F. Scott Fitzgerald

A story of Americans on the French Riviera in the 1930s is a portrait of psychological disintegration as a wealthy couple supports friends and hangers-on financially and emotionally at the cost of their own stability

Tender Is the Night

Modern & Contemporary Fiction (Post C 1945);Classic Fiction (Pre C 1945);Modern & Contemporary Fiction (Post C 1945)

Tender is the Night

Conor Murphy

He got up and, as he absorbed the situation, his self-knowledge assured him that he would undertake to deal with it—the old fatal pleasingness, the old forceful charm, swept back with its cry of "Use me!" He would have to go fix this thing that he didn’t care a damn about, because it had early become a habit to be loved, perhaps from the moment when he had realized that he was the last hope of a decaying clan.

Often people display a curious respect for a man drunk, rather like the respect of simple races for the insane. Respect rather than fear. There is something awe-inspiring in one who has lost all inhibitions, who will do anything. Of course we make him pay afterwards for his moment of superiority, his moment of impressiveness.

"New friends," he said, as if it were an important point, “can often have a better time together than old friends.”

He went back into his house and Nicole saw that one of his most characteristic moods was upon him, the excitement that swept everyone up into it and was inevitably followed by his own form of melancholy, which he never displayed but at which she guessed. This excitement about things reached an intensity out of proportion to their importance, generating a really extraordinary virtuosity with people. Save among a few of the tough-minded and perennially suspicious, he had the power of arousing a fascinated and uncritical love. The reaction came when he realized the waste and extravagance involved. He sometimes looked back with awe at the carnivals of affection he had given, as a general might gaze upon a massacre he had ordered to satisfy an impersonal blood lust.

Her mother was her best friend and had put every last possibility into the guiding of her, not so rare a thing in the theatrical profession, but rather special in that Mrs. Elsie Speers was not recompensing herself for a defeat of her own.

Alina

He was so terrible that he was no longer terrible, only dehumanized.

If her person was property she coud exercise whatever advantage was inherent in its ownership.

Held my breath every time someone does something stupid in this story, i’m so out of air! Living for the drama even though i don’t get the moral of the story. The ending got me so happy for Nicole. Never thought i’d be rooting for her. But damn, Dick is manipulative and confusing. Best of lucks for her now. 

korfai 

lexie

'Tender is the Night' is based upon the author's unhappy marriage, and was written as he was experiencing the tragedies of his wife's nervous breakdown and his own decline.

Lila R E

In the dead white hours in Zurich staring into a stranger's pantry across the up shine of a streetlamp, he used to think that he wanted to be good, he wanted to be kind, he wanted to be brave and wise, but it was all pretty difficult. He wanted to be loved, too, if he could fit it in.

Mia Caven

I loved this book. I think it was interesting and almost modern for its time. It was explorative and complex like humans are

A bit lesser known than Gatsby, but I think this book is closer to my heart. A quiet but maddening read.

Prashanth Srivatsa

Fitzgerald ends at a high. One of his best works.

Had to read it for uni, so it became tiring. Will reread someday

Alice Uzzan

As a great fan of the Great Gatsby, I was cruelly disappointed by this book. It has some great moments in terms of style but the plot is awfully empty and pointless. I did not get what Fitzgerald wanted from us, I am *so* confused.

baelgia

The characters can be hard to like. But, if you've been in a bad relationship, or a good relationship that turns bad (and, really, isn't this the trajectory of most bad relationships?) - even just one - I think you will have no problem relating to the characters. Even if you disagree with their actions; even as you're trying to hate them for an illogical reaction - in some base, subconscious level, you will understand (not justify!) why they did what they did.

Roos Havinga

This book has taken me on a journey along the Riviera and through the mountains of Switzerland. Fitzgerald writes about the tormented Doctor Diver in such a way that you can feel the agony yourself, yet I didn't seem to be able to fully grasp the how and why Diver acted in the way he did. This is in any way not a negative remark on the book - I think it adds to the empathy you can feel for each character in the book, for Dick, Nicole, Tommy, and Rosemary.

These sumptuous new hardback editions mark the 70th anniversary of Fitzgerald's death. Between the First World War and the Wall Street Crash, the French Riviera was the stylish place for wealthy Americans to visit. Among the most fashionable are the Divers, Dick and Nicole who hold court at their villa. Into their circle comes Rosemary Hoyt, a film star, who is instantly attracted to them, but understands little of the dark secrets and hidden corruption that hold them together. As Dick draws closer to Rosemary, he fractures the delicate structure of his marriage and sets both Nicole and himself on to a dangerous path where only the strongest can survive. In this exquisite, lyrical novel, Fitzgerald has poured much of the essence of his own life; he has also depicted the age of materialism, shattered idealism and broken dreams.

Linn 

the number of times fitzgerald used the words "daddy's girl" in this book should be a crime 

(1.5/5)

Brittany Firmes

I am very conflicted about how this book made me feel. I liked the idea of it and the story, and Fitzgerald’s attempt to tell the truth of mental illness and alcoholism. However the whole Dick/Rosemary relationship and Dick/young girls in general ruined it for me. It was just so gross and set the whole book off. I feel it would have been so much better if Rosemary was older and Dick was a more amiable person.

Erifili G

Just another completely iconic Fitzgerald book, his writing will never cease to amaze me. Can't wait to read more!

hessensitive

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Tender Is the Night

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