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Kelly's Reviews > Tender Is the Night

Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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it was amazing
bookshelves: fiction, 20th-century-early-to-mid, worlds-lost-dead-and-dying, owned, grand-opera

This is my favorite Fitzgerald book. I read it back to back with This Side of Paradise last year, which was an interesting experiment. I had the young, beautiful, self-confident Fitzgerald and the Fitzgerald of post-Zelda's craziness, dark dark alcoholic Fitzgerald. Besides showing obviously how much his skills had improved, it showed the sheer range he was capable of as well. This is a dark, depressing novel. Loss, loneliness, isolation, desolation. It does not end well. But the sheer power of the prose, and just how completely lost everything is here can't fail to get to you. The story is so tight, well put together, flows along without a hitch. It sinks you slowly lower and lower and lower until you're hardly aware of just how dark of a place the novel has gone. And then all of a sudden things evaporate, and there you are. Just like Fitzgerald. Wandering off the last page.

Really. I recommend it to everyone. Do give it a try.
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Reading Progress

Started Reading
July 1, 2006 – Finished Reading
June 11, 2007 – Shelved
June 11, 2007 – Shelved as: fiction
July 29, 2009 – Shelved as: 20th-century-early-to-mid
July 29, 2009 – Shelved as: worlds-lost-dead-and-dying
September 11, 2009 – Shelved as: owned
October 21, 2011 – Shelved as: grand-opera

Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)

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Philip Patrick I agree with you. I'd read Gatsby in high school and college, but never this. Gatsby always felt removed, perhaps because of its narrator, always watching Jay and Daisy from a distance, but Tender is so much more intimate, darker, and ultimately moving.


Kelly I very much agree. I think this book was much closer to Fitzgerald's life and heart, written much more honestly than his other words, due, obviously, to his experience with Zelda. The intimacy really is the best part. Quite stunning.


message 3: by Michael (new)

Michael Crouch Why do people enjoy depressing books?
Fitzgerald was such an egomaniac.


Jason I think there is something to the appreciation of happiness and beauty once you have experienced the pain and darkness.


message 5: by SusannaW (new)

SusannaW "It does not end well." Why give such a big spoiler about the ending? Stuff like this is what puts people off 欧宝娱乐.


Kelly And comments like that are what put people off reviewing! So I guess we're even!


message 7: by Annikky (new) - added it

Annikky It is my favourite as well. I think Gatsby is technically a better novel, but it never spoke to me the way this does. And I think it's pretty clear from page one that it'll not end well (not that it's hugely specific, is it now?), so I recommend reading the book instead of feeling misplaced outrage.


Stacey I plan to read this in 2017.


Kelly Cool! I hope you like it! Also, thank you Anniky for addressing this issue better than I had the patience for. Also, I agree, Gatsby is great, but it doesn't hit emotionally like this anymore for me.


Patrick Great review


Kelly Thanks!


Duane Parker Well said Kelly. You nailed it completely, both review and comment. I don't know of any Fitzgerald novel that ends well.


message 13: by Lizzy (new) - added it

Lizzy Simply beautiful, Kelly!


Kelly Thanks guys. :) And yes, Duane, I agree. That has to be part of the definition of a Fitzgerald novel if one existed.


message 15: by Tom (new) - rated it 5 stars

Tom My favorite Fitzgerald, too. Great review!


message 16: by Anna (new) - added it

Anna I liked your review and have marked this book 'want to read'. Thanks!


Kelly Thanks! Enjoy!


message 18: by Nicole (new) - added it

Nicole I will have to check that out on the next library trip! I'm currently reading tender is the night


message 19: by Kenny (new) - added it

Kenny Great review


message 20: by Anthony (new)

Anthony McGill Love that book cover!


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