One way to approach this novel is to compare and contrast it with This Side of Paradise, focusing on the numerous technical differences and thematic similarities. Readers might find it insightful to consult critics who have undertaken this comparison to evaluate the merit of their studies.

1. Do the possibly digressive passages, such as the "Flash-back," detract from the plot's forward momentum? Would the novel benefit from their removal?

2. Fitzgerald extensively rewrote this novel, largely based on suggestions from friends. If you had been consulted, what additional changes would you have recommended?

3. Does Anthony's extramarital affair with Dot, while he is in the army, add anything significant to your understanding of his character?

4. One criticism of this book is that the author was "too close" to the characters and events and hadn’t fully thought them through. Do you think a greater aesthetic distance would have improved the novel?

5. An absolute digression is the passage about the Japanese butler employed by Anthony and Gloria. Does this section have any merit beyond its presumably amusing aspects?

6. Try to identify as many of the frequently noted "cynical" passages, especially those spoken by major characters, as possible. Do these passages rise to the level of true epigrams, and do they contain any wisdom?

7. Does the section about Anthony's experience in the army suggest that, under different circumstances, he might have been a worthy person, capable of leading a useful life?