Fitzgerald - The Ultimate Expat

After solely focusing on Hemingway and writers alike it was quite interesting to read Fitzgerald. I have read very little of his work in the past and I was surprised when I read the except Babylon Revisited.

I could not help myself, but compare Hemingway to Fitzgerald. This was quite easy of course. I had grown accustom to Hemingway's blasé narratives that required little attention to comprehend. 

The except is filled with emotion and I enjoyed the brevity of the writing. I was able to enter into the narrative of Charlie without much trouble and in less than 10 pages I felt engrossed. 

Something else worth noting is the difference in descriptive words used when speaking about Paris. As Charlie walks along the quay he takes note of the light and the observation feels organic. The though process behind Charlie feels more relatable than Hemingway. 

Taking a quick break from the comparisons of authors, the expat in Paris appears again in writing. The topic of Americans in Paris surfaces briefly in the story and sheds light on what it is to be an expat in Paris. It seemed from short snippets of dialog that the expats in this except were troubled when in the presence of other Americans and felt at piece when they were among the French. It must be a curious world to live between two societies. After living in Paris for 4 months, I continue to feel like an outsider, which is primarily due to the language barrier. However, I hear stories of partially fluent Americans who speak in French, but are answered in English. As an expat, one must feel alone, which of course explains their desire to mingle with their own kind. 

Lastly, there was a key difference between the writings of Hemingway and Fitzgerald. In Babylon Revisited the topic of expatriates was far less highlighted. It felt more like an undertone in the story rather than the topic.