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inesmeow's review against another edition
4.0
I can understand why so many people say they struggle to get into this book! Fitzgerald himself struggled to put it together and as a reader, I could really feel the emotional drag. In terms of characters, it was hard to tell who to cheer for. The tragic hero, Dick Diver, was annoyingly rooted in the realities of a patriarchal society. The women, namely Rosemary Hoyt and Nicole Diver, demonstrate high class women thoroughly understanding and taking advantage of the men in their lives.
It was fun to read about traveling in Europe while traveling in Europe! Fitzgerald’s vivid storytelling left me wistfully soaking in my experience in Paris, as I know the city has not changed too much since he wrote “Tender is the Night”.
It was fun to read about traveling in Europe while traveling in Europe! Fitzgerald’s vivid storytelling left me wistfully soaking in my experience in Paris, as I know the city has not changed too much since he wrote “Tender is the Night”.
justacatandabook's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
So I recognize that this is a classic, and I could see hints of why and understand the thematic reasons, but geez, this was a slog. It felt old-fashioned, long, and filled with bitter, despicable characters. And the famous structure is indeed completely disjointed, introducing us to a billion characters in the beginning, jumping around time, and making it very hard to follow any sort of narrative thread.
Our protagonist Dick Driver does start out charming and beloved and turns into an unloved, mean alcoholic--the fall of the American hero is very clear here. If only watching him crash wasn't so damn boring. A psychiatrist, Dick falls for his young wife Nicole due to her mental illness-crossing lines everywhere--and then struggles with being her doctor versus her husband. There's no sympathy for Nicole, though, and everything she's been through.
With the jumps in time, some sections are far more interesting than others. Part 1 feels endless, a section featuring letters between Nicole and Dick gives it a little life, Dick's dalliance with a young actress is a mere distraction, and the end, with a bit more of Nicole, has a bit more oomph.
I get it. We are meant to see the destructive power of love and privilege, but this was just depressing.
Our protagonist Dick Driver does start out charming and beloved and turns into an unloved, mean alcoholic--the fall of the American hero is very clear here. If only watching him crash wasn't so damn boring. A psychiatrist, Dick falls for his young wife Nicole due to her mental illness-crossing lines everywhere--and then struggles with being her doctor versus her husband. There's no sympathy for Nicole, though, and everything she's been through.
With the jumps in time, some sections are far more interesting than others. Part 1 feels endless, a section featuring letters between Nicole and Dick gives it a little life, Dick's dalliance with a young actress is a mere distraction, and the end, with a bit more of Nicole, has a bit more oomph.
I get it. We are meant to see the destructive power of love and privilege, but this was just depressing.
lacytelles's review against another edition
4.0
This is the romanticized tale of how the French Riviera became a popular tourist destination, thanks to the few "in the know" people who drove up its appeal and trendiness.
I loved this book, and it was so fitting before my trip to Nice. I don't know why I was surprised that this book was so good--it turns out there is a reason why people tout Fitzgerald as a great American author.
He is witty, funny, descriptive, and entertaining. Love.
I loved this book, and it was so fitting before my trip to Nice. I don't know why I was surprised that this book was so good--it turns out there is a reason why people tout Fitzgerald as a great American author.
He is witty, funny, descriptive, and entertaining. Love.
amyheap's review against another edition
4.0
Tender is the Night begins with the dazzling promise of a beautiful, clever and sophisticated couple in the south of France. Years pass and for Dick Diver,that shine, due to circumstance and disappointment, becomes brittle and chips so that his brilliance is dulled and he loses his way, while his wife awakens and finds hers. This is a beautiful, sad book about hope, longing, the nature of happiness, growing older and taking responsibility. The language and the setting are beautiful as the glamour and riches are unsatisfying. Four and a half stars.
miasparts's review against another edition
2.0
I truly wanted to like this book. The sole thing I enjoyed about it was the phenomenally descriptive writing that makes F. Scott Fitzgerald as much of a legendary writer as he is.
I found this novel progressing too slowly for my liking. Moreover, quite boring. As the book stretched on and on in its pointless longevity I found myself on a state of absolute hatred for Dick Diver, the main character. Everything he did aggravated me; to the point where I thought of giving up this book entirely. I ended up fighting through its boringness and will most likely never pick this novel up again.
I found this novel progressing too slowly for my liking. Moreover, quite boring. As the book stretched on and on in its pointless longevity I found myself on a state of absolute hatred for Dick Diver, the main character. Everything he did aggravated me; to the point where I thought of giving up this book entirely. I ended up fighting through its boringness and will most likely never pick this novel up again.
seaswift14's review against another edition
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
grb8's review against another edition
5.0
I’m too tired for a lengthy review as I spent the better part of the night finishing this book. But, I’ll say, this may usurp Gatsby as Fitzgerald’s true masterpiece — as some have argued. Formally, it’s his most daring work and what he does with shifting perspectives and voices between the Divers crafts a tragic duet between the two. Thematically, it’s remarkably focused and considered. Every choice is weighty. It’s a shame the reception of this novel made him question it before his death, because the sureness in his writing truly makes this a wonderful consideration of youth, love, modernity, globalism and class — the chorus behind everything here as it is in Gatsby.
nahlareadss's review against another edition
3.0
So much to discuss.
Brilliantly crafted however highly deranged.
Brilliantly crafted however highly deranged.