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Ann's Reviews > Tender Is the Night
Tender Is the Night
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by
When Fitzgerald finished this gem, he was stunned by the poor reviews it received. I honestly think it's a profoundly more true and powerful book than Gatsby ever will be. His effortless and viceral writing tells a story of such complex and accurate human relationships, I often find myself reflecting on Dick Diver as a friend I should check up on, and part of me thinks I spent a year of my youth hanging out on the French Riveria having too much to drink, but somehow pulling it off sophistication. Now that I sound like a lunatic, I must express this is not normal for me. The world and characters really got under my skin. After my first reading I woke myself by weeping...and I was weeping for the characters. That has never before or since happened to me. It is a work of profound beauty and pain about the resilience of the human spirit. If you're feeling the world is too glib, I feel this is a great antidote.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
July 27, 2007
– Shelved
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Couldn't agree more. This book is better than Gatsby. Dick and Nicole really come alive and bring you into their world. While modeled after Gerald and Sara Murphy, there is clearly a lot of F. Scott and Zelda molded into these characters.
I like your reviews a lot. You write well. I'm halfway through this book and I can't really put it down! I just wonder why so many people enjoy reading about unfaithful men and women. I guess adultery belies an irresistible sweetness, romance and excitement. But when you flip the coin the other way and empathize with the betrayed, or when you have been a victim of infidelity yourself, you will obviously feel spiteful of this forbidden affair. I don't want to put judgment on Rosemary so early in the novel. I'm excited to find out more about her infatuation and how the story will unfold. I'm loving this book so far!
Great review , Ann. I try and read this book every two years or so -- it always rewards me.
nice review you hit the mark, especially about gatsby, this is Fitzgerald's greatest masterpiece and it is devastating in so many ways
He took much of the material straight from Zelda's letters to him.
Great review, Im rereading it for the second tlme, definitly his most thought provoking novel
I totally agree with you! This is by far my favorite novel of his.Thank you for mentioning his superb portrayal of complex relationships that left impacts that lasted throughout the novel.
Also his whriting style really make it so we feel like we know these characters. I am not suprised you felt like you were there, even his description of little things like the moonlight made me fall in love with this novel.
Great Review!
Great review indeed. Thank you.
It's his best. Insight into the souls of the wealthy Americans playing in Europe between wars.
Your review totally resonates with me. It's a strange thing - I quit this book half way a few years ago because I just wasn't taking to it, but somehow the characters and the atmosphere keeps coming back to me in a very vivid manner whenever I'm reminded of the novel. I suspect this and my brooding on it has primed me to give it it's due in another attempt.
Wonderful Review! You put to words exactly how I felt about this book!
What a beautiful summary of your personal experience after having read this novel. It's sincerity and enduring nature does perhaps outlive Fitzgerald's work on The Great Gatsby. If anything, your thoughts definitely underpin the power of the written word and human expression. Many thanks for sharing your opinion of 'Tender is the Night'.
Great review, exactly what I think and feel about this novel.
Keith Law has a list of his top 100 books - this was second on his list. Wonderfully written
Totally agree. Utterly brilliant book.
I love your line about Dick being a friend you should check up on. What a great description!Unfortunately, I have to disagree on the book overall. The writing is simply brilliant. I almost forgot how talented Fitzgerald was, and what a privilege it is to read someone who writes at that level. And I loved the setting. So part of me wanted to keep reading forever.
But once I got past the first half, and it seemed clear how the story was unraveling, I found it hard to keep going. I actually put it down for a couple years before finally finishing (more out of compulsion than desire). The structure just overpowered the story, a bit (as, one could argue, also happened in Gatsby.)
But, as predictable tragedies go, my vote is still for Gatsby!
This novel has become one of my favorite reads, although it took me many years to finish and appreciate the depth. I started it in my early 20s, made a few attempts to finish it over the years, and finally did so in my 60s.
I believe the reason it took me so long to finish is because I had to reach my personal clarity in order to profoundly feel the vulnerability of the characters and develop a deep understanding of and sensitivity toward them.
It’s quite a gift when an author is able to conjure such connections in the readers.
Thank you, F. Scott Fitzgerald!!
Thanks for the great review ! Reading this right now and so far so (very) good .
Such a perfect review which articulates exactly my own experience of this wonderful piece of literature. The beautifully broken characters, the utterly sublime writing, this novel will stay with me always.
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