Review of Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

One of the first books I reviewed for this blog was The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night is also an illumination of life in the twenties (by someone who actually lived it) but the author himself says, "If you liked The Great Gatsby, for God's sake read this. Gatsby was a tour de force but this is a confession of faith."

Tender is the Night can be read as an almost autobiographical account of Fitzgerald's relationship with his mentally ill wife Zelda through the novel's parallel characters of Dick and Nicole Driver. The book was considered to be quite unconventional for its time as it is divided into three distinct sections. The first is reminiscent of Gatsby's gay twenties life seen through the eyes of outsider Rosemary Hoyt. The second book deals with Nicole's mental state. While the third, chronicles Dick's own deteriation and the end of their marriage.

Novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings describes the novel as: Disturing, Bitter and Beautiful. And I agree - it is honestly one of the best books I have ever read.

You Will Like This Book:

- if you liked The Great Gatsby
- if you're wondering what life was like for "the beautiful and dammned" in the twenties
- if you read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. This offers a very different take on dealing with the deteriation of a marriage and a couple's mental states



Best Quote: “New friends can often have a better time together than old friends.”