This Side of Paradise (2019) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Romance is central but mostly chaste by modern standards, consisting of kisses and intense letters. There are references to 'showgirls of easy virtue' and a scene where Amory visits an apartment with women, though he leaves before any sexual contact occurs. The narrative touches on the concept of 'petting,' which was a scandalous new social norm in the 1920s, yet descriptions remain focused on the emotional and moral impact rather than physical mechanics. Amory’s various infatuations with Isabelle, Rosalind, and…

Minimal physical violence. Mention is made of deaths during World War I and the passing of family members from natural causes, such as Amory's father and mother. A notable scene involves a character riding a horse over a cliff in a dramatic suicide attempt, though she jumps to safety at the last second. There are mentions of fistfights among young men at school, though these are brief and treated as matters of social honor rather than brutal altercations. The psychological weight of the war is felt through the…

Contains infrequent uses of mild period language like 'damn' and 'hell.' There are no heavy profanity or modern slurs, though some social descriptions reflect the dated prejudices of 1920. Characters occasionally use words like 'bitch' in a non-vulgar context, such as referring to a dog, or use mild epithets common for the era. The vocabulary is elevated and literary, reflecting the academic environment of the Ivy League setting. Any linguistic sharpness is usually found in the cynical wit of the dialogue rather…

Significant focus on the social drinking culture of the Jazz Age. Amory goes on a multi-day drinking binge after a breakup, and characters frequently consume cocktails, wine, and highballs in social settings. The use of alcohol is treated as a routine part of upper-class social interaction and a primary method for coping with emotional distress. There are descriptions of characters becoming intoxicated at dinners and in New York bars, often leading to erratic behavior or existential despair. Tobacco use is also…

Heavy focus on disillusionment, the loss of religious faith, the search for identity, and the divide between social classes. Themes of socialism and the rejection of Victorian morality are prominent as Amory navigates his education at Princeton and his later life in New York. The text explores the feeling of a 'lost generation' struggling to find meaning in a post-war world that has abandoned traditional values. There is a strong emphasis on the burden of wealth and the existential dread that accompanies financial…