Dice, Brassknuckles & Guitar — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald seems to trivialize the Jazz phenomenon; the rebellious culture of dancing and youth which mirrored the high society of the previous generation but in its hollow hierarchy and rules of popularity. The story is entertaining despite the seemingly depressive climax after which everything goes back to normal; as if the age itself is just one episodic summer of ecstasy that only a few can accept for what it really was and not what they want it to be. Jim is better than the lot of them only because he doesn't resign to the artificial pomp of the culture, even though his isolation from it was unexpected and hurtful for him. by Ben