شناختی و نَهَشت هایِ فلسفی حتی.)
March 29, 2015
My second favorite novel of all time is "The Great Gatsby". I'm original like that and besides, it changed reading for me. I've read most of his other novels. Possibly all of them. But some years of my life are blurrier than others. In spite of my admiration for him and my slight obsession with his wife (I'm that girl) I have never read any of his short stories. Not even Bernice. Not even Benjamin. This was my first time at this dance and all it did was reinforce what I already knew. That guy could write the eff out of anything.
March 2, 2016
"My hair---bob it!"
May 28, 2024
Bernice corta o cabelo é um conto de Fitzgerald publicado pela primeira vez em maio de 1920 no Saturday Evening Post, com ilustrações de May Wilson Preston, ilustradora e pintora impressionista. A obra apareceu mais tarde na coleção de contos Flappers and Philosophers, de setembro de 1920.
A narrativa apresenta uma garota americana chamada Bernice, da pequena Eau Claire, Wisconsin, que visita Marjorie, a sofisticada e popular prima, na cidade. Bernice percebe-se inadequada para os eventos sociais e aceita uma traiçoeira ajuda da prima para transformá-la em uma moça apreciada por todos. Narrada nos loucos anos 20, esta é uma história juvenil, porém muito interessante para qualquer idade, sobre o amadurecimento e as pressões para se encaixar em um grupo e se sentir aceito, lutando por popularidade e posição social até que a verdadeira identidade seja perdida.
Sensacional!
A narrativa apresenta uma garota americana chamada Bernice, da pequena Eau Claire, Wisconsin, que visita Marjorie, a sofisticada e popular prima, na cidade. Bernice percebe-se inadequada para os eventos sociais e aceita uma traiçoeira ajuda da prima para transformá-la em uma moça apreciada por todos. Narrada nos loucos anos 20, esta é uma história juvenil, porém muito interessante para qualquer idade, sobre o amadurecimento e as pressões para se encaixar em um grupo e se sentir aceito, lutando por popularidade e posição social até que a verdadeira identidade seja perdida.
Sensacional!
February 28, 2021
F Scott Fitzgerald stands the test of time
I had to read Bernice Bob’s her hair in high school… That was more than a couple years ago and even though I enjoyed it then, I wasn’t sure if it would still stand up. Indeed it does. Great group of short stories by a great storyteller.
I had to read Bernice Bob’s her hair in high school… That was more than a couple years ago and even though I enjoyed it then, I wasn’t sure if it would still stand up. Indeed it does. Great group of short stories by a great storyteller.
June 8, 2025
A good early Fitzgerald short story involving an insecure girl (Bernice) and her decision to bob her hair in order to be accepted by her peers while her cousin Marjorie manipulates her. Bernice, later, realizes the superficiality of Marjorie's social world and devises an act of revenge.
October 16, 2020
Diverting but not overly engaging.
December 13, 2023
“There are all kinds of love in the world, but never the same love twice.”
October 4, 2024
el fuckass bob te puede arruinar la vida
Want to read
May 13, 2025First edition 1968
September 2, 2011
1. "bernice" was one of my favorites. the part where marjorie calls bernice out for being the sort of girl who is a "beautiful bundle of clothes" that a husband "builds ideals" around was ironic because it seemed more a description of marjorie to me. it was also interesting that bobbing hair was such an extreme move.
2. ardita in "the offshore pirate" annoyed me a lot because she's pretentious and annoyingly insolent (it was worse because i liked carlyle, most of the time), but the 'pirate' plot was enjoyable. the descriptions were beautiful. i didn't see the end coming, but when do i ever??
3. harry in "the ice palace" reminded me heavily of buddy in The Bell Jar. i am glad the story ended
4. "diamond": The Count of Monte Cristo. i found the relationship extraneous. good ending.
5. was glad to see clark darrow again. i love recurring characters! anyway, i didn't like nancy lamar (how shocking. but you know, i don't think i had a problem with the women in gatsby. maybe if i reread it??) and it was sad that
6. "may day": lovely opening! liked the concurrent plots. the mr in/mr out bit was great! i was kind of surprised at the ending, but i don't mind his decision.
from "the offshore pirate":
"'On my gray days even courage is one of the things that's gray and lifeless.'"
2. ardita in "the offshore pirate" annoyed me a lot because she's pretentious and annoyingly insolent (it was worse because i liked carlyle, most of the time), but the 'pirate' plot was enjoyable. the descriptions were beautiful. i didn't see the end coming, but when do i ever??
3. harry in "the ice palace" reminded me heavily of buddy in The Bell Jar. i am glad the story ended
4. "diamond": The Count of Monte Cristo. i found the relationship extraneous. good ending.
5. was glad to see clark darrow again. i love recurring characters! anyway, i didn't like nancy lamar (how shocking. but you know, i don't think i had a problem with the women in gatsby. maybe if i reread it??) and it was sad that
6. "may day": lovely opening! liked the concurrent plots. the mr in/mr out bit was great! i was kind of surprised at the ending, but i don't mind his decision.
from "the offshore pirate":
"'On my gray days even courage is one of the things that's gray and lifeless.'"
March 1, 2023
یه داستان کوتاه و دلنشین. دوستش داشتم.
August 1, 2015
While never having really read much Fitzgerald (
The Great Gatsby
, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair", and "Babylon Revisited" for classes), I have always felt that I didn't quite understand what the fuss was all about. Now, a sensible person would note that I had not read enough to make any kind of judgment.
So an adult reevaluation begins with this book.
I'm not convinced that Fitzgerad's interpretation of the North-South divide is an accurate one, but rather one more likely playing to the sentimentalities of the time (and of Southern authors). Likewise, his soft-peddled racism (an odd and recurring theme in these stories) is presented without an kind of awareness.
Still, most of the stories work on some level. "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" is a fine bit of fantasy revenge. "The Off-Shore Pirate" feels the freshest of the pieces, spoiled only by the ending. Maybe not spoiled, but it should have kept its edge. "The Ice Palace" just feels empty. Sally Carrol's discomfort seems childish and laughable. "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" feels like an attempt at adventure fiction, but comes across as idolizing and championing the worst of America. Oh, and aeroplanes can fly forever. "The Jelly-Bean" has some fine moments, but Fitzgerald does not convey shyness or social discomfort well. The story suffers for it. "May Day" is just a mess. A confused, muddled mess. More of an embarrassment than anything else.
So an adult reevaluation begins with this book.
I'm not convinced that Fitzgerad's interpretation of the North-South divide is an accurate one, but rather one more likely playing to the sentimentalities of the time (and of Southern authors). Likewise, his soft-peddled racism (an odd and recurring theme in these stories) is presented without an kind of awareness.
Still, most of the stories work on some level. "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" is a fine bit of fantasy revenge. "The Off-Shore Pirate" feels the freshest of the pieces, spoiled only by the ending. Maybe not spoiled, but it should have kept its edge. "The Ice Palace" just feels empty. Sally Carrol's discomfort seems childish and laughable. "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" feels like an attempt at adventure fiction, but comes across as idolizing and championing the worst of America. Oh, and aeroplanes can fly forever. "The Jelly-Bean" has some fine moments, but Fitzgerald does not convey shyness or social discomfort well. The story suffers for it. "May Day" is just a mess. A confused, muddled mess. More of an embarrassment than anything else.
February 15, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
My version of this differs from the one here. I’ve got
1 Bernice Bobs her Hair – standard Fitzgerald fare. Lots of good writing but a very slight story.
2 Winter Dreams – one of his rags to riches stories, very autobiographical and like many of his stories dealing with the loss of being able to feel as strongly as during youth. It has its moments but also some ragged stitching.
3 The Sensible Thing – another story about loss of heightened feeling and the poor return of emotional investment. Again it’s very autobiographical and this time he gives the wiser voice to Zelda.
4 Absolution – This apparently was once a part of Gatsby’s early life which Fitzgerald later excised from the novel. In this story the central character has two personas just as Fitzgerald was to split himself in two for Gatsby and Nick. There’s the romantic young boy and the Catholic boy tutored by his elders. A pretty good story on the whole about the new and old world.
5 the Baby Party – I enjoyed this as a story even though it is another rather slight story.
6 A Short Trip Home – A kind of ghost story and therefore further beyond his comfort zone than any other story in this collection.
7 Magnetism – Another very autobiographical story dealing with the pressures success puts on a marriage.
8 The Rough Crossing – Ditto Magnetism.
My version of this differs from the one here. I’ve got
1 Bernice Bobs her Hair – standard Fitzgerald fare. Lots of good writing but a very slight story.
2 Winter Dreams – one of his rags to riches stories, very autobiographical and like many of his stories dealing with the loss of being able to feel as strongly as during youth. It has its moments but also some ragged stitching.
3 The Sensible Thing – another story about loss of heightened feeling and the poor return of emotional investment. Again it’s very autobiographical and this time he gives the wiser voice to Zelda.
4 Absolution – This apparently was once a part of Gatsby’s early life which Fitzgerald later excised from the novel. In this story the central character has two personas just as Fitzgerald was to split himself in two for Gatsby and Nick. There’s the romantic young boy and the Catholic boy tutored by his elders. A pretty good story on the whole about the new and old world.
5 the Baby Party – I enjoyed this as a story even though it is another rather slight story.
6 A Short Trip Home – A kind of ghost story and therefore further beyond his comfort zone than any other story in this collection.
7 Magnetism – Another very autobiographical story dealing with the pressures success puts on a marriage.
8 The Rough Crossing – Ditto Magnetism.
May 8, 2011
Of the six stories, the Offshore Pirate was my favorite. As always, I like Fitzgerald's writing and the way he uses words. None of these stories compares to the Great Gatsby, but they were still very enjoyable and easy to read.
July 5, 2007
these stories taught me much of the little i know about human behavior - especially catty human behavior.
September 23, 2011
First two stories floored me.
November 10, 2013
Seriously--best short story.
April 23, 2020
داستان کوتاه و جالبی از فیتزجرالد بود که خوندنش آدم رو سرگرم میکنه و نه بیشتر
June 6, 2020
داستانی جذاب و گیرا با همان ظرافتهای همیشگی فیتزجرالد.
با پایانبندی معرکهای که همیشه در خاطر میماند.
با پایانبندی معرکهای که همیشه در خاطر میماند.
June 28, 2018
The Jelly Bean - 5/5 I liked the way Fitzgerald portrayed the Jellybean's feelings for the femme fetale, and the femme fetales possessive, hunkish boyfriend who, despite what he thought, hadn't really captured her heart.
Bernice Bobs her Hair - 5/5 Fitzgerald's portrayal of upper-class superficiality and snobbery is brilliant, and with sensitivity, like a true artist, he paints Bernice's emotional life--her insecurities and motivations.
I have yet to read the rest of the stories in this collection.
Bernice Bobs her Hair - 5/5 Fitzgerald's portrayal of upper-class superficiality and snobbery is brilliant, and with sensitivity, like a true artist, he paints Bernice's emotional life--her insecurities and motivations.
I have yet to read the rest of the stories in this collection.
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